Lifeboat Magazine Winter 2025

‘THANK YOU’

WINTER 2025–26 ISSUE 654

© RNLI 2025. All rights reserved. Reproduction is permitted with the prior consent of the RNLI. Opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Care is taken to ensure that editorial information is correct at the time of going to press but is subject to change.

Chair: Janet Legrand OBE KC (Hon)

Chief Executive: Peter Sparkes

Lifeboat Editor: Bethany Hope

Lifeboat Design: David Constant, Lee Hawkins, Andy Perryman, Emily Scott

Front cover image: David Richmond-Coggan, with a colourised photo of the Margate lifeboat crew from the Second World War.

Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams

Photo (below): Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Anstruther RNLI crew! Photo: Audrey Peddie

Contact us

Would you prefer to receive a digital copy of Lifeboat magazine or not receive it at all? Are you moving house? Do you have another question? Then please email supporterexperience@rnli.org.uk with your request, including your supporter number. You can also call us on 0300 300 9990 (from the UK), 01 511 9836 (from Ireland) or +44 1202 663234 (from any other country), or write to us at RNLI Support Centre, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.

Blind and partially sighted people can choose to receive a free CD or mp3 of the magazine

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 the 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

I’m 23 today! That’s not strictly true (sadly). But it is my RNLI anniversary. I joined back in 2002. All of you – volunteers and supporters – never cease to amaze me and I love sharing RNLI stories with you.

This issue, you’ll meet volunteers like David (page 24), who’s dedicating his life to fundraising and water safety. Crew members like Rob, who jumped into the water to save a drowning man (page 10). And survivors like rock climber Jo, who was saved by the Anstruther crew (page 14).

We’re all together on a mission to save every one (page 18). What motivates you to give us your kind and loyal support?

I’d love to hear from you (at the email above). Turn to page 40 to hear why supporter Rosemary has come aboard. Whether you’ve just joined us or have been with us for decades, thank you. I know some of you will have already given generously to our Christmas appeal and played the Christmas Lifeboat Lottery too. Thank you for answering the call for help. It means the world to our volunteer crews. Merry Christmas!

News

Classroom-based water safety education has been added to the National Curriculum for schools in England

Water safety education boost

This summer, the UK Government’s Department for Education published new relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education guidelines for England – which, for the first time, include the Water Safety Code at both primary- and secondary-school level from September 2026. This positive change builds on years of development of the Water Safety Code by National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) Education Working Group members – including the RNLI, Swim England and the Royal Life Saving Society UK. The code contains classroom-based safety messages that are adaptable to different activities and age groups.

The NWSF working group is chaired by RNLI Water Safety Manager Sam Johnson. Its group members work closely with civil servants, bereaved families and educational bodies to improve school swimming education – and now classroombased water safety education. Huge congratulations to all involved for this lifesaving milestone.

Our condolences

The RNLI wishes to express heartfelt condolences to our President, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, on the recent death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. Over the past 56 years, volunteers and staff of the RNLI have greatly enjoyed meeting The Duchess at RNLI occasions, including the naming ceremony of the lifeboat Duchess of Kent (which served 1982–2002). Our thoughts are with The Duke and The Royal Family.

Receiving royalty

In July, RNLI volunteers welcomed King Charles III to Walmer Lifeboat Station for His Majesty ’s first official engagement since becoming patron of our lifesaving charity in 2024.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent

RNLI volunteers from Walmer meet King Charles III

Atlantic 85 improvements

Crew and engineers are working on upgrading our Atlantic 85 fleet

The RNLI’s Engineering Team is working with crew members on an exciting project to develop a future-fit Atlantic 85 Mark 4 lifeboat design. Planned upgrades include:

• shock-mitigating suspension seats and active stabilisation to reduce whole-body vibration

• a 2+2 seating arrangement with the helm and navigator upfront to improve communication

• a third row of fold-down caddy seats for safer casualty transfer and stretcher integration

• modified sponsons for more effective recovery of casualties from the water

• new lifeboat management, navigation and communication systems. We’re progressing through the design and prototype phase, with the lifeboat due to enter production in 2027. Watch this space for more updates.

Courage remembered

On Christmas Day 1956, Exmouth

RNLI Crew Member Will Carder lost his life on a shout. So when today’s volunteers at Exmouth heard that their Shannon class R and J Welburn would be a Launch a Memory lifeboat, they clubbed together to have Will’s name added to the outside of the lifeboat, alongside the names of other loved ones.

Exmouth RNLI’s Launch a Memory lifeboat with names of loved ones printed on the letters and numbers on the hull

Exmouth Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Taylor says: ‘We’re such a close crew and can only imagine the feelings of our counterparts in 1956 when they lost one of their own – especially on Christmas Day.’

If you’d like to celebrate someone you love on our next Launch a Memory lifeboat – Swanage RNLI’s George Thomas Lacy – head to RNLI.org/LAM .

In brief

One Crew, One Plan: RNLI 2026–30

In September 2025, RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes announced the charity’s new 5-Year Plan and the 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy. You can find out more in future issues of Lifeboat or head to RNLI.org/OneCrewOnePlan

Save the date: AGM 2026

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 30 Euston Square, London, on Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 2pm. It’s open to all RNLI Governors. For more information, please visit RNLI.org/AGM .

Grab your antlers!

There’s still time to take on the Reindeer Run challenge! Run 24 miles during December to raise money for our lifesavers. That’s one mile for every hour they’re on call every day – even Christmas Day. Grab your antlers and visit RNLI.org/ReindeerSignUp to take your first step.

Photos: Stephen Duncombe, RNLI/(Dover Media Group, Nathan Williams), Robin Sharp

Community

Welcome to a selection of news from your RNLI community. For all the latest from where you are, head to RNLI.org/news

GREATER LONDON

40-year record broken

Multi-terrain ultra-endurance rider Molly Weaver has completed a world-recordbreaking 4,800-mile circumnavigation of the British coastline by bicycle.

Starting and finishing at Tower Bridge, London, Molly crossed the finish line in 21 days, 10 hours and 48 minutes, visiting more than 100 lifeboat stations along the way. Molly beat Nick Sanders’ 1984 record by 17 hours – and raised a fantastic £11,260 for the RNLI.

From recovering from life-threatening injuries when struck by a car in 2017 to smashing records in 2025, Molly’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, determination and giving back. Thank you, Molly.

Pulling out the big guns

volunteer

This summer, Flint RNLI organised two weekends packed with community spirit and fundraising success.

At the Truck Pull and Art and Craft Fair, teams and individuals took on the challenge of pulling a truck, while all enjoyed crafts, local food and more. The same day, the restored statue of Flint RNLI’s first female helm, Rachael McCarthy, was unveiled by her daughter Ariana and mother Sandra.

The following weekend, Flint volunteers took part in the mayor’s parade, a dog show and 999 day. Fundraisers sold out of homemade cakes and hot dogs while safety volunteers shared tips with visitors enjoying tours of RNLI equipment.

Flint RNLI Fundraising Chair Tracey Kerfoot says: ‘Heartfelt thanks to all volunteers, local businesses and attendees, who made these events possible.’

RNLI

Aran Bewley pulls a truck to raise funds

Rachael McCarthy alongside her statue, with daughter Ariana

The joy of the finish line

DUNDEE

Safer paddling

Lifeguards and lifeboat crew teamed up to deliver a large-scale training session with Tayside Sea Kayak Club at Broughty Ferry Beach in the summer.

More than 65 people took part in the session. They focused on sea safety awareness, as well as practising rescue techniques and casualty care. Exercises like these help to save lives at sea by providing education and support to keep communities safe on and around the water. The session also strengthened collaboration between the volunteer lifeboat crew, lifeguards and local water users.

CO WATERFORD

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Kelly Bowler says: ‘The RNLI’s lifesaving work relies on strong community partnerships. By training together, we can be better prepared to keep people safe at the coast.’

Events

RNLI Stories of Courage 1939–45 exhibition

Lighthouse, Poole, BH15 1UG 15 January–28 February 2026

Don’t miss our Stories of Courage exhibition about the RNLI in the Second World War. Discover how lifeboat volunteers continued to save lives at sea amid the challenges of war. Find out more at RNLI.org/exhibition .

December Dip

Hastings Lifeboat Station, East Beach Street, Hastings, TN34 3AR Sunday 14 December 9am–1pm

Join Hastings RNLI for a festive dip followed by a hot drink and sweet treat. Fancy dress optional, but encouraged! Advance registration £7, with a limited number of registrations on the day for £10. Visit eventbrite.co.uk for more information and to sign up.

Vikings save lives!

The RNLI was the charity of choice for the 2025 Waterford Viking Marathon. Set in the heart of Ireland’s oldest city, founded by the vikings more than 1,100 years ago, the Waterford Viking Marathon is an inclusive and scenic running festival. It offers something for everyone – with a full marathon, half marathon, children’s run and a disability-friendly run that follow the route of the River Suir.

Congratulations to all who helped to raise €13,343 in lifesaving funds for Tramore, Helvick Head, Dungarvan, and Dunmore East Lifeboat Stations.

And extra congratulations to the RNLI volunteers who completed runs – including Dunmore East’s Adam Sweeney, who ran the half marathon in his full lifeboat kit!

Carols on the Quay

Haven House Inn, Mudeford Quay, BH23 4AB

Friday 19 December 7–8.30pm

Raise your voice and sing for joy with Mudeford RNLI’s lifeboat crew and the Choir Engine. Free to attend. Burgers, hot dogs and mulled wine available to purchase. Contact rnlimfc @gmail.com for more information.

GET INVOLVED

To find more events coming up in your area, including lifeboat open days, head to RNLI.org/events .

More than 65 people took part in the casualty care training session

Photos: Rupert Hartley, RNLI/(Patrick Browne, Gavin Jones)

The RNLI was Waterford Viking Marathon’s chosen charity for 2025

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 TENBY | PAGE 10

For more rescue stories, head to RNLI.org/rescues

DREAM TEAM

CULLERCOATS AND TYNEMOUTH | 24 JUNE 2025

When sudden offshore winds blew 32 adults and children out to sea on their kayaks and paddleboards, RNLI lifesavers launched into action. Lifeboat volunteers from Cullercoats and Tynemouth worked together with RNLI lifeguards and other emergency services, making sure everyone got safely back to shore. ‘It shows just how quickly things can change at the beach,’ says Senior Lifeguard Alfie Meeson. ‘I’m really proud of the team.’

