Lifeboat Design: David Constant, Lee Hawkins, Andrew Perryman Front cover image: Lifeguard Niamh McCabe at Sandbanks, Dorset. Credit: RNLI/Nathan Williams
Photo (bottom right): Lifeboat volunteers Stuart Ebdy, Kathryn Elliott and John Schofield. Credit: Nick Mailer
Contact us
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. We do so by providing a rescue service, safety education, and supervision on beaches. We also influence other organisations, policy-makers and regulators. Our crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives since the RNLI was formed in 1824. Our Water Safety Team helps keep people safe at the coast and our International Team works to reduce drowning around the world where it’s a major risk. We are independent from government and rely on voluntary contributions and gifts in Wills for income.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (CHY 2678 and 20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney
Bethany Hope, Editor Email: lifeboat@rnli.org.uk
Welcome
Salt of the earth
Today, why not give yourself a break from the stresses of daily life and take a moment to remind yourself of good in the world? This issue of Lifeboat is teeming with salt-of-the-earth members of your RNLI family. You can meet Hewitt Clark (page 24), who has five medals for gallantry, including a Gold Medal from the Green Lily service in 1997. Hewitt recently received the prestigious Pride of Britain award … and he’s as humble as they come.
In the rescue section (from page 8) you’ll see that courage endures, with our lifeguards and
crews in action. Hear from Senior Lifeguard Alexandros who races to the rescue, and climber Vicki, who survives a terrible accident thanks to Abersoch RNLI volunteers. You’ll pick up some water safety tips too, to help keep you safe this summer. Enjoy!
PS: And if you’re still in need of a lift, turn to page 22 – the crew have been upstaged by a goat!
Lifesaving funding News
Mayday milers and friends rise to the challenge
Mayday magic
You're amazing! Thank you so much all our incredible fundraisers who went the distance for the RNLI last month in the Mayday Mile fundraising challenge.
The Mayday Mile – our biggest annual fundraising event – saw hundreds of our supporters cover a mile a day throughout May, however and wherever they liked. Eager participants clocked up thousands of miles across the month – running, walking with four-legged friends and even swimming to meet their fundraising goals. Thank you very much to all of you who took part or donated. Every penny/cent raised by the Mayday Mile supports our vital lifesaving work, including the training and kit for our volunteer lifeboat crews, making sure they’re ready to face their busiest season. To find out more about fun ways to raise money, head to RNLI.org/RaiseFunds
Over 30 million people live in the Lake Victoria basin – the world’s largest tropical lake. And more than 100,000 fishers depend on it for their livelihoods. So we’re working with local partner EMEDO (Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization) to help improve community safety through the Lake Victoria Drowning Prevention Project.
The RNLI receives funding for this vital project from the overseas development budget of the Government of Ireland – who recently pledged a further 3 years of support from their Civil Society Fund –and from the Isle of Man Government, who are providing 2 years of support from their international development budget.
This funding enables us to develop and deliver fishing safety training and water safety education, and to seek improved access to high-quality lifejackets.
To learn more, visit RNLI.org/tanzania.
Working to keep fishers and their communities safe in Tanzania
2024 in numbers
Your donations power our lifesaving – through lifeboats, lifeguards and water safety.
362 LIVES SAVED BY RNLI CREWS AND LIFEGUARDS
9,141 LIFEBOAT LAUNCHES
30,724 PEOPLE AIDED BY RNLI CREWS AND LIFEGUARDS
Skills for life
As part of our drowning prevention work, we’re running free 1-day courses to help 16–25-year-old students develop transferable skills and water safety awareness as they prepare to leave education and go into work.
Share your stories
588,916 PEOPLE REACHED WITH SAFETY MESSAGES
The RNLI Young Adults Programme focuses on people at the age when they're vulnerable, but also receptive to safety education. It includes a tutorial and practical workshop, in which students develop and practise transferable skills during a fictional rescue scenario. They learn risk awareness and management skills, as well as leadership and teamwork skills.
19,000 YOUNG PEOPLE TOOK PART IN SWIM SAFE
RNLI Volunteer Facilitator Shannon Wilson says: 'The programme is good for their CV and helps them understand how to make better judgments when it comes to the risks in and around water.'
You can find out more at: RNLI.org/YoungAdults
This September marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War. As we prepare to commemorate the occasion, we’re looking for information, stories and photos of our lifeboat crews who served during 1939–45, and the people who were rescued by them.
Your stories will broaden our understanding of this important part of our history and help us mark the incredible courage of our volunteers. This RNLI Stories of Courage 1939–45 project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ll be sharing this history through a programme of exhibitions, events and online content.
To share your RNLI stories from the Second World War, please visit RNLI.org/YourStories
Margate lifeboat crew during the Second World War, signalling to a plane overhead
The RNLI Young Adults Programme equips students with vital skills
Welcome to a selection of news from your RNLI community. For all the latest from where you are, head to RNLI.org/news
Swim safety
Wells RNLI has been working hard to reach its community with water safety advice. Earlier this year, volunteer Mandy Humphreys and RNLI Water Safety Lead Liam Fayle-Parr invited local swimmers and dippers to the lifeboat station for a talk, sharing top tips and expert insights. Attendee Paula Baldry says: 'It was a very informative, refreshing and professionally delivered session in a warm, friendly setting. I may now take up cold water swimming.'
Remembering Paul
Arranmore RNLI is very grateful to CLG Baile Na nGalloglach (Milford GAA Club) for a €1,500 donation. The funds were raised at a Walk for Paul event, in memory of Paul Buchanan, who went missing while kayaking off Gweedore in October 2024.
Arranmore RNLI, Bunbeg Coast Guard and Sheephaven Sub Aqua Club (who also received €1,500) were all involved in the search for Paul.
Arranmore RNLI Launch Authority and Relief Mechanic John McCafferty says: 'We're extremely thankful to Milford GAA for their very generous contribution. Also, to Paul’s wife Bernadette and sons Mark and Martin: thank you for thinking about us in what is a very difficult time for all the family.'
Donating in memory of Paul Buchanan
Liam Fayle-Parr giving an open water swimming talk
Swim to save lives
Year 10 and 11 students from Orchard Manor School in Dawlish have raised an incredible £800 for the RNLI through a 10km sponsored relay swim. The fundraiser was arranged after a visit from Teignmouth RNLI’s water safety volunteers last year and involved swimmers with a wide range of abilities.
An Orchard Manor School spokesperson says: 'Everyone did their bit. There were pupils taking part who could not swim 6 months ago, who swam lengths, as well as
CO DURHAM
some very strong swimmers who kept us going by filling in when others were tired. It was a great team effort.'
Well done and thank you, from all of us at the RNLI!
Over the rainbow
Barnard Castle Rainbows members recently achieved their Mayday Mayday water safety badges by completing a challenge award designed by Girlguiding North East England in partnership with the RNLI. The children learned about water safety and RNLI lifesaving, and then sent appreciation cards
to the Hartlepool crew.
Crew Member Colm Simpson is a cub leader at the 40th Hartlepool Cub Scout Group. He says: 'This was a lovely gesture by the Rainbows at Barnard Castle. I am sure they enjoyed both learning about sea safety and drawing the fantastic pictures.'
Events
Union Hall Swim 2025
Keebler Pier, Union Hall, P81 RD74 Sunday 20 July, 12–3pm
The 11th annual 1km or 2km swim around Glandore Harbour is back. There's no on-the-day registration and spaces are filling fast, so search 'RNLI Union Hall Swim 2025' on eventbrite.ie to register today.
Join the Newbiggin RNLI volunteers for refreshments and cakes, with their beautiful view of Newbiggin Bay. All are welcome, including families and four-legged friends. Parking at Church Point Car Park.
RNLI Clovelly to Appledore Walk 2025
Clovelly Visitor Centre, EX39 5TA Saturday 13 September, 9am–5pm
Take in 16 miles of the stunning South West Coast Path with fellow RNLI supporters. Approximate walking time: 5 hours. Return transport available to Clovelly. Tickets: £15. Contact Roy Broad on roy @ roybroad.com.
GET INVOLVED
To find more events coming up in your area, including lifeboat open days, head to RNLI.org/events .
Teignmouth RNLI volunteers gratefully receive £800 from a sponsored swim
Colm Simpson and crew at Hartlepool RNLI are delighted with the children’s pictures
RESCUE STORIES
As a loyal supporter, you are helping our lifeboat crews and lifeguards carry out thousands of rescues every year. Here are some highlights, and you can read full accounts of other rescues on the following pages:
6 CRANTOCK BEACH | PAGE 10
7 CROMER | PAGE 14
For more rescue stories, head to RNLI.org/rescues
8 ABERSOCH | PAGE 16 7 8
RISING TIDE
PORTAFERRY | 15 DECEMBER 2024
RNLI lifesavers responded to their pagers when two people and their dog were trapped on Rough Island, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. The group was cut off by the rising tide, which submerged the island’s causeway and left them no escape. Luckily, our crew quickly located the casualties and found them to be well. A Coastguard Rescue Team helped them into the lifeboat and our volunteer crew brought them safely ashore.
CAPITAL RESCUE
CHISWICK | 16 DECEMBER 2024
Our crew rescued breakfast DJ Jordon North when he got into trouble in the River Thames. While jogging near Hammersmith Bridge, the Capital DJ stepped from a pontoon into the water to help a struggling dog.
Onlookers held up phone torches to help the lifesavers locate Jordan in the dark, who was perched on a float with the Labrador. The DJ later thanked the crew on his breakfast show, calling them 'real heroes'.
FISHING CREW ADRIFT
BRIDLINGTON | 7 JANUARY 2025
The volunteer crew launched around 10.30am when a fishing boat lost power 30 miles south of Bridlington. The 10m vessel, drifting towards an offshore windfarm with a crew of four onboard, posed a danger to
shipping so the RNLI crew decided to tow it into harbour. Strong winds and heavy swells meant slow and careful going, with both vessels finally reaching the safety of the fishing quay at 7pm.
TRAPPED
NEWHAVEN | 16 JANUARY 2025
The D class lifeboat volunteers carefully navigated shallows to reach three students cut off by the tide at Flagstaff Point. The crew put lifejackets on the cold and frightened casualties, swiftly brought them onboard and warmed them up back at the station. One of the students says: ‘None of us could swim and we felt like we were going to die. I was so relieved to see the lifeboat.’
