Looking back at the official launch of the Mudeford Lifeboat station in 1981 that precede the present lifeboat station on Mudeford Quay. Hundreds of visitors joined the crew, committee members, high ranking members of the RNLI and the clergy to celebrate the opening of the much needed £40,000 lifeboat house.

The RNLI deputy chairman Vice-admiral Sir Peter Compston formally launched the new station, 18 years to the day after one of Britain's pioneer inshore lifeboats was first in operation in Mudeford. Chairman Ken Derham who was one of the driving forces behind the station had previously launched the first Mudeford rescue boat and proudly earned his RNLI bravery medal in 1959, gave a speech that praised the hard work and dedication by the fund raising team and thanked  all of their supporters.

At the celebrations Sir Peter Compston praised the new boathouse designed by local architect and crewman Roy Bishop commenting that it was "without a doubt one of the finest in the country".

The present day lifeboat station was officially opened at a special ceremony of dedication on Saturday 25 October 2003. The station, built to house and inshore lifeboat plus launching vehicle became operational at the end of September at a cost of £589,286.