INTO THE DEEP

TIGHNABRUAICH | 1 JUNE 2025

Three divers found themselves stranded after their boat drifted away on Loch Fyne. Tighnabruaich RNLI crew made an hour-long journey and discovered that the divers had swum ashore to a remote part of

CLIFF DRAMAS

HOWTH | 19 JUNE 2025

the loch. A Coastguard helicopter winch paramedic checked on the divers, who were able to swim out to the B class lifeboat. The crew took them safely to Strachur, returning to station after 5 hours on the water.

Volunteer lifeboat crew launched to a teenager stranded on a cliff. Other emergency services were already on scene, so the crew stayed on standby. But there was a second emergency. Further along the coast, another teenager had fallen off a cliff, onto rocks. A second teenager had swum to help. The lifeboat volunteers went straight to their aid. One boy was evacuated by helicopter, and the lifeboat crew took the other teenager to safety.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

MOELFRE | 5 JULY 2025

When an offshore supply vessel crew member became sick, RNLI volunteers launched their Tamar class lifeboat to the rescue. They quickly brought the casualty to shore, where an ambulance was waiting. But immediately after recovering the lifeboat, they were tasked again. This time, two kayakers were in difficulty.

One person was in the water – she was cold and panicking. The crew lifted both casualties onboard the lifeboat and looked after them.

POWERFUL WAVES

TRESAITH BEACH | 23 JULY 2025

Lifeguard Molly Newland was patrolling Tresaith Beach when she saw a woman and her grandchild get knocked over by a wave. Strong waves were pushing them around – they couldn’t get back up. Molly ran. Reaching them, she pulled the child up from under the water and carried her to shore. Then Molly went back into the water and helped the child’s grandmother, too.

Photos: Pauline Driscoll, RNLI/Jane Boyd

‘OH MY

HE’S ALIVE!’ ‘OH MY

GOD,

GOD,

HE’S ALIVE!’

Miles from shore, unable to raise an alarm, the odds of someone noticing and helping are stacked against you. But one man overcame them in a remarkable rescue

One May evening, an angler on the ledges at Stackpole Head in Pembrokeshire spotted a plume of black smoke rising from the horizon. Calling 999, they reported the emergency and at 6.56pm HM Coastguard requested that Tenby RNLI launch to investigate.

'Rigged and ready to go'

Within 11 minutes, Tenby’s six-strong Tamar class lifeboat crew were on the way, under the command of Duty Coxswain Dan Young. Alongside Dan were Crew Members Rob James, Chris Thomas, Lisa Viggers, Stephen Lowe, Dan Thomas and Relief Mechanic Tony Bowen (on loan from The Mumbles RNLI).

As the lifeboat Haydn Miller cleared Caldey Sound, they spotted the smoke and Coxswain Dan adjusted course, making best speed. ‘I instructed two crew members to ready the fire hose and two to prepare for a possible casualty recovery,’ says Dan. ‘Meanwhile, Tony maintained communication with the Coastguard. The crew all worked together to get everything rigged and ready to go on the aft [rear] deck. If we found someone injured, we could be facing an urgent situation.’

As the crew drew closer, a horrifying sight greeted them: a burning 11m yacht, with the fire well-advanced. ‘Our first task was to identify who was still onboard or in the water.

We conducted a search around the perimeter, keeping a safe distance from the heat and smoke. There was no one in sight. Our hearts sank as we began a wider search, updating the Coastguard and requesting additional support.

‘But within a few minutes, Chris spotted a reflection. Drifting about 200m from the yacht, its skipper’s lifeless body looked like flotsam.’

‘The casualty … started to sink’ Dan continues: ‘As I manoeuvred the boat closer, the casualty dipped beneath the surface two or three times. But as Steve lowered a boat hook down to recover what we thought was a dead body, the man’s hand grabbed it. Rob shouted: “Oh my God, he’s alive!” The casualty lost consciousness again and started to sink. At this point, he wasn’t coming back up.’

Showing decisive leadership, Dan gave Crew Member Rob James the nod to enter the water.

‘We train for moments like this’ ‘The adrenaline kicked in as soon as I realised this guy had a chance. I was ready to go in an instant,’ says Rob. ‘I kicked my wellies off and jumped in over the side as he drifted downwards.

‘We train for moments like this, so that everyone knows exactly what they’re doing and it all comes together. Someone was spotting my position from above, another crew member was releasing the rail, others were grabbing strops from the locker and preparing the A-frame for recovery.

‘Down in the water wearing my all-weather lifeboat kit and auto-inflating lifejacket, it wasn’t the most graceful swim – but it did the job. The man’s body was now a few feet under the water so I had to fight to reach down far enough to grab hold of him and pull him up.

‘All I could smell and taste was diesel’

‘Cradling him on the surface, I could see how burnt his face was, and we were surrounded by fuel – all I could smell and taste was diesel. I shouted in his face to try to get some sort of a response and there was just nothing. I thought: “After all this, he’s gone.”

‘The boat came alongside us and the crew passed down recovery strops. Usually we’d secure two around the back and under the arms, then use the A-frame and block and tackle to pull the casualty out horizontally. This chap was beyond that, so we got one strop secured around him and lifted him out quickly. I then climbed back onto the lifeboat, as Tony came to help me.’

Dan continues: ‘Chris is a community first responder with the Welsh Ambulance Service, so he took the lead on casualty care. This guy was barely breathing and had hardly any pulse.’

‘With the casualty now out of the water but in a bad way – and the harbour a good 25 minutes away –we had no time to spare. Tony updated the Coastguard to request that an ambulance meet us on land and we made speed for Tenby. Thankfully it was high water on a spring tide, so we could take him right into the harbour rather than the longer option of going back up the station slipway.’

‘I let out a huge sigh of relief’ As they headed for shore, Chris assessed the casualty and tried to administer oxygen. He attempted to insert an oropharyngeal airway (which keeps the airway open by preventing the tongue of an unresponsive casualty from covering the epiglottis), but couldn’t.

Chris says: ‘I think this difficulty may have been due to trismus

‘As

Steve lowered a boat hook down to recover what we thought was a dead body, the man’s hand grabbed it’

Heading towards the plume of smoke

Searching for survivors

DAN YOUNG, DUTY COXSWAIN, TENBY RNLI

(also known as lockjaw) – where the jaw muscles spasm, keeping the mouth tightly closed. The man’s breathing rate was becoming ineffective, so I made the decision to use the bag valve mask (BVM) to administer oxygen. The BVM is our go-to when we need to force oxygen into a casualty to assist their breathing. I let out a huge sigh of relief as his breathing improved over the next 5 minutes. He was still unresponsive, but I was then able to switch to a free-flow mask to administer the oxygen.’

‘We still didn’t know if there was anyone else on the yacht or in the water,’ says Dan. ‘So I instructed the crew to search the casualty for any clues. They found a business card, made a phone call and discovered his name. This information was then relayed to the Coastguard.’

Arriving into Tenby Harbour, they were met by Tenby RNLI’s shore crew – mustered by Launch Authority Giles Burt – who helped with mooring, berthing and casualty extraction. The first ambulance to arrive was

‘The adrenaline kicked in as soon as I realised this guy had a chance’

ROB JAMES, CREW MEMBER, TENBY RNLI

single-crewed, so RNLI Shore Crew Member and off-duty Ambulance Technician Shaun Taylor helped transfer the casualty from the lifeboat. Shaun maintained the man’s airway and provided further care until additional ambulance resources could transport him to hospital.

‘We went back out’

Dan continues: ‘We went back out to continue the search for more casualties. Rob was cold and wet from his unexpected swim, so we subbed him out for his brother and fellow crew member Ben. Ben had missed the initial launch but was tasked to the pier to meet the casualty off the lifeboat and was ready to go. He’s a Welsh Ambulance

Service first responder, so his skills are invaluable for an incident like this.

‘We relaunched at 8.32pm and arrived back on scene in good company. A search was already being coordinated with Angle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, rescue helicopters from St Athan and Newquay. As the light faded, we conducted multiple search patterns including three parallel track searches. Searches are so much better when we work together from sea and sky, with both perspectives.

‘As we passed midnight, conditions deteriorated with south-easterly winds, rain and an increasing sea state. So, with no sign of anyone else in the water, we were all stood down. We returned to station at 1.30am, where the shore crew took over refuelling, washing down and restocking the lifeboat ready for service. It had been quite a traumatic incident for the crew on the lifeboat, so we had a debrief straight away. The RNLI’s trauma risk management (TRiM) team also followed up with us to check how we were doing.

‘We’d taken the receipts out of the casualty’s wallet to dry out. With some detective work we were able to confirm the next day that the sailor was on his own.’

‘Everything aligned’

The casualty regained consciousness the following afternoon and reached out to the crew via an intensive care nurse at the hospital. ‘Dan and I went in to see him. We were pleased to see he was in better shape,’ says Rob.

‘Everything aligned for him that day.

Volunteer Crew Member Rob James, who jumped in to save the man

He wasn’t expected anywhere, so we might not have known anything about it until some wreckage drifted ashore. If the angler hadn’t spotted the smoke, if we hadn’t found him precisely when we did, if the tide had been out when we got back to the harbour – any single factor being different would have meant a very different outcome for him. He was incredibly lucky.

‘And RNLI supporters are a key part of the story too. Without the donations that come in month by month, we wouldn’t have the training, equipment or capabilities to respond like we do. We count on their loyal support. That generosity is everything, really.’ ■

ONE CREW ONE CREW

For this service, Dan Young, Rob James and Chris Thomas each received an RNLI Chief Executive’s Commendation for their courage and teamwork. But it takes everyone working together as one crew to bring people home safely. Incredible volunteers offering what they can, in service of saving others.

This huge lifesaving family is made up of the courageous lifesavers who put their own lives at risk, the shore crew launching and recovering the lifeboats and comforting loved ones, the dedicated fundraisers planning events that raise lifesaving funds, the volunteers sharing water safety advice or helping to run RNLI shops and museums, and so many more unsung heroes. And you! Thank you for being a part of our one crew.

Words: dunnāco lee-morikū

Photos: RNLI/(Ben James, Nathan Lowe, James Williams)

Dan, Rob and Chris receive their commendations

No

matter how experienced you are, things can go wrong, as rock climber Jo found out while scrambling along Fife’s Elie Chainwalk

‘Jo was lying at the bottom of the rock face ... she had a life-threatening bleed’

TAM BETT, VOLUNTEER CREW MEMBER, ANSTRUTHER RNLI

The Elie Chainwalk is an adventurer’s delight. This little-known scrambling route near the village of Elie traverses the jagged cliffs below the Fife Coastal Path. There are chains anchored into the cliff-face, together with foot and handholds, helping you to climb and clamber across it. But, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

It was a bright, sunny day with light winds – perfect for a scramble. Experienced boulderer and rock climber Jo Randall set out with a friend along the Elie Chainwalk, but it wasn’t long before her sense of adventure got the better of her and she veered off the marked route.