FACING THE STORM
OBAN | 24 JANUARY 2025
The crew launched their all-weather lifeboat into Storm Éowyn, following reports of a lifejacket seen floating in Oban Bay. Battling heavy swells, they found the semi-inflated jacket and confirmed that no one was in the water. Returning to station, they were tasked again – this time, to a fishing boat that had broken its moorings. Our lifesavers stood by until the fishing crew had secured it and were safely back ashore.
Photos: Kevin Groocock, RNLI/(Chiswick, Lissa McCully, Newhaven, Leonie Woolf)
OVER MY HEAD
A family day out at a picturesque Cornwall beach turns into a nightmare for holidaymaker Josh
Josh, 31, from Leeds, was on a camping trip with family near Newquay last August. One Sunday afternoon, he decided to visit Crantock Beach with his nephew.
Crantock is a picture-perfect beach, with golden sands, grassy dunes and clear turquoise waters. On its north side, the River Gannel flows into the sea. This area can be dangerous, so RNLI lifeguards put up signs warning beachgoers about the strong currents
and advising them not to swim there. They frequently scan the area for signs of trouble.
Josh was on the north side of the beach, away from the red-and-yellow flagged area, when he decided to try bodyboarding for the first time. He hired a board and paddled out with his 15-year-old nephew. Within minutes, Josh was caught in a rip current.
‘I went so far out,’ says Josh, who had unknowingly walked past the
warning signs. ‘I thought the rip current was going to drown me. It pulled the bodyboard from under me. One wave was pushing me forward and one wave pushing me back, so I couldn’t get anywhere. Then the waves were going over my head. I nearly drowned. I lost the bodyboard. I realised I was in trouble. I couldn’t swim against the current. I thought: “I’m proper dead here. I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff in my life, and this is what kills me?”’
‘We couldn’t see Josh and we feared the worst’
ALEXANDROS GKOSIME SENIOR LIFEGUARD
Josh spotted a rock nearby and managed to climb onto it, cutting his hands and knees in the process.
‘If I hadn’t climbed up on the rock, I think I would have died. I was definitely fatigued,’ says Josh. He could finally get his breath back. ‘I felt safer on the rock, but I thought I had to get back into the water to get back to the beach.’
Now 150m from shore, Josh was in an extremely dangerous position. ‘I could see the beach, but I was a fair
way out. I was waving my hands and shouting as loud as I could,’ he says.
Josh’s nephew had watched his uncle get pulled out by the current and knew he was in serious trouble. He got out of the water and sprinted towards the nearest lifeguard. ‘He was scared for me,’ says Josh. ‘He said he’d never run so fast. It was like lightning.’
As Josh wondered how to get back to the beach, a rescue operation was kicking off. In fact, the lifeguards had
been trying to help Josh from the second he approached the water’s edge.
‘The waves were
going
over my head. I nearly drowned’
JOSH CASUALTY
Main: The idyllic Crantock Beach, patrolled by lifeguards, has some hidden dangers
Right: Ready for rescue – Senior Lifeguard Alexandros Gkosime on the rescue watercraft
‘They were heading straight into a rip current’
There were five lifeguards on the beach that day, including Senior Lifeguard Alexandros Gkosime, an experienced lifesaver from Greece who has been with the RNLI for 10 seasons.
‘There was a 3–4ft swell, with strong currents,’ remembers Alexandros.
‘I was at the water’s edge, between the red-and-yellow flags, in a four-wheel drive patrol truck (4WD) with Lifeguard
‘We are there to help’
Quinn Jeneway. We saw Josh and his nephew getting into the water and blasted several loud announcements from the truck’s PA system, warning the swimmers that they were heading straight into a rip current.’
Alexandros and Quinn were concerned their warnings hadn’t been heard. When the two swimmers disappeared out of sight, Alexandros quickly radioed Zach Rush at the lifeguard unit, who had a high vantage point. Zach couldn’t see them either.
Two other lifeguards were on duty that day. Louis Campbell was positioned in the river hut outpost and Harry Mellor was on the all-terrain vehicle roving patrol.
‘We radioed Harry and asked him to hook up the rescue watercraft
(RWC) and bring it to the water’s edge for an immediate launch,’ says Alexandros.
Suddenly, a swimmer came into view. It was Josh's nephew, running towards the 4WD to tell Alexandros and Quinn that Josh was in trouble by the rocks.
Knowing every second counted, Alexandros ran to the RWC with Harry. ‘We still couldn’t see Josh and feared the worst,’ says Alexandros.
‘But as we launched the RWC, Quinn, who was still on the 4WD, spotted Josh on the rocks through his binoculars.’
Now Alexandros knew exactly where to go. He headed out on the rescue watercraft with Harry hanging onto the trailing rescue sled.
Safer all round
Josh wishes he'd known about swimming between the red-and-yellow flags: ‘I didn’t know about the flags because I’m from Leeds and we don’t have any of that in the city. I didn't know the rules.’
One of the ways that the RNLI is trying to reach people with safety messages is through the Meet the Lifeguards programme. Trained RNLI lifeguards visit schools to teach children about beach safety.
From Belfast to Bexley, Ceredigion to Cornwall, over 100 RNLI lifeguards visited 1,202 primary and secondary schools in 2024. They provided over 130,000 children with lifesaving advice to support them and their families when visiting the coast.
With swift and careful manoeuvring, keeping well clear of people in the water, the lifeguards soon reached Josh. ‘He was scrambling on the rocks, surrounded by deep water,’ says Alexandros. Skilfully negotiating the waves, Alexandros brought the RWC next to the rocks and asked if Josh was injured.
‘I was so grateful to see them’ Josh climbed into the water and was helped onto the RWC’s sled by Harry. ‘I was so grateful and relieved to see them,’ says Josh. ‘I was only out there for a few minutes, but it felt like a good long while.’
Alexandros and Harry also picked up Josh’s bodyboard and then headed
back to the beach, where they checked Josh was OK.
The lifeguard asked me questions back at the beach,’ says Josh. ‘I was embarrassed, if I’m honest. I felt like an idiot.’
‘Crantock Beach can capture anyone with its natural beauty,’ says Alexandros. ‘But at the same time, it can be a very challenging environment for anyone who is not familiar with the local sea conditions. When visiting the beach, please pay attention to the signs and speak to a member of the RNLI lifeguard team. We are there to help and happy to advise on how to have a fun day at the beach!’ ■
LIFEGUARDS YOUR KIT
Thank you for providing for our lifeguards. Your generosity means they have the right kit and skills in an emergency. As we all know, prices have risen, and durable lifesaving kit doesn’t come cheap.
like the ones which helped Quinn spot Josh on the rocks which the lifeguards used to communicate with each other
£262/€317
so Alexandros could reach Josh quickly and bring him back safely £80/€97 FOR BINOCULARS FOR A HANDHELD
£11,890/ €14,386
Words: Nikki McMullen Photos: Stephen Duncombe, RNLi/(Harrison Bates, Nathan Williams)
HOLDING ON TO HOPE
When his beloved dog dived over a sea wall, Curtis was desperate.
But in trying to rescue Rex, he found himself in danger too
The pebble stone walls of the Cromer promenade lead you along a stunning seafront. At low tide, you can walk down the steps and enjoy the beach. But at high tide, the powerful waves of the North Sea crash against the sea wall.
It was almost high tide when Curtis took his dog Rex on an early morning walk along the prom. They were visiting the area and Curtis let Rex off the lead to stretch his legs. Then suddenly, before his owner could react, Rex jumped over the sea wall. He fell 4m into the turbulent water. Curtis panicked. A passer-by told him to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, which he did. But then,
desperate to save his dog, he climbed down the sea wall himself.
Caught in crashing waves
Curtis reached Rex, but the pair were trapped. Curtis was swept off his feet by an incoming swell. Then confused waves threw them around, dangerously close to the wall and large rocks.
Having been tasked by the Coastguard, Cromer RNLI inshore lifeboat crew were responding to their pagers as quickly as possible. At the same time, Lifeboat Volunteer Gordon Nichols hurried along the prom. Finding the casualties, Gordon immediately threw a lifering to them.
Curtis grabbed the lifering, put Rex on top of it and clung on.
Gordon talked to Curtis from the top of the sea wall through torrential rain. He held onto the lifering line, preventing them from being dragged under the treacherous pier. But Curtis was getting increasingly cold and frightened. Gordon encouraged him to keep holding on. The crew were coming.
A wake-up call
‘I remember that my pager woke me up around 7am,’ says Cromer RNLI Mechanic and Lifeboat Crew Member Tom Stops. ‘I’d been in a deep sleep. I jumped up, a bit disorientated.
Waves crashing against Cromer’s sea wall at high tide
A special thank you
Then, after throwing on some clothes and saying a quick goodbye to my family, I was out the door.’
Tom reached the lifeboat station. He was told there was a dog in the water. As he was kitting up, he found out there was a person, too. ‘Their lives were at risk. I knew we had to reach them as quickly as possible.’
The crew launched their D class lifeboat Mr Eric Sharpe. Curtis and Rex were nearby – just the other side of the pier. At the time, sea defences were being built. There were boulders in the surf, waiting to be moved against the sea wall. This created a very confused sea, making Helm Kevin Johnson’s task of navigating the lifeboat difficult.
‘I could see the man and his dog,’ says Tom. ‘They were being battered by the waves. Fortunately, he’d held onto the lifering. Kevin got us as close as possible, and we threw a throw bag to the man. He grabbed the line, and we pulled them both aboard. As Kevin carefully navigated us back past the rocks, we checked them over. They were cold, but OK.
‘It focuses the mind when you know that someone and their dog are in imminent danger’
‘Rex was exceptionally well behaved. He just sat and stared at me with complete shock on his face, as though he were thinking: “What on earth is happening?”’
'It's what we're here for'
‘Curtis was apologetic, but we reassured him: “It’s what we’re here for!” And I’m so glad we were there. The outcome could’ve been very different.’
Your generous support helps lifeboat volunteers like Tom save lives.