‘I pulled a loose piece of rock off and fell about 5m. I managed the landing as best I could, but I landed on rocks that were all over the place and really uneven, which meant when I fell, I kind of went knee and then head.’

Jo’s friend climbed down to her. Jo was in a lot of pain. Her head was bleeding

profusely and she couldn’t move her leg. While trying to stem the bleeding, her friend called 999 and asked for the Coastguard.

Tam Bett, a volunteer crew member and helm at Anstruther RNLI, and two of his fellow lifeboat volunteers, brothers Stuart and Euan Hoggan, launched their D class lifeboat Akira.

Along the shoreline, the crew spotted somebody on the rocks waving to them. Euan skilfully navigated the lifeboat through the jagged rocks to get Tam and Stuart ashore.

‘Jo was lying at the bottom of the rock face,’ recalls Tam. ‘Her friend was with her, and two other scramblers who had stopped to help. She was alert and complaining of pain in her leg. We had to cut open her leggings, and that’s when we realised her knee, not her head injury, was actually the main concern. She had a life-threatening bleed.’

Working together, Tam and Stuart bandaged Jo’s leg to try and stem the bleeding. They also gave her oxygen and pain relief to keep her comfortable until the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick arrived.

‘They kept talking to me to reassure me, make sure that I was coherent and that I knew what was going on,’ recalls Jo. ‘There was no judgement over my stupidity. I was in so much pain – for them to take it away was such a relief.’

After landing on the beach just around the corner, paramedics from the Coastguard rescue helicopter worked with Tam and Stuart to assess and treat Jo. They secured her onto a stretcher and got her into position so that she could be winched up into the helicopter and taken to hospital in Glasgow. Then the lifeboat crew dropped Jo’s friend at Elie where his car was parked, so that he could get to the hospital quickly.

‘It was an exhausting shout,’ reflects Tam, ‘but we all worked as a team to give Jo the emergency care she needed. It always feels good when you’re able to help someone.’

It’s months since the accident now and Jo reports her recovery is going well: ‘After surgery on my knee, I had a leg brace on for a while, but now I’m strong again. I broke my cheek bone, but that healed on its own.

‘I can’t express how grateful I am to everyone who helped me, especially Anstruther lifeboat crew. And if it wasn’t for all the generous support they get from people like you, they wouldn’t have been there in my time of need, so I have all of you to thank too.’

Jo’s delighted to be climbing again. And usually, she’d be booking a climbing holiday in the Christmas holidays, but this year she has other plans: ‘It definitely feels like Christmas should be more special this year, spending time with all my family.’ ■

TOP TIPS

Jo gives a word of warning to fellow scramblers and boulderers, and to coastal walkers and runners: ‘Stay on the path, don’t go off-piste, and have your wits about you.’

Slips and falls from walking and running are the biggest cause of death on our coastlines. Check out these tips on coastal walking: RNLI.org/CoastalWalking.

Words: Vicki Lovegrove-Fray Photos: Kris Griffiths, John Kay, RNLI/(Michael Bruce, Martin Macnamara)

Anstruther Crew Member Stuart Hoggan watches the Coastguard helicopter as it joins the rescue mission

Jo, happy to be reunited with the crew – Euan, Tam and Stuart

OH BROTHER!

On paper, it was a trip that was meant to be. But on the water – for Bill and Matthew – things went south, fast

For Bill Turnbull, getting a boat wasn’t just about adventure. It offered a chance to bond with the sibling who – until a few years ago – he had never met. ‘When I was younger, my dad had hinted that I had a half-brother out there somewhere,’ explains Bill. ‘When my mum died in 2021, I began searching for him.

‘The first genealogy agency I tried drew a blank, but then I tried AncestryDNA. Unbeknown to me, my adopted half-brother, Matthew, had himself been trying – for 15 years – to trace his family. The adoption agency had put him in touch with his birth mother, but his father wasn’t traceable.’

When Matthew also turned to Ancestry, both siblings were informed – on the very same day – that their DNA had matched. They later discovered they shared a love of bikes, boats and the sea, and are now making up for lost time. ‘I lost my sister when she was 30, so it’s nice to have a sibling again,’ says Bill.

A shared adventure

Despite neither living close to the coast, Bill and Matthew decided to buy a boat. ‘I have brittle bone disease,’ Bill reveals. ‘But I don’t let that hold me back.’ When they came across a 10m yacht for sale, the name of it sealed the deal. It was called Carpe Diem. ‘Seize the day’ summed up Bill’s approach to life. ‘And the clincher was that the man selling it was called Mr Angel!’

Selsey RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat Denise and Eric

Half-brothers, Bill and Matthew, still share a love of boats and the sea

‘The force of the impact knocked me clean off my feet – I was like a rag doll’

BILL TURNBULL

Sailing it back from Weymouth to Norfolk after a refit, Bill was at the helm when a rogue wave threw him across the boat, injuring his leg. ‘Matthew took over as I went below, but another wave hit, flinging me into the bulkhead and giving me a blow to the head. The force of the impact knocked me clean off my feet, and I’m 6ft4 and 21 stone! I was like a rag doll.

‘Soon after, the engine started spluttering. The yacht was also taking on water – it was all going wrong. I used to work on an oil rig, and I have never seen the sea turn so quickly. Neither had Matthew, who is an experienced sailor.’

A leap of faith

‘I don’t recall much after that, but Matthew had called for help. When the RNLI arrived, I didn’t know how they were going to get to us due to the rocking of the yacht. Somehow, Craig – one of the lifeboat crew members – found the courage to leap onto a narrow 6-inch strip surrounding the boat. He checked me over and stayed with us as the lifeboat towed us into Chichester.

‘I think the fact that they’re volunteers is amazing. They’re the bravest men I’ve ever met, and they don’t even get paid! The yacht is now all fixed up and Matthew and I are determined to set out again. Hopefully, next time, the angels will be smiling down on us.’ ■

IS THERE A LIFESAVER IN YOUR FAMILY?

The RNLI has partnered with Ancestry, making thousands of the charity’s records available to the public. To discover whether someone in your family is part of RNLI history, visit bit.ly/AncestryLB. It’s free – simply sign up and search.

‘I’ve witnessed how quickly things can go from bad to worse at sea’

‘When we arrived, the yacht wasn’t anchored and was broadside on to the waves – never pleasant for those onboard. As one of Selsey’s casualtycare-trained crew members, I was tasked to go aboard. It can be a tricky manoeuvre. After several aborted attempts, I successfully made the jump, taking care to avoid the swinging boom.

‘Satisfied that the yacht wasn’t actually sinking, I assessed Bill’s injuries. They weren’t too serious. But given his condition, it wouldn’t have been safe to attempt to transfer him to the lifeboat, so I stayed onboard as my crew mates towed us to Chichester Harbour. I assessed Bill every 5 minutes.

‘This is my 20th year on the crew, and I’ve witnessed how quickly things can go from bad to worse at sea. Fortunately, the pair had a VHF radio, and Matthew did the right thing in using it and requesting assistance. Every crew member would rather be stood down than called out too late.’

Words: Darren Crew Photos: @iconized.ltd/Felix Bluethner

The name – Carpe Diem – tempted the brothers to buy the boat

RNLI Crew Member Craig made the leap to the rolling deck

The yacht Bill and Matthew planned to sail from Weymouth to Norfolk

CRAIG SERGEANT, VOLUNTEER CREW MEMBER, SELSEY RNLI

TO SAVE EVERY ONE TOGETHER

Since 1824,

the

RNLI’s mission has been to save every one. And for more than a century, we’ve been working with international partners to take on this mission together

The scale of the global drowning problem is a human disaster too big for any of us to ignore. Over 300,000 people lost their lives to drowning last year*, many of them children. We won’t stand by while anyone, anywhere, drowns. Although the problem can seem overwhelming, the most effective solutions are often low-cost and simple.

In July 1924, the RNLI hosted the inaugural International Lifeboat Conference in London. For the first time in history, people from lifeboat organisations around the world came together to discuss the challenges they faced and how to overcome them. This marked the beginning of a new era of international collaboration to save lives from drowning. The International Lifeboat Federation was then formed, becoming the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) in 2007.

RNLI Head of International Kate Eardley says: ‘Since then, the RNLI’s international work has been dynamic and diverse. The formation of our International Team in 2012 established a new framework for ensuring international projects are scalable

and sustainable. We combine three key approaches to save the most lives possible: global influence, sharing our lifesaving expertise, prioritising high-risk locations.’

Global influence

Anyone can drown but no one should. To reach everyone, we’ve helped to secure two global commitments –both proposed by the governments of Bangladesh and Ireland: the United Nations (UN) historic Global Drowning Prevention Resolution in 2021, identifying drowning as an international issue to be taken on by all member states; the World Health Organization’s Accelerating Action on Global Drowning Prevention resolution in 2023. The UN resolution also

Helping to keep children safe around the world, with swim survival training

established an annual World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July – marked by 85 countries this year.

In 2024, recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) enabled us to reach more people around the world with water safety messages.

Sharing our lifesaving expertise

There is so much we’ve learned in our more than 200 years of lifesaving –and making sure other lifesavers can benefit from it is essential. Likewise, lifesavers in other parts of the world have their unique experiences and expertise. Every year, we host a Leaders in Lifesaving event at the RNLI College in Poole, where we learn from each other. Running it since 2012, we’ve so far had 148 participants from 44 countries!

‘We help partners with organisational development to ensure they can continue without the RNLI’s support’

KATE EARDLEY, RNLI HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL

Our crew members participate in the IMRF’s European Lifeboat Crew Exchange too. The RNLI’s Senior International Programme Manager Dave Whiddon says: ‘It’s a really great programme that enables crew members to share ideas and experiences to improve the ways we all save lives.’

We’ve also provided training to the Hellenic Rescue Team in Greece and sold retired RNLI vessels to volunteer lifeboat services around the world. This includes lifeboats finding second lives in Chile and Uruguay. Jorge Diena, former President of Uruguay’s ADES (a sea and river rescue association) said: ‘These lifeboats

always bring us home to a safe port and, for that, the ADES’s big family is extremely grateful.’

Prioritising high-risk locations

At the same time as collaborating widely with lifesavers all around the world, we also focus more closely on the people and places most affected by drowning – where a small amount spent can change countless lives. With partners in these countries, we work on tailored, targeted interventions. Kate says: ‘ We undertake research to better understand who is drowning and why, and we help set up lifesaving interventions that have a great impact.’

For example, in Zanzibar, we’ve helped develop and deliver survival swimming and water safety lessons. Zanzibar’s Panje Project has now trained thousands of teachers and other community members to deliver the aquatic survival training. Thanks to this, more than 250,000 children received water safety education between 2014 and 2020.

One of the main aims of this work was to find ways to increase girls’ access to drowning prevention interventions, within a conservative culture. The growing numbers of female swimming teachers led the way, setting an example and giving families the confidence for their daughters to learn.

Panje Project’s Khadija Ahmed says: ‘ It’s helping dispel the often-used myth that drowning is something that happens, and it’s fate. Working so closely with the community, we’re composed of people who are from that community, and so we give the message: “Trust us!”’

To save every one

We want to make drowning prevention accessible to lifesavers worldwide.

So we’ve developed manuals and technical guidance on areas such as aquatic survival, lifeguarding, fishing safety and low-cost equipment for use by lifesaving organisations in low-resource settings. The resources can be downloaded for free to support communities developing their own services.

We’re doing what we can to save every one. And we’re proud to share our lifesaving expertise internationally.

In 2024, we spent £3.1M on international projects, just 2% of the RNLI’s total spend.

Kate adds: ‘As well as your kind donations, we also seek funds from a wide range of organisations, trusts, foundations, businesses and donors to support our international work. In 2024, our international work received funding from the international development budgets of the Irish and Isle of Man Governments, The Lifeboat Fund and the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

‘ During any project, we help partners with organisational development to ensure they can continue without the RNLI’s support – in particular finding sustainable ways to fund their services in future.’

Leaders in Lifesaving share knowledge from different countries

BETTER TOGETHER

USA

The RNLI built Waveney class lifeboats (introduced in 1967), based on designs by the US Coast Guard. In New York in 2021 the UN adopted the Global Drowning Prevention Resolution.

CHILE

The Volunteer Corps of Lifeboats Valparaíso has bought retired RNLI lifeboats since 1956, including relief Arun class lifeboat Mabel Alice in 2016.

FRANCE

Multi-agency training with the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer. Plus crew exchanges through the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). .

GREECE

Support and training for the Hellenic Rescue Team.

SENEGAL

Lifeguard training in 2012 and 2013.

URUGUAY

Many RNLI lifeboats have continued their lifesaving service with ADES since 1957, when the Greater London became ADES 1.

Lifeguarding intervention with the Red Dolphin Lifeguard Association. THE GAMBIA

We’ve been privileged to partner with so many lifesaving organisations around the world that you could write a book on it! For now, we share with you a snapshot of the partners we’ve been working with, to give you a sense of the breadth and depth of international drowning prevention through the years

FINLAND

Crew exchanges with the Finnish Lifeboat Institution crew through the IMRF.

KENYA

Lifesaving training to swimming teachers, lifeguards, and local fishers in 2008. Exploring coordinating Lake Victoria fishing safety work.

TANZANIA

Helping reduce drowning around Lake Victoria through fisher safety training, improved weather information, and better access to high-quality lifejackets.

BANGLADESH

Training and resources to establish a lifeguard service in Cox’s Bazar. Also helping to keep young children safe in community creches and supporting swim survival training for school-age children.

PHILIPPINES

GHANA

Swimming and rescue lessons for young people with the Felix Foundation. The Aquatic Survival manual is now available world-wide.

Flood relief in 2000. This also led to the RNLI founding a UK/Ireland flood rescue team. MOZAMBIQUE

Dan Navarro from the Community Lifesaving Initiatives Federation used what he learned in the 2012 Leaders in Lifesaving programme to create an inexpensive throw bag rescue device – the construction guide is available world-wide.

Words: dunnāco lee-morikū

Photos: Nihab Rahman, RNLI/(Aram Atkinson, Harrison Bates, Charis Walker)

since 2013 with the Panje Project.

‘I want to show my two girls that they can be whatever they want to be’

LEXI

OBEE-KENDALL, TRACTOR DRIVER AND LIFEBOAT MEDICAL ADVISOR

Me and my ... tractor

Mudeford’s Lexi Obee-Kendall reveals how she ended up in the driving seat

When I joined the station there were no women in the shore crew, and only one female lifeboat crew member. I thought: ‘I want to be the first female tractor driver at Mudeford.’ Despite having no relevant experience, I put in the training and passed out as a tractor driver in 2024.

You don’t need to be big or strong to drive the tractor. It’s a skill you can be taught. I want to show my two girls that they can be whatever they want to be – they are 7 and 8 now, and they think it’s cool.

Volunteering gives you a sense of pride. As somebody who lost themselves as a single mum of small children, it restored my confidence. And I have a great support network – it’s like a big family.

Feeling inspired? Head to RNLI.org/volunteer. And for more from Lexi, visit RNLI.org/MakingTracks. ■

Photo: RNLI/Harrison Bates

DEBT OF GRATITUDE

David Richmond-Coggan has two sons and four grandchildren, yet all six owe their lives to a rescue carried out long before they were even born

It ’s 12 August 1940. Margate’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers have not long been back from the shores of France, where they joined 18 other lifeboats – as part of the armada of Little Ships – to help evacuate troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. The Margate crew alone, led by Coxswain Edward Parker, rescued some 600 men. Now, the Margate volunteers are gathered at the town hall, ready to witness a painting being presented to the town

as a token of thanks for the part Margate played in the evacuation. It depicts a scene from Operation Dynamo – including a boat crowded with soldiers against a backdrop of wreckage. But the presentation is halted by an air-raid siren.

Five miles from the lifeboat station, two minesweepers – Tamarisk and Pyrope – have been bombed.

The volunteer crew, again led by Coxswain Parker, waste no time

The Epic of Dunkirk by Charles Cundall ara –a painting presented to Margate in honour of the town’s role in the Dunkirk evacuation

in getting to the lifeboat J.B. Proudfoot. The two minesweepers, each with a crew of 20, had sunk almost immediately, leaving those on board no time to launch lifeboats of their own.

When the Margate crew arrive on scene, the water is filled with men, many burned and badly injured. The volunteers manage to rescue 28 men (one of whom sadly dies shortly after arriving back on shore).

Seven from the Tamarisk are lost, but one of the minesweeper’s survivors is Bill Pavitt.

Two years after his rescue, Bill gets married to Betty. They have two

children, called Ken and Hazel. In 1974, David Richmond-Coggan marries Hazel. The couple go on to have two children and four grandchildren. They owe their lives to the 1940 Margate crew.

Tamarisk. It’s believed to be the very lifering Bill clung to after the minesweeper was bombed

The 1940 Margate crew in front of The Lord Southborough This lifeboat was damaged at Dunkirk, so the J.B. Proudfoot provided cover while it was under repair

A newspaper clipping, announcing the bombing that David’s father-in-law was lucky enough to survive

4 MILLION OWE THEIR LIVES TO THE RNLI

‘It has been an honour to try to repay that debt’

A report by the Worshipful Company for Actuaries estimates that around 4 million people are alive today – that wouldn’t be otherwise – thanks to the RNLI saving lives at sea over 2 centuries. Peter Tompkins, who prepared the report on behalf of the Company, says: ‘The RNLI has maintained a remarkable record of data on saving lives over the last 200 years. We combined this with the equally good national record of population statistics to show the effect that family growth has had on the numbers of people to be thankful for the rescue of an ancestor.’

Since retiring in 2009, David has dedicated much of his time to the RNLI – inspired by the 1940 Margate crew. He has educated more than 60,000 young people about water safety and has helped raise thousands of pounds for the charity. In his time as Chair of the Christchurch and Bournemouth Fundraising Branch, the group has raised nearly £45,000 in just 3 years. As a strong believer that prevention is the best form of lifesaving, David has helped channel the funds to the RNLI lifeguarding service, which in 2026 marks its 25th anniversary.

He says: ‘The Margate lifeboat saved the life of my future fatherin-law when his minesweeper was bombed in August 1940 during the Second World War. Without the RNLI, Hazel would never have been born, and neither would my two sons and four grandchildren.

It has been an honour to try to repay that debt.’

Sadly, Hazel died in 2023 at the age of 74. The pair were married for 49 years. David has continued his volunteering and has been awarded a British Empire Medal. He dedicates the honour to Hazel and reflects: ‘The RNLI is a brilliant organisation to serve and all the volunteers and staff I have worked with have made it a wonderful journey. I am humbled to be recognised in this way and know it comes from all their efforts.’

David and Hazel (seated left), surrounded by the family at Hazel’s 70th birthday celebration

Happy memories – Hazel and David

The Margate crew during the Second World War, who changed David's life

Bill and Betty fall in love –they're David's future in-laws

DAVID'S JOURNEY – A TIMELINE

Bill and Betty get married

The minesweeper Tamarisk is bombed.

Margate RNLI crew rescue Bill

Bill and Betty’s daughter, Hazel – David’s future wife – is born

David is born

David retires and volunteers for the RNLI

Hazel and David get married. Later on, they have two sons and four grandchildren

David is awarded the British Empire Medal

David becomes Chair of the RNLI Christchurch and Bournemouth Fundraising Branch

SHARE YOUR STORY

If someone in your family served in – or was rescued by – the RNLI in the Second World War, please tell us. Thanks to a grant provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the RNLI is seeking and sharing the wartime experiences of volunteers and those rescued by the charity during the conflict.

‘It fills me with pride’

CHRIS SANDWELL, FORMER VOLUNTEER CREW MEMBER, MARGATE RNLI

‘Growing up in a lifeboat family instilled in me a duty of service. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to follow the family tradition and join the crew.

‘I joined Margate Lifeboat Station in 1966, and served for 45 years until I retired in 2011. What gave me satisfaction was the knowledge that we as a crew had made a difference in people’s lives. Over my years at the boathouse, on several occasions, those we had been able to help came back to say thank you. What really gave me satisfaction was when those that did had been saved when my grandfather, Harry, or father, Ken, had been part of the crew.

‘It fills me with pride to think back to those war years, when granddad Harry and his fellow crew mates stepped

forward and did their duty. It’s sobering to think of the risks they took back then – bombing being among them, as well as the ever-present dangers that were encountered at sea. Harry would have been delighted to know that the saving of one man – in this case, Bill Pavitt of the Tamarisk – not only allowed Bill to have a full life, but enabled his future family to lead full lives too.