‘Without kind supporters like you, there wouldn’t be an RNLI service,’ he says. ‘You help give us everything we need – from equipment like our throw bag, to vital training. ■
Curtis and Rex returned to Cromer to thank the lifeboat volunteers who saved their lives – Tom Stops, Kevin Johnson and Craig Rogers. Curtis also took on a 20-mile sponsored swim, raising £925 for the RNLI. He’s sharing his story to help others stay safe at the coast. Kevin says: ‘It was really special for us to see Curtis and Rex again. We’re very thankful to Curtis for his fundraiser, which will help us continue saving lives.’
TOP TIPS
‘If your dog gets into difficulty at the coast, call 999/112 and ask for the coastguard. As a pet owner myself, I understand why Curtis went in. But please wait for us –we’d have launched just for Rex,’ Tom says. ‘Instead, try moving to a safe place and calling them. They can often find their own way out.’
The lifeboat volunteers find Curtis and Rex being thrown around by the waves, clinging onto a lifering
Words: Charis Jefferson Photos: RNLI/(Charis Jefferson, Clare Stagg), Andy Siddall
BOULDERS AND BROKEN BONES
Neil watched in horror as his climbing buddy Vicki fell 10m off a sea cliff. With no phone signal, could he get her the medical help she urgently needed?
Climbing friends Vicki and Neil were settled into their climb at Trwyn Llech-y-Doll on the Llŷn Peninsula when disaster struck. The rock face Vicki was on suddenly gave way. ‘I went flying. I remember flipping upside down, then boom! I must have blacked out for a few seconds because the next thing I can remember was Neil in front of me, my arms, the ropes, the boulders around me, covered in blood.’
Neil covered her with his jacket and, realising he had no mobile phone signal,
ran up the side of the cliff to dial 999. Although still conscious, Vicki – herself a doctor – was in shock and pain. ‘For a fleeting moment I started to get upset, thinking, “This can't be happening.” But then I looked at my leg, the blood, my surroundings … and accepted my reality. At least I was alive.’
In nearby Abersoch, crew pagers summoned lifeboat volunteers to the lifeboat station for an immediate launch – among them, Helm Andy Gunby.
Andy gathered what information was available and chose his crew accordingly. ‘I knew I might need to send crew ashore to treat severe injuries, so I asked a fellow helm, Phill Wood to come with us – he’s very experienced in casualty care.’
‘I looked at my leg, the blood, my surroundings. At least I was alive’
ROCK CLIMBER VICKI HAU
Along with joiner Sion Flynn and animal health worker Lee Oliver, Andy and Phill set off in their Atlantic 85 lifeboat. The daylight was fading.
Coastguard rescue teams had already arrived at the clifftop and shone their lights to show where Vicki lay – revealing how unstable the cliff face was. It was quickly agreed that a rescue by land was too dangerous. A sea rescue was needed instead.
Abersoch Atlantic 85 lifeboat Peter and Ann Setten
Andy brought the lifeboat as close as he could to the rocks. Carrying a medical bag and handheld radio, crew mate Phill waded ashore to assess the casualty. ‘She was surprisingly calm,’ recalls Phill. ‘She had a dent in her helmet, a cut above her right eye and her leg was clearly broken. She asked me to check her vertebrae – it didn’t feel like anything was out of place and she didn’t report pain there. But I was concerned about it. I used the radio to ask for Lee to come ashore with a stretcher.
‘We really needed to get her more medical help – someone to splint her leg, give her more pain relief and get her to hospital. It was dark and a lot cooler by now, and although we gave her blankets, she was only in her climbing gear on top of a cold rock.’
While Phill and Lee attended to the patient, Helm Andy requested the Coastguard helicopter. Unstable rocks made it too dangerous to operate a winch directly overhead, so it was decided to land the helicopter on a beach further down the coast, then use the lifeboat to carry the Coastguard paramedic and their equipment to Vicki.
When the paramedic arrived, they quickly vacuum packed Vicki’s leg for protection and rechecked her back to make sure it was safe to move her. ‘The next bit was the toughest,’ remembers Phill. ‘We needed to carry Vicki on a stretcher, through the water, to the lifeboat. We were lucky that the sea
‘I knew I might need to send crew ashore to treat severe injuries’
ANDY GUNBY LIFEBOAT HELM, ABERSOCH RNLI
wasn’t rough – but it was deep in places. You’re trying to keep the stretcher as stable as possible, despite trying to wade over a boulder field – shoulder-deep one minute, knee-deep the next.’
‘You’re trying to keep the stretcher stable, despite trying to wade over a boulder field’
Andy headed back towards the helicopter with Vicki onboard and the Coastguard paramedic looking after her. Once the helicopter had taken off with the patient safely inside, there was a moment for Andy to reflect on what had just happened: ‘I felt lucky to have the experience I have and the experience around me in people like Phill. The helm and command training we get from the RNLI played a part too.’
Vicki had sustained a number of fractures to her lower leg and back, although happily after surgery she is now completely mobile again. ‘I've been told many times how lucky I am to have got out of there in one piece. Thank you for everything you did that night. You saved my life. All with great skill and humour I won’t forget! The hard work, time and dedication RNLI volunteers put in is extraordinary.’ ■
On the road to recovery, Vicki needed a neck brace and spinal and leg surgery
Confidence from kit and training
‘Even though it was just four of us at times, we felt hugely supported, because we had all the right kit. Like the Penthrox – we couldn’t have moved Vicki without pain relief. Plus the blankets, the PPE [personal protective equipment], and the radios to stay in touch. We had the training too. It gives you confidence when you use the casualty care training and can see that it works.’
PHILL WOOD HELM, ABERSOCH RNLI
Words: Rory Stamp Photos: Phil Griffiths, Vicki Hau, RNLI/Abersoch, Jonty Storey
HOW TO BUILD A LIFEBOAT STATION
You asked, we listened! Thank you to all who voted for the article you’d most like to see in your Lifeboat magazine. From planning and fundraising to building and lifesaving, here’s a closer look at how RNLI lifeboat stations are built
The first thing to know about building a lifeboat station, is that there is no single blueprint. The locations vary widely – from bustling city centres and vibrant harbour towns to remote cliffs and long piers.
So here we’ll look at one of our most exciting current projects –Dart Lifeboat Station in south Devon – while giving you a taste of the different phases of all station builds.
A place to call home
'Finding and securing the right plot for a station can be challenging,' says RNLI Regional Estates Manager Peter Morgan. 'We have to consider whether we have land or an existing station there, whether it's in a built-up area, and environmental and planning factors.
'The first requirement is that the plot is close to where the lifeboat is moored or launched from. Dart RNLI’s D class inshore lifeboat launches from a public slipway. Being close to the slipway was key as there are no other appropriate slipways in Dartmouth.’
The Ferry View building, right by the slipway, was chosen as the new station. ‘The building is particularly special,’ enthuses Peter. ‘It was the original lifeboat station, built in 1878 and operational until 1896.
After closing, the boathouse was mainly used as a home.'
Volunteer Helm Rich Eggleton says:
‘Dart RNLI reopened in 2007. The building we’ve used since then has done us proud, but it was only ever meant to be temporary. Launching across a muddy park and two lanes of traffic can be a challenge. Plus, it’s hard to keep the current building warm so our crew kit perishes quickly. The location of the new station’s going to make life a lot easier and safer all round.
A quicker launch can make all the difference when someone’s in the water.’
Designing the station
It takes a team of specialists to build a lifeboat station – including the crew themselves. An RNLI project manager is appointed, who engages a design team. Typically there’s a lead designer (an architect or engineer) who’s then supported by other specialists such as a structural engineer, mechanical and electrical engineers, quantity surveyor,
A new station is taking shape at Dart
geotechnical engineer, ecologist and environmental consultant.
Former Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dart, Michael Bryant-Mole, says: 'Our helms met with the architect to discuss where and how we need to store kit and equipment. And one of the crew goes along to monthly project management meetings to keep us updated.'
'It’s essential to involve the station,' says Peter. 'This ensures we can build a fit-for-purpose lifeboat station. We follow a set of core principles for any lifeboat station build, but there are always specific requirements of the site or station.
‘And we design all our buildings to exceed standard regulations – they’re well insulated and efficient. Dart’s new station has an air-source heat pump, which feeds underfloor heating throughout, and solar panels to reduce our dependence on the grid.
'We follow the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Works, which takes you from identifying the need, designing and constructing the building, all the way up to handover and using the building. The briefing and design stages typically take us a couple of years. As lifeboat stations need to be located as close to the water as possible – often in sensitive locations – there can be a lot of stakeholder engagement required to get through the planning process.'
‘It’s given the local community a focus … everyone’s pulled together around a common goal’
JOHN BUTLER ACTING CHAIR OF
DART FUNDRAISING BRANCH
Danielle Tucker, architect with Studio Four Architects, says: 'The team have gone to great lengths to preserve the look and feel of the original building. We're retaining features such as the decorative timber barge boards, stonework, roof slates and forged boathouse door hinges. The roof is being lifted and the carpenters are showing real skill and care in its construction.'
Ducks in a row
Before we can proceed with a build, there are various permissions needed. The complexity of these can greatly influence the overall timeframe of a build. Things like planning policy, local contention and environmental sensitivity may need working through.
'Planning for the station at Dartmouth ended up being straightforward. During the initial design stages, we submitted a pre-application. After positive feedback from the planning authority, we put in the full application during summer 2022 and were granted permission that November.'
After hearing they would be getting a permanent station, there were around 5 years of uncertainty for the Dart crew. 'There was some apprehension, but we knew that these things take time – and rightly so,' says Michael. 'When the tenders
‘The new station will benefit us all: the crew, our local community and anyone in trouble’
KATY LOCKE CREW MEMBER, DART RNLI
The crew launch from their temporary station (blue building above), across a muddy park and two lanes of traffic
Dart's old lifeboat station, built in 1878
went out, it was invigorating because we realised it really was going ahead.'
Made possible by you
Building any lifeboat station is a major undertaking and can cost up to £10M. So we keep all our projects under review, to make sure there's a lifesaving need and we're spending your donations wisely. Where we can, we adapt existing buildings rather than build from scratch.
Each station is funded by your generous donations of time and money, with funds coming together from the local community, the wider RNLI family of supporters, trusts and general funds.
Dart Fundraising Branch’s Acting Chair John Butler says: 'Here, around £70,000 was given by the local community during fundraising events, from quiz evenings to flag days.
Local Chef Shahar Lashkor hosted a delicious curry night and auction for 40 diners. We’ve had tremendous support from local clubs too. It’s given the local community a focus –everyone’s pulled together around a common goal.'
One generous donation came from the Julia Rausing Trust, which gave £250,000. Katie Chantler, from the RNLI Philanthropy and Capital Appeals Team, says: ‘Support from trusts, foundations and individual donors makes all the difference in projects like this, giving the community the stations they thoroughly deserve.’
As you will know if you've done your own building project, financial planning can be tricky. 'It’s normally when we’re working in the ground that things crop up,' Peter explains. 'We reduce this risk by undertaking ground investigations, where viable. Materials can vary in cost too. Inflation over the past 5 years has been one of the major issues for RNLI estates projects.
Between 2020 and 2024, we saw up to a 50% increase in the cost of some construction materials.
'Some of our stations are built in the water on a piled structure. Work with boats and barges can easily be affected by adverse weather, so it’s easy to see significant cost increases here.
'We plan for unknowns and changes by including a risk allowance in our project budget. In the early stages, where information and design are limited, we apply anything up to a 50% risk allowance. Once we’ve completed detailed design and are going out to tender, that risk allowance has reduced to around 15%.’
Building the future
New lifeboat stations are built to last. We plan for 50 years until the first major maintenance. So it’s essential to have a strong team to make sure everything goes together just right. One key expert is our building contractor, who oversees all of the specialist building trades. Peter explains: 'To name just a few at Dart, we have piling contractors, ground workers, stonemasons, carpenters, electricians, heating engineers and plumbers, flooring contractors, plasterers, decorators and roofers –there are many moving parts!
BUILDING: STEP BY STEP Contractor
Structural
Supporters Sue and Alec Smith kindly hosted an open garden to raise funds for the new station
'The timeline for construction varies. A significant refurbishment or extension may be 6–12 months, whereas a more complex new build could be 12–24 months. Dart Lifeboat Station is a 12-month construction programme. At the time of writing we’re 7 months in, with completion due this autumn.
A new era of lifesaving
Rich says: 'There’s a huge influx of visitors to Dartmouth in the summer. We’re dealing with more serious shouts and more people in the water. Over the last 5 years we’ve aided more than 280 people. We’re really looking forward to having a permanent home, with everything in the right place.'
Volunteer Crew Member Katy Locke says: 'We do a lot of training here on station, so it will be great to have more room and better facilities. We will be able to bring casualties back to somewhere warm and comforting. We have a picture of the original station up on the wall and it’s lovely to think that we’ll be returning to our roots after all these years. The new station will benefit us all:
LIFESAVING FACILITIES
• a purpose-built boathouse for lifeboat and launching kit
• nearby slipway for faster and safer launches
• crew room, with training area and kitchen
• modern changing facilities, shower and toilets
• office and operations room
• hub for water safety and education volunteers
• workshop and storage
• discreet fuel storage
• off-road crew parking.
the crew, our local community and anyone in trouble.’
Michael adds: ‘I can see this is going to bond the crew together, having a brand new station to look after and be proud of. But we couldn’t have done this on our own. People around us want us to succeed and they’ve put their hands in their pockets to give not only their money, but also their time, effort and expertise. The future of lifesaving out of Dartmouth looks very bright.’ ■
You can find out more about exciting RNLI building projects and ways to support them at RNLI.org/build .
Words: dunnāco lee-morikū
Photos: Nevada Construction/Alex Sydenham, RNLI/(Dart, Nicholas Leach, Nigel Millard), Studio Four Architects
The first floor and roof steel structure completed
Groundworkers building a retaining wall
Aerial view, with the crane in action
Installing the timber roof framing
The roof and windows taking shape
The new Dart Lifeboat Station (artist's impression), capturing the look and feel of the original station
'My herd hangs out with RNLI volunteers
Rachel Jones and Ian Streeter on their smallholding near Cardigan'
Me and my ... goats
When their pagers sound, it’s a downhill dash to the lifeboat station for Rachel Jones and her partner. But their goats barely prick an ear
My goat habit started in the garden of a Victorian terrace in the middle of Cambridge, but it quickly got out of control. Now I work full time on a 22-acre smallholding with my partner Ian.
My passion is looking after the goats (a mixture of Pygmy, rare-breed and milking goats), while Ian’s making cheese. We decided to name our kids alphabetically each year by theme – Mitford was born in the Year of the Authors. When we reach L in the alphabet we might name them after lifeboat stations!
The crew at Cardigan RNLI have rescued sheep, sheep dogs and horses, but no goats as far as I know. There’s a pond in front of our house where it’s become a right of passage for baby goats to fall in. We see them afterwards walking around covered in duckweed. They don’t like getting wet but, thankfully, they can swim. ■
Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard
19 November 1997. A 3,000-tonne cargo ship has lost power in a violent storm and is drifting dangerously close to the rocky coast. Can Lerwick RNLI evacuate the crew in time?
Coxswain Hewitt Clark was awarded a Gold Medal, the RNLI’s highest recognition for bravery, for his role in this rescue. In 2024, Hewitt won the Pride of Britain
A storm has been battering Shetland for 3 days. South-easterly force 11 winds have whipped up enormous waves, over 15m high. Ferry services are cancelled, and ships are advised to stay in port.
Early in the morning of 19 November, the refrigerated cargo ship, Green Lily, develops engine trouble. The ship had set off the day before, loaded with frozen fish from Lerwick Harbour. It’s now drifting northwest, around 15 miles from Lerwick Lifeboat Station.
At 8.50am, the Coastguard tells Lerwick’s Honorary Secretary, Magnus Shearer, about Green Lily’s problem. But the lifeboat isn’t needed – two huge vessels have set off for
GREEN LILY ’S FINAL MOMENTS
Green Lily’s position: the tug Tystie and the supply ship Gargano. By 11.49am, everything appears under control. The Gargano crew have established a tow and are heading for Dales Voe, just north of Lerwick, planning to meet Tystie.
But half an hour later, Gargano reports that the tow has parted. With such ferocious wind and sea conditions, it will take at least an hour to re-establish it.
The situation is now incredibly serious. Green Lily is drifting ashore at about 2 knots. So, at 12.55pm, Lerwick's Severn class lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon is asked to launch – and the Coastguard helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie is scrambled
FORCE WINDS11
award
GREEN LILY
LERWICK LIFEBOAT
Lerwick lifeboat crew pull five survivors onboard. The Maersk Champion crew grapple Green Lily 's anchor cable.
Suddenly, Green Lily ’s anchor cable parts and the ship is driven ashore.
Maersk Champion pulls Green Lily head-to-wind and the lifeboat steers clear. The Coastguard helicopter evacuates the remaining crew from the Green Lily.
Green Lily is grounded and hammered by huge waves. Tragically, winchman Bill Deacon is washed overboard.
‘I wasn't scared. The adrenaline has taken over’
HEWITT CLARK
Into the storm
Inside the Bressay Sound (a channel of water that separates the island of Bressay from the Shetland mainland), the lifeboat is sheltered from the full force of the storm. But even in this relative protection, the wind is blowing at force 9 to 10, and the waves reach 4½m.
As Coxswain Hewitt Clark steers the lifeboat out of the Sound, the crew strap themselves in for an extremely rough passage. They’re hit by the severity of the storm: force 11 winds and huge waves rolling in from the open sea. Hewitt Clark slows the lifeboat as it climbs waves almost 12m high.
The Green Lily is now just 1½ miles from shore – and still drifting towards it. Despite the massive waves, Lerwick’s Severn class lifeboat – which had only arrived at the station a few months earlier – is averaging more than 20 knots. The crew arrive at the scene at 1.50pm.
The rescue helicopter has also arrived –but with the ship beam-on to the sea and
rolling violently, the helicopter crew can’t attempt to lift anyone clear.
Ten minutes earlier, the tug Tystie had arrived and immediately tried to set up a tow. Tystie’s skilful skipper manoeuvres as close as he dares and, within minutes, manages to get a heaving line aboard the cargo ship. Just after 2pm, Tystie reports that the tow rope is made fast.
Green Lily is still drifting towards the rocky coast. It’s so close that waves are being reflected from the cliffs, sometimes reaching 15m, and breaking heavily.
The Lerwick volunteers are close at hand. Hewitt’s taking the lifeboat around Green Lily and trying to find what lee (shelter) he can off the ship’s port side. The crew of Tystie prepare the rope, ready to take up the tow.
A grave situation
But at 2.10pm, catastrophe strikes. In the huge, confused seas, Green Lily is thrown heavily to port – and at the same moment, the tug is thrown to starboard. The winch can’t pay out fast enough to prevent the ropes from snatching, stranding and finally parting. Now Green Lily is less than a mile offshore. It’s engineless, with no tow rope aboard, and the helicopter still cannot reach the violently rolling deck.
The conditions are getting rapidly worse. Hewitt Clark asks the Green Lily ’s Master to drop his anchors to try to slow its drift.
At 2.25pm, the crew drop one anchor. It slows the Green Lily ’s drift and swings its bow about 45° into the wind. By now, the ship is less than half a mile from shore. Waves are breaking over the deck and it’s still rolling violently.
With the helicopter unable to evacuate the crew, Hewitt Clark realises that the lifeboat will need to approach the Green Lily if anyone onboard is to be saved.
The approach
The only possible way to approach is on its port side, to take advantage of what little shelter there would be – but this will put
the lifeboat between the rocks and the drifting ship, with very little sea room in which to manoeuvre.
It’s a risky plan, but the only option. Hewitt contacts Green Lily ’s Master and urges him to get his crew ready to evacuate before it is too late.
Hewitt takes to the upper steering position. This leaves him exposed to the wild weather, but the visibility is better. He ranges the crew along the lifeboat’s starboard side and gets ready to make the approach.
He and the crew are now within 6–9m of the Green Lily ’s side. The waves are so rough, they can lift the lifeboat above the ship’s deck on a crest and below its waterline in a trough. The crew of the Green Lily begin to appear, wearing lifejackets and carrying their luggage, as their ship drifts perilously closer to the shore.