‘What gave me satisfaction was the knowledge that we as a crew had made a difference in people’s lives’

‘I felt privileged to be trusted with the responsibilities that went with being lifeboat crew. How fortunate I was to have that chance. I was recently asked how many of my family and extended family served on lifeboats – the answer is 35-plus, on Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate lifeboats. I wonder if they were watching over me?’

Learn more about our wartime history and share your story at RNLI.org/YourStories.

Former Margate RNLI Crew Member Chris Sandwell, whose grandfather – Harry – saved lives in the Tamarisk rescue

Chris’s grandfather, Harry Sandwell, was one of the lifeboat crew saving lives in Operation Dynamo, depicted in The Withdrawal from Dunkirk by Charles Cundall ara

below:

Building for the future

Eighty-five years after Margate lifeboat crew member Harry Sandwell and the rest of the volunteers rescued David’s father-in-law, Bill, from the Tamarisk, the town is getting a new lifeboat station. Built on the footprint of the existing site, it will provide modern training and changing facilities for both lifeboat crews and the RNLI lifeguards who provide cover on Margate’s beaches. The new station will also include a new shop and visitor centre.

To fund the lifeboat station, the RNLI launched an appeal to help reach the £3.5M target. Local fundraisers – including David – are doing their utmost to help and would appreciate any extra help they can get.

Derek Amas, Margate RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager says: ‘We are looking forward to the new station which will provide a modern, safe and warm environment for our lifesaving volunteer crew along with new facilities for our volunteers in the shop, fundraisers, lifeguards and water safety teams. The new station will provide us with the capability to continue saving lives on Thanet’s beaches and off the north Kent coast well into the future. The RNLI and all those involved with Margate RNLI are committed to providing the best lifesaving service possible to all those who live in, and visit, Margate and all those who enjoy our beautiful Kent coast.’ ■

‘The new station will provide us with the capability to continue saving lives on Thanet’s beaches and off the north Kent coast well into the future’

DEREK AMAS, LIFEBOAT OPERATIONS MANAGER, MARGATE RNLI

Above and

computer-generated images of how the new Margate Lifeboat Station will look

Words: Darren Crew

Photos: Imperial War Museum, Greg Nocentini, RNLI/(Margate, Nathan Williams), Nicholas Smith Photography, Studio Four Architects.

The Epic of Dunkirk painting is from the collections of Margate Museum, courtesy of Thanet District Council and Ms Jackie Setter

SHELF LIFE

Cosy up by the fireplace, pour yourself a hot drink and dive into a fascinating story …

Reviews: Becci Jewell, Eva Lotriet, Lucie Stamp

and Tony Forward

In Ascension

by Martin MacInnes

EDITOR’S PICK

Growing up, Leigh escaped to the water whenever she could. As a budding biologist, she joins a ship bound for the mid-Atlantic on an expedition shrouded in mystery. Little does Leigh know that this marks the start of a journey that’ll take her further than the ocean depths. And that her very survival will depend on the marine life she studies.

Tense and thrilling, In Ascension will whisk you from watery worlds to the fringes of the solar system. It’s a tale, too, of navigating family tensions and the space between siblings. If you’re a fan of science fiction, exploration, or compelling characters, you’ll enjoy this book.

Published by Atlantic Books | Price: £9.99

Inside the Britannic by

Simon Mills

Delve into the fascinating history of the Titanic's sister ship the Britannic –and how it too met its fate at the bottom of the ocean. Simon Mills will take you on an adventure through the boiler room and towards the servants’ quarters, all the way up on the first class elevator and into the elegant dining saloon. It’s a journey back in time that explores every layer of this gigantic shipwreck. He brings history to life, exploring the controversies of its fate with recovered diary entries, production logs, diagrams and pictures of the shipwreck. If this intrigues you, you’ll love this book.

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing | Price: £28 (hardback)

Welsh Folk Tales of Coast and Sea

by Peter Stevenson

Follow Môrwen, a Mesolithic girl from Wales, through a magical journey of the coastline in this enchanting collection of Welsh folklore. You could splash with mermaids, gossip with spirits or discover spectacular sea monsters as you accompany Môrwen in learning about the vast array of people who led unique lives in the Welsh coast, from times long ago to some more recent.

Whether you wish to learn about Wales’ captivating history or the mythical creatures waiting behind every corner, this book is a perfect way to feel utterly enlightened. Join Môrwen and eagerly start your journey with Stevenson’s treasury of Welsh folklore.

Published by The History Press

Price: £14.99 (hardback)

Published by The History Press

Price £12.99 (hardback)

Cornish Folk Tales of Place

by Anna Chorlton

Delve deep into stories of Cornish folklore with Chorlton’s light-hearted retellings. There’s a realm filled with mystical tales –take your pick. Control the seas alongside powerful witches, be charmed by playful piskies, or roam lands as a great giant.

The possibilities are endless in mid and west Cornwall – everywhere is rippling with imagination. Chorlton’s well-written pages also include many illustrations from talented artists and children –a beautiful contribution that represents the Cornish community.

Whether you wish to be enthralled by supernatural creatures or learn about the true essence of Cornwall, this book will leave you bewitched and inspired.

Reading the Glass

by Elliot Rappaport

Reading the Glass is part memoir and part exploration of the world’s weather systems. There are tales from Captain Rappaport’s voyages as the captain of the US Merchant Marine’s square-rigged sail training ship, travelling across the globe, from Greenland to New Zealand. These are interlaced with an exploration of the complex science of weather on a global scale; how it influences our lives, particularly at sea, and how forecasts are generated.

Published by Sceptre

Price: £12.99

Good read?

This compelling and informative book gives a sailor’s eye-view of the weather world – the perfect read for those who are drawn to the sea.

Have you read anything recently that has a sea theme? We’d love to hear your recommendation and it may feature on these book review pages in future.

Please email the editor at lifeboat@rnli.org.uk

Merry Christmas

from all your RNLI family!

This year, we’re loving the RNLI Christmas card featuring Grenadier 4x4 vehicles –the Official Vehicle of RNLI lifeboats. The first four Grenadiers will soon be deployed at RNLI stations, supplied by our official partner, INEOS Automotive (see RNLI.org/INEOS). Their main role is to launch and recover D class lifeboats, but they may well come in handy for delivering Christmas trees too!

Puzzle time

Quick wordsearch

The RNLI has worked with many lifesaving organisations around the world. Can you spot the selection of places below? To find out more, head to page 20. H

Can you unscramble these letters to find the name of this old class of lifeboat? If you’re struggling, a clue is that it’s also an English city name!

VOPIOELRL (Answer on page 41.)

LIFESAVER DR AMINUR RAHMAN

Meet the godfather of drowning prevention in Bangladesh

How are you involved with the RNLI?

I’ve been working closely with the RNLI since the very beginning of our partnership over a decade ago.

I’m Deputy Executive Director of a charity called CIPRB – the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh. Together with the RNLI we’ve been developing and implementing drowning prevention initiatives in Bangladesh, combining research, community-based solutions, and capacity building for the future.

Why are you involved with the RNLI?

I’ve always admired the RNLI’s commitment to saving lives at sea. Partnering with the RNLI allowed us to bring their lifesaving knowledge and expertise to communities in Bangladesh, where drowning is a leading cause of child death. About 40 children drown each day. Together with the RNLI, we’ve been able to make a real difference.

Can you tell us about a current project?

I’d like to highlight the Sonamoni project, a research initiative currently being implemented in two districts of Bangladesh. It focuses on preventing drowning among children under 2 years old, who are at high risk. The project is funded by the UK Government through their international development budget, and the RNLI is one of our partners. We are testing innovative,

community-based interventions to protect our youngest children.We generate evidence that can inform policy and scale-up efforts in Bangladesh and beyond.

What’s it like working with the RNLI?

The best part is the shared vision – saving lives. The RNLI team has been incredibly supportive, collaborative, and committed to understanding the local context. It’s inspiring to work with an organisation that brings global expertise but respects and empowers local solutions. The RNLI shares –it’s an exchange of knowledge and skills.

What are you most proud of in your work?

I’m proud that our work has contributed to saving thousands of young lives in Bangladesh. Seeing drowning rates decrease in the areas we serve and knowing that more children are growing up safely because of our interventions, is truly rewarding.

Hear more from Dr Amin and his lifesaving work in episode 163ofthe RNLI series 200Voices. Search ‘200Voices’ whereveryougetyour podcasts.

Photo: Marc Bader

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

A ABERDEEN

D-830: Jul 13,19,21,22,27

ON1248 (17-24): Jun 20, Jul 8,19,22,30, Aug 21,25,26

ABERDOVEY

B-896: Jul 15, Aug 2,5,12, 16,24

ABERSOCH

B-886: Jul 12,20,27, Aug 8, 10,11,15,17(x2),28

ABERYSTWYTH

A-78: Jul 12, Aug 10

B-937: Jun 28, Jul 9,12(x2), Aug 3,7,8,10,15(x2)

ACHILL ISLAND

ON1240 (14-28): Jul 20, Aug 16,18,23

AITH

ON1232 (17-14): Jul 5, Aug 31

ALDEBURGH

B-949: Jun 2,10,18,22, Jul 27

D-808: Aug 14

ALDERNEY

ON1245 (14-29): Jun 29, Jul 1(x2),5,14, Aug 1,3,10,12

AMBLE

D-867: Aug 9,10(x2),14, 19(x2)

ON1323 (13-16): Jun 5, Jul 12(x2), Aug 9,14

ON1347 (13-40): Aug 15, 19(x2)

ANGLE

ON1291 (16-11): Jun 6,8,16, 18,22,24(x2),25, Jul 2, 13(x2),14,19(x2),23, Aug 2, 5,7,12,13,16,18(x2),19,22, 23(x3),25(x2),26(x3)

ANSTRUTHER

ON1354 (13-47): Jun 10,19 APPLEDORE

B-861: Jun 5,11,12(x2), 24(x2),27(x2),29, Jul 3, 10,13,22, Aug 4,9,10,14, 16(x2),25

D-756: Jun 4, Jul 12,25, Aug 4

ON1296 (16-16): Jun 8,11, 15,21(x2),24,27, Jul 20, Aug 25

RNLI RESCUE CRAFT LAUNCHES

1 June to 31 August 2025

The launches listed here are those for which returns had been received at the RNLI Support Centre and processed by 24 September 2025.

ARAN ISLANDS

ON1217 (17-06): Jun 2(x2), 13,21,23,24,27,28, Jul 3, 5(x2),11,13(x2),15,16,18, 19,24,31, Aug 2,3,5,7,8, 12(x2),15,23(x2)

ARBROATH

B-927: Jun 17,23, Jul 7, Aug 2,3

D-892: Jun 9,17,23, Jul 7, 16, Aug 2,3,7 ARKLOW

ON1360 (13-53): Jun 23,26, Jul 12,13, Aug 3 ARRAN (LAMLASH)

B-876: Jun 1, Jul 6,26,28, Aug 13

ARRANMORE

ON1260 (17-31): Jun 1,2, 8(x2),20(x2),23

ON1262 (17-33): Jun 27(x2), Jul 8,9,11,12,13,29, Aug 1, 24(x3)

BALLYCOTTON

ON1233 (14-25): Jun 24

BALLYGLASS

D-823: Aug 4

ON1235 (17-15): Jun 20,21

BALTIMORE

B-910: Aug 2,7,23

ON1290 (16-10): Jul 23, Aug 11,17

ON1302 (16-22): Jul 5,14

Y-226: Aug 23

The D class lifeboat David H (D-876) launching by Bobcat at Eastbourne

Photo: Nicholas Leach

BANGOR (CO DOWN)

B-901: Jun 19

B-944: Jun 11(x2),21,22, Jul 14,15, Aug 12(x2),16,20, 26,28

BARMOUTH

D-814: Jun 4, Jul 13(x2),23, 25, Aug 6,12(x3),13,16(x2), 17,23,25

BARRA ISLAND

ON1230 (17-12): Jun 7, Jul 26,27, Aug 7,21

BARROW

D-866: Jun 7,20, Jul 27, Aug 17,30

ON1288 (16-08): Jun 11,13, Jul 13, Aug 17

BARRY DOCK

D-820: Jun 11(x2),15,18,20, 21,23, Jul 1,19,23,24,25, Aug 3,6,12,24(x8),25(x3),30

ON1358 (13-51): Jun 16, 17,21,24, Jul 1,8,11,19(x2), 20,25(x2),27,28, Aug 3, 25(x2),30

BEAUMARIS

B-838: Jun 8,21,22, Jul 2, 11(x2),12(x2),13(x2),14, 15(x2),18,20,28(x2),29, Aug 8,12,23,25,30

BEMBRIDGE

D-778: Jun 14, Jul 4,5,9, 13,20(x2),22(x2), Aug 7,9(x2),11,12,13,23, 25(x2),26,29

ON1297 (16-17): Jun 14,24, Jul 4,10,22

ON1301 (16-21): Aug 7,9, 10(x2),12,16,21,30

BERWICK-UPON-TWEED

B-940: Jul 5

D-900: Jul 5,15, Aug 6 BLACKPOOL

B-867: Jun 25,28, Jul 12, 18, Aug 26

D-857: Jun 13,15,17,18,19, 30, Jul 5,6,12(x2),16,19,22

D-862: Jun 25,30, Jul 1, 2(x2),3,6,12,22,23

D-864: Jun 17,18,19, Jul 19(x2) BLYTH

B-864: Jun 20,21

B-923: Jun 16, Jul 20, Aug 12,13,16

D-878: Jun 11,17,29, Jul 20, Aug 12,13,17

BORTH

D-893: Aug 12,14,16,18 BRIDLINGTON

D-852: Jun 15, Jul 22, Aug 5,13(x2)

D-887: Jun 1,4

ON1329 (13-22): Jun 4, Jul 2,30, Aug 26

BRIGHTON

B-852: Jun 11(x2), 13,16,18,28(x2), Jul 1,11(x2),12(x2),13, 14,18(x3), Aug 3,8,22,23, 25(x2),28

BROUGHTY FERRY

D-834: Jun 5,6,8,11,29, Jul 2,11,12(x2),15,31, Aug 10,12,14(x2),15,21,24, 26,31

ON1252 (14-31): Jun 4,5,6, 8,11,28, Jul 2,3,12,15,18, 25,31, Aug 9,12,14,15,24, 26,31

BUCKIE

ON1268 (17-37): Jun 17, Jul 19,30

BUDE

D-826: Jun 6, Jul 7

BUNDORAN

B-834: Jun 21, Jul 11, 12(x2),26, Aug 2,12,14,16,31

BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH

B-849: Jun 12,15(x2),16, Jul 7, Aug 14,24(x2)

D-807: Aug 14,24

BURNHAM-ON-SEA

B-914: Jun 1,21, Jul 12,26

D-801: Jun 4, Jul 26, Aug 23(x2) BURRY PORT

B-883: Aug 16(x3),17,22

B-915: Jun 11,18,23,25, Jul 11(x2),13(x3),21,28

D-761: Jun 23,25, Jul 2,11, 12,13(x3),24(x2),28(x2), Aug 12(x3),18,22

CALSHOT

B-860: Jun 1,7(x2),16, 17,22,30, Jul 11,14,21, 22(x2),24(x2), Aug 3(x2),4,17,24,27,30

D-880: Jun 1,22, Jul 1,11, 21(x2), Aug 21

CAMPBELTOWN

D-870: Aug 7

ON1241 (17-19): Jun 10, 21(x2),22,29, Jul 2,10, Aug 7,8,15,16

CARDIGAN

B-871: Jun 21, Jul 29(x2), Aug 8,9,11,13,18,24(x2), 25,28

D-845: Jun 21, Aug 8,9,11, 13,18,25,28

CARRYBRIDGE

B-904: Jun 7, Jul 11,12,26, Aug 1,2,8,14,15,23,25

CASTLETOWNBERE

ON1277 (17-44): Jun 25, Jul 23, Aug 31

CHISWICK

E-07: Jun 2,3(x3),4(x2),5

E-08: Jun 7(x2),8,10, Jul 8, 11(x4),12,14(x2), Aug 17, 18(x3),19,24(x2),25,27, 28(x3),31

E-09: Jun 13(x2),14(x2), 17,21,23,24,25,27(x3), 29(x2), Jul 3,5,6,8,18,20,23, 27,28,30,31, Aug 1(x2),6, 8(x2),9,10,19

CLACTON-ON-SEA

D-849: Jun 2,6(x2),14,16, 21,22,24,25,26,27,29, Jul 1,9,18,28,29, Aug 3,6, 9,11,25

ON1359 (13-52): Jun 1,2, 3,15,16,27,29, Jul 9,17,18, Aug 2,4(x2),22 CLEETHORPES

D-889: Jun 1,4,7,14,18, 19,21(x2),22,28,29, Jul 5, 11,16,24,25,26,28,31, Aug 6,10(x3),11,18,24(x2),25 CLIFDEN

B-869: Jun 7,21, Jul 11(x2), 28,30, Aug 24

ON1350 (13-43): Jun 21, Jul 11,28

CLOGHERHEAD

ON1338 (13-31): Jun 2, Jul 28

CLOVELLY

B-872: Jul 2,20(x2),31, Aug 25 CONWY

D-765: Jul 12

D-898: Jun 19,21,23, Jul 7, 12(x2),13,19,30, Aug 13, 16(x3),17,18(x3),25,28,30 COURTMACSHERRY

HARBOUR

BB-758: Jun 17

ON1334 (13-27): Aug 1,10 COURTOWN

D-846: Jun 1, Jul 10,14(x2), Aug 5(x2),6 COWES

B-859: Jun 6,7,14,15,16,17, 21,22(x2), Jul 4,6,13(x4), 26(x2),31, Aug 9,10,11,14, 24,29

CRASTER

D-881: Jul 31

CRICCIETH

A-76: Jun 14,21(x2),30

B-898: Jun 30

B-938: Jul 18 CROMER

D-868: Jun 21, Jul 23,29

ON1287 (16-07): Jul 5

ON1293 (16-13): Aug 3(x2) CROSSHAVEN

B-892: Jun 21(x2),26,27, Jul 7(x2),26, Aug 6(x2),7, 16,22

CRACK THE CODE

Use this simple key to identify the lifeboat/craft in action

trolley

You power our lifesaving

The cost of lifeboats varies hugely:

This is what it costs on average to build the lifeboat, deliver it, and make it ready for service.

CULLERCOATS

B-921: Jul 5,6,8(x2),11,16, 21,24,29, Aug 6,7(x2),8,23

B-935: Jun 7,14,16(x2), 22,24

DART

B-931: Jun 3,16,22, Jul 18, 28, Aug 5,8,13,19,26,28

D-838: Jul 18,28,29, Aug 8, 17,19,28

DONAGHADEE

BB-681: Jul 6, Aug 7

ON1225 (14-21): Jun 2, Jul 21, Aug 2,4,9,10 DOUGLAS

ON1181 (12-22): Jul 29, Aug 14

DOVER

ON1220 (17-09): Jun 8,11, 13,14,21,30, Jul 1,3,4(x2), 10,11,13,18,20,24(x2),26, 30,31, Aug 7,9,11(x2),14,26

DUN LAOGHAIRE

D-792: Aug 13,14,18, 19(x2),20,24(x3),25(x2)

D-865: Jun 1,3,4,12,15, 20,23, Jul 1,6,12,20,26,29

ON1200 (14-05): Jun 1,18, Jul 11,30, Aug 5,17,23,30 DUNBAR

D-844: Jul 11(x2), Aug 3, 15,31

ON1266 (14-35): Jul 11,25, Aug 31

DUNGENESS

ON1309 (13-02): Jul 24,30, 31, Aug 7,24(x3) ON1314 (13-07): Jun 13(x2), 14,19,21,29,30, Jul 4,10,11

DUNMORE EAST

ON1334 (13-27): Jul 3,5 ON1348 (13-41): Jul 12,19

EASTBOURNE

D-876: Jun 2(x2),15,16(x2), 18,21,25,28, Jul 1,3,4,5,13, 22,24,27,28, Aug 5,7,14,15, 16(x2),22,23,29

ON1197 (14-02): Jun 6,14, 18,21,27, Jul 6,31(x2), Aug 2,6,16(x2),17(x2) ENNISKILLEN

B-912: Jul 5,17, Aug 10, 14(x2),31

EXMOUTH

D-805: Jun 1,2,3, Jul 2,5, 7(x2),15,17,20(x2), Aug 1,4,5,10,11,15,16,24,25

ON1310 (13-03): Jun 22, Aug 14,15,24

ON1347 (13-40): Jul 5,11

EYEMOUTH

D-877: Jun 27,28, Jul 12, Aug 30

ON1336 (13-29): Jul 12, 22,24

FALMOUTH

B-916: Jun 2,5,16,21,25, 26,28,29, Jul 2,24,26,29, Aug 1,9(x2),12,13,14(x2), 20,26(x2),31