Operating at the very limits of the lifeboat and his experience, Coxswain Clark makes his first approach. He drives the lifeboat’s starboard shoulder against the ship’s side, aware of the danger of the lifeboat and ship rolling towards each other. With the violent motion in these vicious seas, the results could be catastrophic. There’s no room for error.
Hewitt makes several attempts to put the lifeboat alongside, often having to abort the effort and go hard astern on both engines to take it clear. The shore grows ever closer.
Whenever the decks of the lifeboat and Green Lily are level, the crew grab a survivor and haul them over the ship’s rail and onto the lifeboat. Then Hewitt has to take the lifeboat clear by going astern on one engine to swing the stern out, then astern on both. Only then can he line up for another run.
Every time the lifeboat goes alongside, it is slammed into the unyielding side of the ship. The crew are sure the lifeboat will suffer serious damage.
Last chance
On one run, the lifeboat becomes trapped alongside the Green Lily. Afraid the ship will roll on top of the lifeboat, Coxswain Clark goes full ahead on the port engine and astern on the
starboard to pull the stern round. This causes some damage, with a stanchion, some toe rail and a short length of fendering carrying away.
Crew Member Michael Grant is clipped onto the guard rail where the stanchion is carried away – but Crew Member Ian Leask helps bring the stanchion back aboard and Michael’s harness is refastened to a secure point further back. Michael tears a tendon in the process, but manages to carry on, despite the pain.
With each passing minute, the shore grows closer, and the lifeboat is left with less sea room.
Unknown to the lifeboat crew, a Danish supply vessel Maersk Champion attempts one last desperate manoeuvre. In an impressive display of seamanship, the captain drives the vessel close across Green Lily ’s bow, manages to grapple the ship’s anchor cable, pays out some rope and begins to tow Green Lily seaward.
The ship’s bow now swings up into the wind and the slight lee on its port side disappears –meaning the lifeboat can no longer get alongside. Just 200m from the shore, the lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon breaks clear with five survivors aboard and stands by.
Maersk Champion’s brave manoeuvre means Green Lily is now head-to-wind, which makes it possible for the helicopter and crew to move in. Rescue Lima Charlie’s winchman Bill Deacon begins the dangerous work of airlifting the remaining survivors to safety. The conditions are terrifying.
The Green Lily, buffeted by strong waves and high seas against cliffs
The Lerwick lifeboat crew from the 1997 rescue
Suddenly, Green Lily ’s anchor cable parts. The ship’s fate is sealed. At about 2.55pm, the bow pays off to starboard and it’s soon driven ashore, pounded by the enormous breakers.
Bill Deacon is tragically washed overboard from Green Lily by a huge wave. He’d stayed onboard to make sure everyone else was safe. He loses his own life.
With such extreme conditions close to the shore, searching for Bill Deacon is virtually impossible. The lifeboat crew return to Lerwick to drop off the survivors –but the lifeboat crew quickly venture back into the storm, taking the lifeboat along the coast to try to find Bill. The light is fading, and Green Lily has already started to break up. The water is littered with cargo debris, steel hatch covers, pallets, oil and ropes. The lifeboat crew are forced to call off the search after a huge wave breaks over the deck, leaving the lifeboat covered in debris and a film of oil.
Teamwork, bravery and commitment
Thanks to the bravery of the Lerwick lifeboat crew, the crews of two tugs
and a supply vessel, and the crew of the Coastguard helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie, all 15 crew members onboard the Green Lily are saved.
For his heroism, skill, determination and leadership, Coxswain Hewitt Clark earns the RNLI’s highest honour – the Gold Medal for Gallantry. There are Bronze Medals for each of the other five crew: Ian Leask, Michael Grant, Brian Laurenson, Peter Thomson and Richard Simpson.
In recognition of his courage and sacrifice, Bill Deacon is posthumously awarded the RNLI’s Thanks on Vellum, with a joint Vellum also going to the remainder of the helicopter’s crew. A memorial now stands on Shetland, commemorating the incredible rescue and the bravery of Bill.
The Green Lily rescue remains the most recent to be awarded a Gold Medal. It’s a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice it takes to save lives at sea.
A memorial in Bressay marks the rescue of the Green Lily crew and the loss of winchman Bill Deacon
Still saving lives today – the Severn class lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon – from the Green Lily rescue – has been stationed at Lerwick for 28 years
19 NOVEMBER 1997: A TIMELINE
8.50AM
The cargo ship Green Lily has engine trouble, 15 miles south-east of Lerwick lifeboat Station. Two vessels are on their way to help.
11.49AM
Gargano has set up a tow with the Green Lily.
12.30PM
Gargano reports the tow has parted.
12.55PM
Lerwick's Severn class lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon is asked to launch and Coastguard helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie is scrambled.
1.50PM
The lifeboat arrives at the scene.
2.02PM
A tow is set up between the tug Tystie and Green Lily
Pride of Britain
In October 2024, Hewitt Clark was awarded the Emergency Services Pride of Britain award, in recognition of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary.
‘I am speechless to have won,’ says Hewitt. ‘But what we have to remember is without the volunteers, I could do nothing. It makes you feel very humble.’
During his 35 years of dedicated service as a mechanic and coxswain, Hewitt helped save 319 lives. He’s also one of the RNLI’s most decorated crew members, receiving three Bronze Medals, a Silver Medal and, of course, his Gold Medal for the Green Lily rescue.
2.10PM
The rough seas part the tow.
2.25PM
In extreme conditions, Hewitt Clark manoeuvres the lifeboat between the shore and the ship. The Lerwick crew manage to snatch five survivors to safety.
2.44PM
A tug, Maersk Champion, manages to grapple the Green Lily ’s anchor and pulls the ship head into the wind. The helicopter evacuation can now begin. Ten people are airlifted to safety.
2.55PM
Green Lily's anchor cable parts and the ship is driven ashore. Winchman Bill Deacon is tragically swept overboard by a wave.
Hewitt Clark and his wife Margaret at the Pride of Britain Awards in 2024
'I wasn't scared. 'The adrenaline has taken over. I was concerned that I couldn't rescue the people.
'I was really proud to be able to do it, but we don't do it for medals. We do it because that's the job we chose to do.'
Although Hewitt retired in 2000, he still helps the current Lerwick Lifeboat Station volunteers by using his own boat as a casualty vessel in training exercises. Hewitt's dedication and commitment to lifesaving is truly commendable.
SHELF LIFE
Whether you’re soaking up sunshine or savouring the shade, discover the perfect page-turners to accompany your summer holiday
To read James Rebanks’ The Place of Tides is to be transported to a remote Norwegian island. You live in time with the tides now, joining Rebanks, Anna and Ingrid as they work in flurries, repairing shelters and shaping seaweed nests. Then they watch and wait, willing the eider ducks to come ashore. Whether you’re interested in the ancient tradition of gathering eiderdown, the lessons Rebanks learned at the ocean’s edge, or you want to spend time amongst the eiders, orcas and seascapes of the Vega islands, The Place of Tides is a captivating and tender treat.
Published by Allen Lane | Price: £22/€31 (hardback)
Richard Powers’s latest novel, Playground, is a tale of ambition and strategy, of family and friendship. Of four friends – Todd, Rafi, Ina and Evie – all different, yet ultimately connected by the tiny island of Makatea in French Polynesia. Playground is a tale of our oceans; of their magnificent inhabitants and the myriad threats they face. If you’re ready to plunge beneath the waves of the Pacific and beyond, to explore the ever-expanding reach of technology and AI, or to follow the twists and turns of four lives, take a deep breath and dive into Playground. Prepare to be mesmerised and, perhaps, unsettled.
Published by Hutchinson Heinemann | Price: £20/€28 (hardback)
Playing Cards in a Hurricane
by Robert Oliver
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail across an ocean? What about in a small, barely seaworthy, yacht?
This gripping book tells of the true, engrossing – and sometimes dangerous –saga of a novice sailor facing many daily challenges alongside his two companions. This adventure story really makes you feel for the crew. They endure many trials and tribulations, from sunstroke to near drowning – and even an onboard fire!
The Great Lighthouses of Ireland
by David Hare
This is a beautifully crafted tribute to these iconic coastal sentinels. Hare blends history, engineering and human stories to bring to life the drama, danger and dedication behind Ireland’s lighthouses.
Independently published
Price £8.35
Published by Adlard Coles
Price: £18.97
It’s easy to read, told with great humour and a down-to-earth narrative. You don’t need to be a seasoned sailor to enjoy this story –even landlubbers will be hooked.
Stress-Free Engine Maintenance
by Duncan Wells and Jonathan Parker
Planning to set sail this summer? This practical guide makes engine maintenance straight-forward and stress-free – and it’s a must-have for sailors. Learn how your boat’s engine works and how to spot signs of trouble with clear explanations, step-by-step instructions and entertaining anecdotes.
It’s both informative and enjoyable to read –plus, the helpful illustrations and QR codes linking to instructional videos make even complex tasks easier to tackle.
From changing a filter to preventing engine overheating, Stress-Free Engine Maintenance covers it all. If the thought of fixing your engine feels daunting, this book will give you the confidence to keep things running smoothly.
Good read?
Striking photography complements the rich storytelling, capturing the rugged beauty of these fascinating beacons, their brave but isolated keepers, and the inspiring tales of courage at sea. You’ll even hear the story of the heroic rescue of the Daunt Rock lightship by Ballycotton RNLI.
Whether you’re a maritime enthusiast or simply love a well-told history, this book is both informative and deeply evocative.
Published by Gill Books
Price: €27.99/£26.99 (hardback)
Have you read anything recently that has a sea theme? We’d love to hear from you with your recommendations and it may feature on these book review pages in future.
Please email the editor at lifeboat@rnli.org.uk
Friends of the RNLI
Find out how we are safer all round with Ford
A new 5-year partnership with Ford will help the RNLI keep the public safe on two fronts. Ford is spreading our water safety messages and supporting critical lifeguard operations. The renewed partnership reflects Ford’s commitment to our lifesaving mission. The company will use its marketing channels to amplify our safety messages, reaching more people than we could do alone. Plus Ford will continue to supply its Ranger trucks as the Official Vehicle of RNLI Lifeguards. Our lifeguards deploy Ranger trucks – with 4WD capabilities –to help keep the public safe at the beach. The Ranger’s space and pulling power is put to good use, carrying a wide range of rescue equipment, as well as launching rescue watercraft to save lives at sea.
Quick wordsearch
You know all about building a lifeboat station (page 18). Here’s a list of some of the steps involved. Can you find them all?
H
Photographer: Andy Gallacher Assistant: Lanie Green
A stunning sea view from your bedroom window is included with every hotel room booking at RNLI College. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views from our waterside bar and restaurant too.
And who can resist our scrumptious hot/cold breakfast buffet? It’s included in the cost of your stay. Stroll down to Poole Quay with its cafes and bars, or head over to Brownsea Island to spot a red squirrel. Golden, sandy beaches, beautiful Purbeck and the Jurassic Coast are all waiting to be explored.
You can park your car securely on site – for free – if you need to*. There’s even a mainline railway station and bus station nearby.
Photos: Stephen Duncombe, RNLI/ Nathan Williams
LAUNCHES
Thank you – you are the force behind the launches listed on these pages. Check out the recent action at your favourite lifeboat station and crack the code to the letters/numbers with the handy key opposite
1,138
RNLI RESCUE CRAFT LAUNCHES 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025
The launches listed here are those for which returns had been received at the RNLI Support Centre and processed by 26 March 2025.
Launching the Llandudno Shannon class lifeboat William F Yates (ON1325)
Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard
A ABERDEEN
D-830: Jan 9,23(x2),28, Feb 1
D-857: Feb 5
ON1237 (17-17): Dec 4
ON1248 (17-24): Jan 10, 23, Feb 1,5,14
ABERDOVEY
B-896: Feb 24(x2)
ABERYSTWYTH
A-78: Jan 22
B-937: Dec 16, Jan 22, Feb 8
ACHILL ISLAND
ON1240 (14-28): Dec 2,3
AITH
ON1232 (17-14): Feb 26
ALDEBURGH
B-899: Dec 1
ALDERNEY
ON1245 (14-29): Dec 3
AMBLE
D-867: Dec 11,13
ANGLE
ON1291 (16-11): Dec 20, 26,29
ON1299 (16-19): Jan 13, 15(x2), Feb 1,21
ANSTRUTHER
D-802: Feb 1
ON1328 (13-21): Jan 29
APPLEDORE
B-861: Jan 17,23, Feb 11,23
D-756: Jan 17,29
ARAN ISLANDS
ON1217 (17-06): Dec 11,
22,23,26, Jan 8,13,14,18, 19
ON1260 (17-31): Feb 5,7
ARBROATH
B-927: Jan 7
D-892: Dec 3, Jan 7
ARKLOW
ON1223 (14-19): Jan 1,30
ARRAN (LAMLASH)
B-876: Jan 28,30
ARRANMORE
ON1244 (17-22): Dec 21, 23, Jan 30, Feb 16,19
BALLYGLASS
D-823: Jan 11, Feb 7
BALTIMORE
ON1302 (16-22): Feb 12,25
BANGOR (CO DOWN)
B-944: Jan 17,22,23, Feb 8,18
BARRA ISLAND
ON1230 (17-12): Jan 27
BARROW
D-866: Feb 5
ON1288 (16-08): Dec 12
BARRY DOCK
D-820: Dec 31, Feb 12
ON1358 (13-51): Dec 22, 31, Jan 5, Feb 24
BEAUMARIS
B-838: Feb 3,15
BEMBRIDGE
D-778: Jan 20, Feb 19,22, 25(x2),26,27
ON1297 (16-17): Feb 6, 18, 19,22,25
BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
D-777: Dec 29
BLACKPOOL
B-867: Jan 8
D-862: Dec 10,11(x2), Feb 5,20
D-864: Dec 11(x2), Jan 3,7,8,15,26,30
BLYTH
B-923: Feb 23,28
D-878: Dec 3, Jan 16
BORTH
D-893: Feb 24
BRIDLINGTON
D-887: Feb 24
ON1329 (13-22): Dec 27, Jan 3,7,13
BRIGHTON
B-852: Dec 2,9(x2),27, Jan 4,11,15,31, Feb 7
BROUGHTY FERRY
D-834: Feb 17
D-887: Dec 3(x2),4,5,6,7, 8,10,16(x2),18,29, Jan 3, 7,29
ON1252 (14-31): Dec 1, 3(x2),4,6,7,10,16(x2), 18,29, Jan 3(x2),6,7, Feb 17
BUCKIE
ON1268 (17-37): Jan 14, Feb 18
BUDE
D-826: Jan 2,12
RWC-129: Jan 12
BUNDORAN
B-834: Jan 10
BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH
B-849: Dec 17
D-807: Jan 30
BURNHAM-ON-SEA
B-914: Dec 28, Feb 5
D-801: Dec 16,28
BURRY PORT
D-761: Jan 16
CALSHOT
B-860: Dec 1,31, Jan 6, 28, Feb 5
D-880: Dec 4, Jan 2(x2), 7, Feb 9
CAMPBELTOWN
ON1269 (17-38): Dec 22
CARDIGAN
B-871: Dec 1,8, Feb 16
D-845: Dec 1
CASTLETOWNBERE
ON1277 (17-44): Dec 28, Feb 16(x2)
CHISWICK
E-07: Dec 18, Feb 18,19, 21,23(x2),24(x2),25, 26(x5),27(x2),28
E-08: Dec 2(x2),5(x2), 6(x2),8,9,10,13,16,18(x3), 21,22,24,28,29(x2),31, Jan 1(x2),5(x3),6(x2), 8(x3),15,18,21(x2),22(x3), 25,26,27,29,30(x2), Feb 1,3,4(x2),6,9
E-10: Feb 1
CLACTON-ON-SEA
B-863: Dec 25,27, Feb 26
D-849: Dec 2, Jan 4,15, Feb 10,23
CLEETHORPES
D-889: Dec 1,12,28(x2), Jan 11(x2),15,16,18, Feb 18,25
CLIFDEN
B-869: Feb 6(x2)
CLOGHERHEAD
ON1338 (13-31): Jan 9 CONWY
D-765: Jan 15
COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR
ON1352 (13-45): Feb 14(x2) COURTOWN
D-846: Jan 31 COWES
B-859: Dec 1,4,13,17,21, Jan 5, Feb 18,24
CRICCIETH
A-76: Dec 1,26
B-938: Jan 4 CROMER
D-868: Jan 1, Feb 24 CULLERCOATS
B-935: Dec 5(x2),17, Jan 3,16,18,30,31 DART
B-931: Dec 20, Jan 3,17, 30, Feb 6,8,22,24
D-838: Dec 20, Jan 17, Feb 24
DONAGHADEE
ON1225 (14-21): Dec 21, Jan 18 DOVER
ON1220 (17-09): Dec 12(x2),13,19,27,29, Jan 7,17, Feb 7,8,15, 18(x2),23
DUN LAOGHAIRE
D-865: Dec 1(x2),8, Jan 18, Feb 11,16
ON1200 (14-05): Dec 11,27
DUNBAR
D-844: Dec 8, Jan 19, Feb 16
ON1266 (14-35): Dec 8, Jan 19
CRACK THE CODE
Use this simple key to identify the lifeboat/craft in action
Rigid inflatable, launches from a trolley
Inflatable, launches from a trolley or davit
Rigid inflatable, lies afloat on the Thames
Launches from the beach or lies afloat
Operates from a slipway or lies afloat
Launches from the beach on a carriage
A-### Inshore rescue boat
RWC-### Rescue watercraft
BB-### Boarding boat Y-### Y boat X-### X boat XP-### XP boat
You power our lifesaving
The cost of lifeboats varies hugely: • D class – over £100,000/€110,000
• B class – over £320,000/€360,000
• Shannon class – over £2.7M/€3.1M.
On average, that's what it costs to build, deliver and ready each lifeboat for service.