ON1351 (13-44): Jun 13

ON1363 (13-56): Jul 26, Aug 1,29

FENIT

D-860: Jun 20, Aug 8

ON1239 (14-27): Jul 12, Aug 8

FETHARD

D-819: Jul 3, Aug 7 FILEY

B-928: Jul 28, Aug 6

D-859: Jun 8, Jul 13,16,28, Aug 6,10,23,24,25

D-894: Jun 21 FISHGUARD

D-789: Aug 19

ON1198 (14-03): Jun 27, Jul 2,14,29 FLAMBOROUGH

B-820: Jun 12,19,28, Jul 2,4,13(x2),27,30, Aug 9,13,16,24 FLEETWOOD

D-853: Jun 11,19,21, Jul 2,13(x2),14,28, Aug 2,8

ON1311 (13-04): Jun 19, 28,29, Aug 8(x2) FLINT

D-795: Jul 8,30, Aug 7(x2),12 FOWEY

B-845: Jul 27, Aug 1,8,14, 16,20,21,24,26,28

D-817: Jun 15,17,27,28, Jul 1,2,14,20, Aug 12

ON1222 (14-18): Jun 13,14, 17,19, Jul 12,13,20 FRASERBURGH

ON1259 (14-34): Jun 1,26, Aug 3,14,16,21 GALWAY

B-853: Jun 7,15,19, Jul 12, 13,28, Aug 1,17 GIRVAN

ON1330 (13-23): Jun 7(x2),21(x2), Jul 12,16, 21(x2), Aug 4,9,13

GRAVESEND

B-827: Jun 4,5,6,16,22(x3), 29,30, Jul 2,3,4,6,11,12,24, Aug 2,10,25

GREAT YARMOUTH AND GORLESTON

B-925: Jun 1,27, Jul 15,17, 18,20,21,22,25,26,29, Aug 2, 10(x2),17,24

ON1208 (14-10): Jun 22,28

HAPPISBURGH

D-813: Jul 5, Aug 7,28

HARTLEPOOL

B-895: Jun 10,24,27, 30(x2), Jul 11,21,26, Aug 9,12

ON1361 (13-54): Jun 5, Jul 2, Aug 9

HARWICH

B-907: Jun 2,13,14(x2), 16(x2),17(x2),20,21, 22,25, Jul 1,7,30, Aug 1,4,9,17(x2),23,27

ON1202 (17-03): Aug 16

HASTINGS

D-835: Jun 26, Jul 4(x2), 18(x2),31, Aug 6

ON1335 (13-28): Jun 22,26, Jul 5,24,31, Aug 7

ON1339 (13-32): Aug 24

HAYLING ISLAND

B-913: Jun 4(x2),5,13, 19,21(x3),22,24,26,29, 30(x3), Jul 8,13

D-779: Jun 21(x2),22, 28,29,30, Jul 8,10,12, Aug 8

HELENSBURGH

B-903: Jun 11,12,15,21,23, 27,29,30, Jul 7,12(x4), 16(x2),22, Aug 3,12

HELVICK HEAD

B-874: Jun 21, Jul 7,14,20, Aug 16,23

HOLYHEAD

D-791: Jun 19,24, Jul 13, 27, Aug 10

ON1205 (14-07): Jun 13, 24, Jul 13,27(x2),30, Aug 25

HORTON AND PORT

EYNON

D-824: Jun 11, Jul 8,14,26, Aug 16(x3),17,25

HOWTH

D-796: Jun 10,14,18,19, Jul 17

ON1215 (14-17): Jun 19, 24,25, Jul 17

XP-25: Aug 14,18

HOYLAKE

H-005: Jun 2,11,16,18(x2), Jul 10(x2),13,24, Aug 25

ON1313 (13-06): Jul 8, Aug 14,18,25(x2)

HUMBER

ON1216 (17-05): Jun 28,30, Jul 23, Aug 29

HUNSTANTON

B-848: Jun 14,24, Jul 8,9, Aug 9,25

H-003: Jun 16,21,28(x2), Jul 8(x2),12,25, Aug 10, 16,25(x2)

ILFRACOMBE

D-863: Jun 1,12,16,19, 29,30, Jul 8,11,12(x3),13,14, 26,27, Aug 8,9(x3),14,15,27

ON1316 (13-09): Jun 11, 12,14,28, Jul 14,20,21, 23,27(x2)

ON1319 (13-12): Aug 14

INVERGORDON

ON1344 (13-37): Jun 3,5, Jul 13,19, Aug 13,17

ISLAY

ON1219 (17-08): Jun 19, Jul 10(x2), Aug 3,9,19,25

KESSOCK

B-873: Jun 20,28, Jul 4,7, 12,16,27,28, Aug 2,14

KILKEEL

B-812: Jun 21, Aug 25

KILMORE QUAY

ON1298 (16-18): Jun 16,24, Jul 1(x2),9,25,30, Aug 1,10

KILRUSH

B-844: Jul 15,26, Aug 15

KINGHORN

B-836: Jun 1,13,15,16,17, 19,20(x2),21,22, Jul 2,5(x2), 6,7(x2),8,12(x3),13, Aug 1, 5,12,13(x3),17(x2),23,24, 25,26,27

KINSALE

B-909: Jun 16,28, Jul 2, Aug 10

KIPPFORD

D-854: Jun 30, Aug 10,13

KIRKCUDBRIGHT

B-814: Jun 18, Jul 17, Aug 1,16

KIRKWALL

ON1231 (17-13): Jun 25, Jul 19, Aug 26

KYLE OF LOCHALSH

B-856: Jun 2,4, Jul 4,13

LARGS

B-854: Jun 15,16,18,19, 20,21, Jul 5,10,12,16,20, Aug 1(x2),3,7(x2),12, 17(x3),18,24,29(x2) LARNE

D-783: Jun 13,18, Jul 13(x2), 26, Aug 9,25 ON1246 (14-30): Jul 13, Aug 9

LERWICK

ON1237 (17-17): Jun 8,13, 17,18,19, Aug 13(x2), 14(x2),28

LITTLE AND BROAD HAVEN

D-899: Jun 13,19,24,25, Jul 18, Aug 12,16,23,25,28

LITTLEHAMPTON

B-891: Jun 15,16,23,28, Jul 3(x2), Aug 2,10,14, 16(x2),21,23

D-902: Jun 8,11,15,16, 21,29, Jul 3,24,25,30, Aug 10(x2),12,14,18,21,24

LITTLESTONE-ON-SEA

B-899: Jun 11,14(x2), 28(x2),29(x2), Jul 24,25,29, Aug 7,9,11

B-922: Aug 29

LLANDUDNO

D-793: Jun 10,19, Jul 7,11, 12,24, Aug 10,17

ON1325 (13-18): Jun 28, Jul 15,18, Aug 7,30

LOCH NESS

B-902: Jun 5(x2),8,20,24, Jul 3,27, Aug 4,13,14 LOCHINVER

ON1271 (17-40): Jun 12, Aug 2

LONGHOPE ON1284 (16-05): Jun 11, Aug 6

LOOE

B-894: Jun 11,13,20, Jul 19,24,27, Aug 8,11,15

D-872: Jun 11, Jul 24, Aug 11

LOUGH DERG

B-911: Jul 4,26, Aug 4,6,31

LOUGH REE

B-920: Jun 24, Jul 12(x3), Aug 2,5,12,17

LOUGH SWILLY

B-819: Jun 25,29, Jul 8,10, 15, Aug 1,17 ON1315 (13-08): Jun 21, Jul 13(x2),16,22,23 LOWESTOFT

ON1312 (13-05): Jun 7,14, 16,29, Jul 22,26, Aug 9,11 LYME REGIS

B-857: Jun 3,21,24,30, Jul 3,6,8,9,20,21, Aug 18(x2),20,21,22

LYMINGTON

B-880: Aug 15(x2),17, 23,24,25(x2)

B-882: Jun 1,6,7,8,9,10,15, 20,29, Jul 1,13(x2),14(x2), 19,31, Aug 2,5,10

LYTHAM ST ANNES

D-800: Jun 20,29, Aug 9(x2),18,27,28 MABLETHORPE

B-887: Jun 1,22,28(x2),30, Jul 26, Aug 10(x2)

D-790: Jun 9,12, Jul 22, Aug 5,14,24,25 MACDUFF

B-933: Jun 7,21, Jul 5, 12(x2), Aug 18,26,27,28,30

MALLAIG

ON1250 (17-26): Jun 9,18, 20, Jul 7,8,13,16,26,27, Aug 1,4,8,12,16

MARGATE

B-930: Jun 2,25,27, Jul 3, 4,19, Aug 17,24

D-841: Jun 17,21,30, Jul 1, Aug 9,15,17,24(x2) MINEHEAD

B-939: Jun 1,11,30, Jul 6(x2),11,24, Aug 9

D-847: Jun 30, Jul 24,25, Aug 9,15,17,21,24(x2) MOELFRE

D-825: Jun 21,23, Jul 10, 13,14,17,21,28, Aug 5,9,14 ON1305 (16-25): Jun 18, 22, 29, Jul 5(x2),6,15,20,21, 28,29, Aug 2 MONTROSE

D-897: Jun 24,29, Jul 10, 24,27,29, Aug 8,11 ON1317 (13-10): Jun 3,23, Jul 8,31, Aug 24 MORECAMBE

D-855: Jun 7,8,14(x2),29, 30, Jul 2,11,12(x3),13(x3), 16,17, Aug 6,25

H-002: Jun 14,22, Jul 13,30 MUDEFORD

B-948: Jun 6,7,17,25,26,29, Jul 6,11,12(x3),14,20,24, 28(x2), Aug 9,10,17(x2), 21,30

NEW BRIGHTON

B-837: Aug 2,4(x2),6,18,19, 22,25,29(x2),31(x2)

B-883: Jun 10,13,18, Jul 9,10(x2),13(x2),15,16 NEW QUAY (CEREDIGION)

D-886: Jun 16,28, Jul 12,14, Aug 2,6,17 ON1355 (13-48): Jul 14, Aug 17,24,26 NEWBIGGIN

B-864: Jul 6,30, Aug 9,17, 20,26

NEWCASTLE (CO DOWN)

D-775: Jun 17, Jul 1,13(x2), 20,24, Aug 13,17,21,23 ON1177 (12-20): Jun 10, 14,17, Aug 23

NEWHAVEN

D-890: Jun 12,19,21,27,28, 30, Jul 6,7,13,17,24, Aug 23 ON1243 (17-21): Jun 6, 29(x2), Jul 20, Aug 6,11,23 NEWQUAY (CORNWALL)