DUNGENESS
ON1309 (13-02): Dec 28, Jan 7
ON1314 (13-07): Jan 17, 19,25, Feb 10
DUNMORE EAST
ON1348 (13-41): Feb 9
EASTBOURNE
D-876: Dec 10,12,27, Jan 11,14,26, Feb 3,16
ON1197 (14-02): Dec 10, 12,16,25,29,31, Jan 4, Feb 20
EXMOUTH
D-805: Dec 2,5,12
ON1339 (13-32): Dec 7,31
EYEMOUTH
D-877: Dec 29, Jan 25
ON1336 (13-29): Dec 29, Jan 25
FALMOUTH
B-916: Jan 30, Feb 2, 17,24
B-926: Dec 6,7,16, Jan 18,25
ON1256 (17-29): Dec 7,16
FETHARD
D-819: Dec 30
FILEY
D-859: Dec 29, Feb 20,22
FISHGUARD
D-789: Feb 1,14,28
ON1198 (14-03): Jan 13
FLAMBOROUGH
B-820: Jan 13,18, Feb 28
FLEETWOOD
D-853: Dec 12,13,14, Jan 20
FOWEY
D-817: Jan 19,22,30
ON1222 (14-18): Feb 16
GALWAY
B-853: Feb 11
GRAVESEND
B-827: Dec 1,3,6,18, Jan 13,17,18,27, Feb 9, 14,15,21,26
GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON
B-925: Dec 3,13, Jan 3,6, 21, Feb 18
ON1208 (14-10): Jan 1
HAPPISBURGH
D-813: Dec 15
HARTLEPOOL
B-881: Dec 22, Jan 28
ON1226 (14-22): Jan 28
HARWICH
B-907: Dec 8,12,13,20, 30, Jan 8(x2),12,15,19,20, 22,29, Feb 1,5
ON1202 (17-03): Jan 19, Feb 11,26
HASTINGS
ON1335 (13-28): Dec 12(x2)
HAYLING ISLAND
B-829: Dec 21,22,31, Jan 12, Feb 4,6,25
D-779: Dec 22, Feb 6
HELENSBURGH
B-903: Dec 5,17,19,22, Jan 27, Feb 6,8,14
HOLYHEAD
D-791: Dec 12,26
ON1205 (14-07): Dec 2,12
HORTON AND PORT
EYNON
D-824: Jan 25
HOWTH
D-796: Dec 20, Jan 16,26, Feb 23
ON1215 (14-17): Dec 20(x2), Jan 20,26, Feb 8
HOYLAKE
H-001: Feb 16
H-005: Dec 24, Jan 5
H-006: Jan 19
HUMBER
ON1216 (17-05): Jan 24, Feb 16
HUNSTANTON
B-848: Feb 2,11,23
H-003: Feb 26
ILFRACOMBE
D-809: Jan 5,10
D-863: Jan 8,9
ON1316 (13-09): Jan 23(x2),27
INVERGORDON
ON1344 (13-37): Dec 11
ISLAY
ON1279 (17-46): Dec 13
KESSOCK
B-895: Dec 16,25, Jan 1,3,26
KILMORE QUAY
ON1299 (16-19): Dec 10
KILRUSH
B-844: Feb 16
KINGHORN
B-836: Dec 1,2,3,19, Jan 1,3
B-883: Jan 11,14,18, 21,23,25,28,29,31, Feb 1(x2),9,18,26, 28(x2)
KINSALE
B-909: Jan 2,24, Feb 14
KIPPFORD
D-854: Feb 16
KIRKCUDBRIGHT
B-814: Dec 29
KYLE OF LOCHALSH
B-856: Dec 15, Feb 28
LARGS
B-854: Feb 22
LARNE
D-783: Jan 16
LERWICK
ON1221 (17-10): Dec 11, 27,28,30, Jan 18, Feb 4
LEVERBURGH
B-870: Feb 12
LITTLE AND BROAD
HAVEN
D-766: Jan 14,15
LITTLEHAMPTON
B-891: Dec 1,13,21,28, Jan 1,2, Feb 17
D-769: Feb 17
LITTLESTONE-ON-SEA
B-922: Jan 7,30, Feb 10
LLANDUDNO
D-793: Dec 18, Jan 12,15, Feb 1
ON1325 (13-18): Jan 15
LOCHINVER
ON1271 (17-40): Jan 22
LONGHOPE
Y-200: Feb 20
LOUGH DERG
B-911: Dec 29
LOUGH SWILLY
B-819: Dec 26
ON1315 (13-08): Dec 26
LOWESTOFT
ON1347 (13-40): Dec 11, 20,24,31, Jan 4,21, Feb 17,19,21
LYME REGIS
B-857: Dec 9,24, Jan 19, Feb 5,9
LYMINGTON
B-882: Feb 9,28
LYTHAM ST ANNES
D-800: Feb 28
ON1331 (13-24): Jan 20
MACDUFF
B-933: Dec 17
MALLAIG
ON1250 (17-26): Dec 13, Jan 9, Feb 21
MINEHEAD
B-939: Dec 20,31, Jan 30, Feb 10
D-847: Dec 16,20,23, Jan 14,30
MOELFRE
D-825: Dec 27, Feb 20
ON1305 (16-25): Dec 27
MONTROSE
D-897: Jan 27, Feb 2,17, 23(x2)
ON1317 (13-10): Feb 23
MORECAMBE
D-855: Feb 2
H-002: Feb 2
MUDEFORD
B-806: Dec 1(x2)
B-948: Dec 8,20, Jan 1,5,6, Feb 10,22
NEW BRIGHTON
B-837: Dec 13,17,23,26, Jan 3(x2),30, Feb 2
NEW QUAY (CEREDIGION)
D-886: Dec 1,2,28
ON1355 (13-48): Dec 1, 2,8
NEWBIGGIN
B-864: Jan 13
NEWCASTLE (CO DOWN)
D-775: Dec 30
ON1177 (12-20): Dec 21, Jan 5
NEWHAVEN
D-890: Jan 16
NEWQUAY (CORNWALL)
B-936: Jan 19, Feb 15,20
D-773: Dec 1, Jan 19, Feb 18,28
OBAN
ON1357 (13-50): Dec 4, 5,13,21,22, Jan 5,8,16, 17,24, Feb 5,15 PADSTOW
ON1283 (16-04): Dec 1, Feb 10 PENARTH
B-830: Feb 28
D-822: Feb 24,28 PENLEE
B-893: Dec 8, Jan 9(x2), 12,13,24, Feb 11,13,26 ON1265 (17-36): Dec 8, Jan 20, Feb 26
PETERHEAD
ON1280 (16-01): Dec 12, Jan 28, Feb 17
PLYMOUTH
B-908: Dec 7,9,16,17,20, Jan 10,13,31, Feb 17,22
ON1264 (17-35): Dec 7, 16, Jan 4,31, Feb 22
POOLE
B-826: Dec 17,22, Jan 6, Feb 26
D-804: Dec 17,22, Feb 1
PORT ST MARY
D-873: Dec 27, Feb 22
PORTAFERRY
B-833: Dec 3,15(x2),21 PORTHCAWL
B-832: Dec 4,18,22, Jan 30, Feb 1
PORTHDINLLAEN
ON1304 (16-24): Dec 6,19
PORTISHEAD
B-884: Dec 3,12, Jan 2,7 PORTREE ON1214 (14-16): Dec 11, Jan 1, Feb 1,19 PORTRUSH
D-871: Dec 4,27 ON1257 (17-30): Dec 1,28, Jan 3
PORTSMOUTH
B-846: Dec 17,25,26,28, Jan 4
Q R
B-918: Feb 9,18
D-774: Feb 9,18
D-850: Dec 17,26
PWLLHELI
D-811: Jan 4
QUEENSFERRY
B-851: Dec 13,19(x2),28, Jan 4,14,20,21(x2),23,28, Feb 1,2,9,15,16,28(x3)
RAMSGATE
B-878: Dec 1,4,14,17,31, Jan 4
ON1303 (16-23): Dec 31, Jan 4, Feb 18(x2)
RED BAY
B-843: Dec 15
ON1253 (14-32): Dec 15
REDCAR
B-858: Dec 25, Jan 14, 27, Feb 7,22,23
D-786: Feb 23(x2)
RHYL
D-770: Jan 3, Feb 3,23
ROSSLARE HARBOUR ON1276 (17-43): Jan 30, Feb 26
RYE HARBOUR
B-900: Feb 22
SALCOMBE
B-905: Dec 20,27,31, Feb 20
ON1289 (16-09): Dec 19,27
SCARBOROUGH
D-856: Feb 14,28 ON1322 (13-15): Dec 5, Jan 14
SEAHOUSES
D-828: Feb 22
ON1343 (13-36): Dec 24
SELSEY
D-827: Jan 13
ON1327 (13-20): Dec 28, Feb 26
SENNEN COVE ON1294 (16-14): Jan 11,16
SHEERNESS
D-799: Dec 1,6,9(x2),13, 25(x2), Jan 1,3,10,12, Feb 12,14,20,21,22,28 ON1345 (13-38): Dec 7, 25, Jan 12,26, Feb 22
SHOREHAM HARBOUR
D-784: Dec 4, Jan 23
ON1295 (16-15): Dec 22,29
SKEGNESS
D-842: Dec 1,30, Jan 12
SKERRIES
B-866: Dec 1, Jan 8,12, 20, Feb 15
SLIGO BAY
B-888: Jan 12(x2), Feb 28
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
B-885: Feb 11
D-771: Dec 13, Jan 25
D-818: Dec 2
H-006: Dec 25, Jan 4
SOUTHWOLD
B-868: Dec 1
ST AGNES
D-787: Dec 29, Feb 8(x2), 15,18
ST BEES
B-831: Jan 15
ST CATHERINE
B-841: Jan 30
ST DAVIDS
ON1306 (16-26): Jan 14, 15,16,19
ST HELIER
B-934: Dec 15
ST IVES
D-803: Jan 1,23, Feb 15, 19,28
ON1318 (13-11): Jan 1, Feb 18
STONEHAVEN
B-919: Feb 14
B-921: Jan 2
STORNOWAY
ON1238 (17-18): Feb 5
STRANRAER
D-833: Dec 29
STROMNESS
ON1236 (17-16): Dec 1, Feb 5,20,21
SUNDERLAND
B-945: Jan 19
D-879: Dec 14,18, Jan 19, Feb 1,6
SWANAGE
D-884: Dec 19, Jan 4, Feb 24
ON1320 (13-13): Dec 3, 8,19, Feb 8,24
TEDDINGTON
D-785: Dec 1,5,19, Jan 2, 4(x2),6,15(x2),18,31, Feb 2,24
D-792: Dec 1, Jan 4
D-874: Feb 21,24
TEIGNMOUTH
B-947: Dec 20, Jan 15, Feb 9,14
TENBY
D-858: Dec 28, Jan 10,21
ON1281 (16-02): Dec 18, Jan 16
THE LIZARD
ON1290 (16-10): Dec 8, 24, Jan 12,30
THE MUMBLES
D-895: Dec 26, Jan 8, Feb 16,27,28
ON1307 (16-27): Dec 12,26
THURSO
ON1262 (17-33): Feb 24
ON1273 (17-42): Dec 27
TOBERMORY
ON1270 (17-39): Jan 11, Feb 12,26
TORBAY
D-788: Dec 6,22, Jan 15(x2) ON1255 (17-28): Dec 7, 20, Feb 8,11,21
TOWER
E-07: Dec 7(x2),8(x2), 9(x4),10,11(x3),12(x8), 13(x2), Jan 7(x2),9,10(x3)
E-10: Dec 13(x2),14, 15(x5),16(x4),17(x5), 18(x2),19,20,21,25(x3), 26(x3),29,30, Jan 1,2,5, 13(x2),14(x2),15,16(x2), 19(x3),21(x4),22,24(x3), 25(x2),26(x2),30, Feb 1, 3(x4),4(x2),7,11(x2),13,14, 16(x2),18(x2),19,20(x6), 22,24(x4),25,26,27(x2), 28(x2)
TREARDDUR BAY
B-847: Dec 2, Jan 4,18, Feb 17
D-885: Feb 17
TROON
D-821: Dec 5
ON1275 (14-38): Dec 5, 16, Feb 1
TYNEMOUTH
D-829: Dec 14,17,25,28, Jan 15,22,23, Feb 6,27 ON1263 (17-34): Dec 14
VALENTIA
ON1218 (17-07): Dec 9, Feb 6
WALMER
B-808: Dec 12,27, Feb 8,23
D-794: Jan 3,10, Feb 2,5, 8,13,15,23(x2)
WELLS
D-797: Dec 28,29, Feb 25
WEST KIRBY
D-883: Dec 22, Jan 4,30, Feb 1
WEST MERSEA
B-879: Dec 9,22, Jan 3,14
B-946: Feb 4,11,22
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
B-875: Dec 8, Feb 17
D-776: Dec 8
D-832: Feb 17
WEYMOUTH
B-917: Dec 1,8,10, Jan 26,31, Feb 8 ON1261 (17-32): Jan 5, 24, Feb 8(x2)
WHITBY
D-810: Dec 29
ON1356 (13-49): Dec 29, Feb 5,14
WHITSTABLE
B-877: Dec 7,25, Jan 6,30
B-880: Feb 22
WICK
ON1224 (14-20): Dec 1
WICKLOW
D-806: Feb 12,25
ON1340 (13-33): Feb 12
WORKINGTON
ON1326 (13-19): Dec 14
YARMOUTH (IOW) ON1278 (17-45): Dec 7, 19(x2), Jan 2
West Kirby D class lifeboat Leonard Pownall (D-883)
Photo: RNLI/David Edwards
Special delivery
Your letters, posts and pictures
Sparking joy
Editor: Take a close look at this photo sent in by supporter PAUL BAILEY. It's a beautiful model of the Severn class lifeboat Pride of Humber, made of 3,050 matchsticks.
Summer's here Bootiful!
Editor: Thank you to ROBIN (6) and family who sent in this sunny photo with the friendly lifeguard team at Wells-next-the-Sea.
I was just sorting through some travel pictures and came across this. We visited the Dungeness station and were greeted by this very ferocious-looking guard dog. We soon made friends and discovered he was a softie after all.
PETER LOOMES
Write to us
Were you moved by a rescue story? Do you want to know more about something you’ve read? We love hearing from you and seeing your photos. Please get in touch with us.
International rescue
Built in Wales but painted in Canada. We bought an Airfix model lifeboat from your gift shop for our 6-year-old grandson Mateo who lives in Canada. I assembled it here in Nantyglo in South Wales and took it over for him to add the paintwork. I think he has done a great job.
PAUL WATKINS
Editor: Great teamwork
Paul and Mateo! If any other supporters fancy building their own Shannon class lifeboat, RNLI Airfix Shannon kits are now available for £20 at shop.rnli.org/airfix .
Share your stories on social media
You choose
I have been an RNLI member for over 25 years and receive Lifeboat magazine regularly. I now have serious sight problems and cannot read it. Do you issue a larger print edition or can I get it online?
ANONYMOUS
Editor: We provide a free CD or mp3 of the magazine for readers who are blind or partially sighted. Please contact the RNLI Supporter Experience Team (details on page 2) to request the audio version.
Your reviews
Yet another inspiring, heartening and moving magazine. A tremendous set of articles and information and everything! Well done to you and your team. By far the best magazine that comes through my door.
ANDREW ROUSE
The latest edition of the magazine is the BEST one I have ever seen! I shall keep it with other treasured RNLI things.
REV PAM SANDERS
Puzzle solution (page 32): MARGARET ARMSTRONG, pictured here aged 73 in Cresswell, 1921. Margaret was the first woman we know of to help launch and recover lifeboats. She never missed a lifeboat launch in 50 years!
Editor: Thanks for all your feedback – keep it coming! What do you think of this issue of Lifeboat?
LIFESAVER Sir Ben Ainslie
Ben reveals why he loves and supports the RNLI
Why do you support the charity?
I’ve got a huge amount of respect for the RNLI. That’s been ingrained in me since childhood. You need to have grit and determination to come through some of those challenges at sea. The volunteers do a fantastic job and I've been fortunate to have received their support on many occasions.
So you’ve needed the RNLI before?
Well, there are numerous occasions when the RNLI have got me out of a lot of trouble. The first time was when I was only 6/7 years old, out with my family on a small cruising boat. When a lobster pot caught on the rudder, my dad’s pride and joy hit the rocks. Falmouth lifeboat helped us out massively. Another time, Hayling Island inshore lifeboat rescued my very good friend and fellow Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy and myself. We capsized a Laser 5000 on Hayling sandbar. We were pretty much stranded, so the lifeboat came out and rescued us. Much to my huge embarrassment, we were towed past the sailing club where a couple of hundred people stood on the balcony, clapping!
Are there parallels between your Athena Racing America's Cup Team and the RNLI crews?
Hear more from Ben, the most successful Olympic sailor in history, in 200 Voices (episode 96). Search ‘RNLI 200 Voices’ wherever you get your podcasts.
The America’s Cup is a massive team sport. We have 200 people in our organisation and every single one of those people will contribute to the performance of the boat and the overall outcome. And with the RNLI, you have to have such a strong team across the board. Not just the team going out on the boats, but everyone involved, from the maintenance of the boats to the fundraising – all coming together to give the team out on the water the support they need to do their job.
It's brilliant to see where the RNLI started and how it’s developed – how the technology has changed. There’s such a stark contrast between the rowing gigs they started out in and the amazing craft that the teams have now.
Photo: C Gregory/Emirates GBR SailGP Team
Cut the cost of a day out for your crew this summer with free entry to many lifeboat stations and museums. Immerse yourself in 200 years of RNLI lifesaving and explore the rich heritage you’ve helped create. Get up close to a lifeboat, dress the kids in crew kit and discover what it takes to be a lifesaving volunteer in the 21st century. Your little ones could be launching a lifeboat themselves one day! With hundreds of venues and open days to choose from, a unique and exciting day out could be just around the corner. Start planning your RNLI visit today!
Photos: RNLI/(Richard Adams, Charis Jefferson, James Smerdon, Nathan Williams)
Your RNLI family
The lives and loves of your fellow lifesavers
Wedding bells and welly boots
It’s love on the lifeboats! Selsey RNLI is celebrating the marriage of Melissa Fletcher, who has been on the shore crew for 17 years, to Dickie Turley, their Chair of Fundraising and a Royal Navy Captain.
‘We were extremely lucky with the weather,’ says Melissa. ‘The next two Saturdays we had Storm Bert and Storm Darragh! It was a wonderful setting with around 150 guests in the boathouse, and we were sung in by the local Selsey Shantymen and The Selsey Molls.’
We love their photo next to the station’s Shannon class lifeboat – Melissa’s bridal outfit complete with yellow wellies! We’re wishing the happy couple a long and joyful marriage.
Barry Dock’s new recruit
Barry Dock RNLI is welcoming their newest volunteer, baby Llewellyn David Macey. At just 2 weeks old, Llewellyn paid his first visit to Barry Dock Lifeboat Station with his dad Gerwyn and big sister Manon, giving mum Zoe a well-earned rest.
Dad Gerwyn has been a volunteer crew member at Barry Dock for 2 years. The geospatial analyst serves as an inshore lifeboat crew member and casualty carer, alongside training as an inshore lifeboat navigator and all-weather lifeboat crew member.
Andy Gavan, Coxswain at Barry Dock RNLI, says: 'We all send many congrats to Zoe and Gerwyn. We’re sure Llewellyn will grow up inspired by the incredible example set by his dad and we will hopefully see him and his sister on the crew one day!'
Just married: Melissa Fletcher and Dickie Turley –alongside fellow crew Craig Sergeant and Will Moir
Proud dad Gerwyn, with baby Llewellyn
51 years of saving lives at sea
Whitstable RNLI is honouring Mike Judge, who recently stepped down from his role as Lifeboat Operations Manager.
During his 51 years of service to the RNLI at Whitstable, Mike also served as a crew member and helm. He was following in the footsteps of his father, Mike Judge Snr, who was one of the founding members of the station back in 1963.
Jason Carroll, RNLI Area Operations Manager, says: ‘I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mike Judge for his extraordinary career with the RNLI. Mike's unwavering dedication, bravery, and selflessness have been an exemplary beacon of the RNLI’s values.’
Thank you so much for your dedication, Mike – we’re so grateful for your commitment to saving lives at sea.
Generations of lifesavers
In the Autumn 2024 issue of Lifeboat magazine, we shared a colourised photograph of the Sliney family from Ballycotton in 1936. It featured Ballycotton Coxswain Patrick Sliney and his son William, who were involved in the famous Daunt Rock rescue that same year.
Here's a photo of Aidan Sliney, Crew Member at Dun Laoghaire, with his dad Colm and his son Ezra next to the picture – that’s five generations of the family! Colm Sliney, former Second Coxswain at Ballycotton, says: ‘For four generations, my family has been answering the call for help and saving lives at sea. It’s a legacy I’m so proud my sons continue – and maybe someday one of my eight grandchildren will follow, making it five generations.’
Celebrating life
Join us in remembering our RNLI family members who have recently passed away
Ron Eglinton – January 2025
Former Honorary Secretary at Newquay RNLI
David Godfrey – November 2024 Committee Member and Box Secretary at Downend and Kingswood Branch
Ricky Holmes – November 2024 Former Lifeboat Operations Manager at Burnham-on-Sea RNLI
Fintan Keating – January 2025
Deputy Launching Authority at Kilrush RNLI
Arthur Llewellyn – February 2025 Branch Committee Member at Sherborne Fundraising Branch
Tim Martin – January 2025
Former Boathouse Manager at Newbiggin RNLI
Robert McLaughlin – October 2024 Chair of the Whitehaven Fundraising Branch and Workington Lifeboat Management Group
Dorothy Sudweeks – January 2025 Committee Member and Souvenir Secretary at Hitchin and District Fundraising Branch
Colm, Aidan and Ezra alongside a special family photo
Celebrating Mike Judge, who has served for 51 years at Whitstable RNLI
Photos: Bev Downie, RNLI/(Chris Davey, Lisa Newberry), Mary Sliney
Make YOUR little one the hero
On a lovely warm day at the beach, your little lifesaver is at the heart of the action when Rudolph the Reindeer – who is on his summer holidays – gets into danger in the sea.
Inspire a love for the RNLI and lifeguards with this wonderful personalised rescue adventure story.
Choose your character’s name to give the book a magical, personal touch.
Customise their appearance.
Inspire water safety skills that will last a lifetime.