B-936: Jun 4,18, Jul 5,11, 14,26,29(x2), Aug 6,10(x2), 11(x2),14,25

D-773: Jun 3,30, Jul 13,24, 26,29, Aug 9,10(x2),14 NORTH BERWICK

D-875: Jul 26,29, Aug 1, 13,25,29,31

D-891: Jun 1,9,15,24, Jul 11

OBAN

ON1328 (13-21): Jun 27(x2), 29(x2), Jul 1,11(x2),27

ON1357 (13-50): Jun 11, 16,21,25, Jul 31, Aug 4,6,7, 10,11,12,14 ON PASSAGE

ON1274 (14-37): Aug 14

PADSTOW

ON1283 (16-04): Jun 17, Jul 20(x2),23,28,29, Aug 1, 10(x2),18,23(x2),29 PEEL

ON1342 (13-35): Jun 9,27, Jul 12 PENARTH

B-839: Jun 1,28,29(x2), Jul 23,26,29,30

D-809: Jun 29, Jul 11, 26(x2),29,30, Aug 6,9

D-822: Jun 1 PENLEE

B-893: Jun 5,10,14,22,29, Jul 2,6,15,17, Aug 3,11, 19,24

ON1265 (17-36): Jun 1,4, 15,17,22,28,30, Jul 6(x2),9, 17(x2),19,27(x2),29, Aug 3, 16,20,25,26

PETERHEAD

ON1280 (16-01): Jun 16, Jul 15,29

PLYMOUTH

B-908: Jun 2,4,8,9(x2),10, 11,16,20,22(x2),26,27,30, Jul 1,4(x2),9,12(x2),18, 19(x2),25,27, Aug 1,9,11, 13,16,17(x3),20,22(x2), 23(x2),24,25

ON1264 (17-35): Jun 20,29, 30, Jul 1,5,9,18,28, Aug 20

POOLE

B-826: Jun 2(x2),3,5,12, 15(x2),21(x2),22(x4),27, Jul 1(x2),3,7,14(x2),22,31, Aug 7(x2),9(x4),10,11, 16(x3),21,22,23,25

D-804: Jun 2,6,15,27, Jul 1(x3),3,5,10,12, Aug 5, 10,16(x6),20,23,24,25

D-869: Jun 3

PORT ERIN

B-813: Jun 7,12

B-951: Jul 12(x2),24,26, Aug 24

PORT ISAAC

D-843: Jun 26,27, Jul 8,9, 12,25, Aug 9,24

PORT ST MARY

D-873: Jun 21

ON1213 (14-15): Jun 21, Jul 24, Aug 24

PORT TALBOT

D-848: Jun 25, Jul 6,13(x2), Aug 12,14,17

PORTAFERRY

B-833: Jun 1,20, Jul 8, Aug 12,20

PORTHCAWL

B-832: Jun 20,21,22,30, Jul 8,10(x3),12(x5),13,14, 17,23,25,26,30, Aug 5,6,10, 11,12(x4),13,16,17(x4),19, 20,24,25(x2),28,29(x2),31

D-861: Jun 16,20, Jul 9, 10(x2),12(x2),13,14,27,30, Aug 5,6,11,12(x3),13,24,25

PORTHDINLLAEN

ON1304 (16-24): Jun 2, 15,28, Aug 8,18,24(x2),25 PORTISHEAD

B-884: Jun 1(x3),5,21,22, Jul 23, Aug 3,6,20

PORTPATRICK

ON1332 (13-25): Jun 5, Jul 21

PORTREE

BB-683: Jun 22

BB-764: Aug 7

ON1214 (14-16): Jun 21,22, Jul 1,7,10,27, Aug 5,25,29 PORTRUSH

D-871: Jun 20, Jul 3,10, 12(x2),13(x2), Aug 13(x2) ON1257 (17-30): Jun 14, Jul 3,11,12(x2),14(x2),19, Aug 9(x2),22 PORTSMOUTH

B-846: Jun 1(x2),6,15, 21,22, Aug 3,4,6,14,19

D-774: Jun 18

D-850: Jun 23, Jul 4,5(x2), Aug 14

PWLLHELI

D-811: Jun 22, Jul 12, Aug 14

ON1346 (13-39): Jun 15

QUEENSFERRY

B-851: Jun 6,8(x2),16(x2), 17,20,21,22,29, Jul 8,10, 11,12(x2),13,16,22,23, 25,26, Aug 5,8,11,12, 13(x2),14(x2),17(x3),22,23, 24,25(x2),27,30(x2) RAMSEY

ON1349 (13-42): Aug 24

RAMSGATE

B-878: Jul 27,28, Aug 15, 27,30

B-932: Jun 6,14,19,21,23, 26,29, Jul 3

ON1303 (16-23): Jun 2, 13(x3),21,23,30(x2), Jul 3(x2),10, 11,12,14, 29,30(x2),31, Aug 11,17,28

RED BAY

B-843: Jul 14

ON1253 (14-32): Jul 14

REDCAR

B-858: Jun 7,8,16,20(x2), 23,28,29,30(x3), Jul 13(x2), 14,17(x2),19,25, Aug 1,3, 4,5,13,16(x2),19(x2),20

B-899: Aug 25

D-786: Jun 16,17,20,23,24, 28,30, Jul 13,14,17,28, Aug 1,3,4,5,13(x2),15,16, 23,29

RHYL

D-903: Jun 4,16,30(x2), Jul 11(x3),13(x4), Aug 2,13(x2) ON1341 (13-34): Jun 4,10, Jul 13,18, Aug 6,13,18,24

RNLI COLLEGE

D-771: Aug 26

ROCK

D-772: Jul 28

D-905: Jun 5, Aug 7,9,10, 12,17,22,24

ROSSLARE HARBOUR

ON1276 (17-43): Jun 16, Jul 9, Aug 2

RYE HARBOUR

B-900: Jun 30, Jul 1,31, Aug 20,25(x2)

SALCOMBE

B-905: Jun 22,28, Jul 4, 16,22, Aug 2(x2),9(x2)

ON1289 (16-09): Jun 8,11, 20,22,25,27,28(x2), Jul 2,9, Aug 9,26,28

SCARBOROUGH

D-856: Jun 1,14(x4),21,28, 29, Jul 13(x2),15(x2),25, Aug 9(x3),11,13,14,16,26

ON1322 (13-15): Jun 1, 28(x2),29, Jul 14,15,17,30, Aug 22

SEAHOUSES

D-828: Jun 7,24, Jul 23, 27(x2), Aug 9,21,23,26,27

ON1343 (13-36): Jun 12,16, Jul 18,22, Aug 10,16,27

SELSEY

D-827: Jun 2(x2),5,19,29, Jul 3(x3),4,7,12, Aug 1,12, 23,24(x2),26

ON1327 (13-20): Jun 1,4, Jul 8,13,17,19,22, Aug 3, 14,21

SENNEN COVE

D-896: Jun 5,18,26, Jul 3, 5,17, Aug 16

ON1294 (16-14): Jun 28, Jul 3,5,17(x2),25,26, Aug 6, 14,21,29

SHEERNESS

D-799: Jun 6,13,14(x2), 15(x2),19(x3),20,21,22, 29,30, Jul 1,4(x2),10,13, 20,23,29, Aug 1,6

ON1345 (13-38): Jun 9,10, 22,24,28, Jul 15,18,24(x2), 30, Aug 2,6,9,15,26

SHOREHAM HARBOUR

D-784: Jun 10,11,18,20, Jul 3,10,24, Aug 3,13,16,17

ON1295 (16-15): Jun 1, 5(x2),7,18(x2),21,28(x2),30, Jul 8,25,26(x2), Aug 2,3, 17,24

SILLOTH

B-828: Jul 12, Aug 13

SKEGNESS

D-842: Jun 4,15,21,27,28, Jul 14,22,25,31, Aug 8(x2), 13,14,16

ON1324 (13-17): Jun 5, 11,28

SKERRIES

B-866: Jun 7,15,17,18,26, 27, Jul 9,29, Aug 6,7,15, 16,18,24

SLIGO BAY

B-888: Jun 17,26,28(x2), Jul 25,26

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

B-885: Jun 7,8,14,15, 22(x2),29

D-771: Jun 19,22

D-818: Jun 15

D-904: Jun 15,16,20, Jul 6

H-004: Jun 11,17,18

SOUTHWOLD

B-868: Jun 21, Jul 17,31, Aug 13,23,28

ST AGNES

D-787: Jun 17, Jul 3,25,26, Aug 1,11

ST BEES

B-831: Jul 26, Aug 2,7, 18,24

ST CATHERINE

B-841: Jun 13,19,20,22,28, Jul 15,30

B-918: Aug 24

ST DAVIDS

D-840: Jun 16,26, Jul 1, Aug 15,17,23

ON1306 (16-26): Jun 13, 24,26, Jul 2,9,26, Aug 13, 15(x2),16,17,21

ST HELIER

B-934: Jul 26,31, Aug 8, 12,22

ON1292 (16-12): Jul 5,9, 13,17,19,26, Aug 25

ST IVES

D-803: Jun 16,23,28,30, Jul 2,5,10,17(x2), Aug 15, 17,18,21,24(x2),25

ON1318 (13-11): Jun 16,17, 27,28,30, Jul 2,10,17(x2), 27,29, Aug 1,15,18,21,25

ST MARY’S

ON1229 (17-11): Jun 13,19, 21, Jul 1,15,19,24,27,31, Aug 3,14

ST PETER PORT

B-943: Jun 7, Jul 10,14, 28(x2), Aug 15,23,25

ON1203 (17-04): Jun 19,27, Jul 28, Aug 1,7,25,26 STAITHES AND RUNSWICK

B-897: Jun 16,22, Aug 9 STONEHAVEN

B-919: Jun 3

B-941: Jun 24,29(x2), Jul 2, 8,13(x2), Aug 3,13,15 STORNOWAY

ON1238 (17-18): Jun 1,29

ON1279 (17-46): Jul 31 STRANRAER

D-833: Jun 7(x2), Jul 1,10, 16,21,31, Aug 2,7,23 STROMNESS

ON1236 (17-16): Jun 13, Jul 21,24, Aug 7,9,11,18,22 SUNDERLAND

B-945: Jun 8,9,10, Jul 2,11, 13,17(x3),23,30

D-879: Jun 16,24, Jul 23, Aug 10,17,29 SWANAGE

D-884: Jun 26,30, Jul 1, 13,14,17,27,28,31, Aug 2, 8,12,14,16(x3),24(x2),26,31

ON1320 (13-13): Jun 7,8, 15,26,30, Jul 13,17,31, Aug 4,7,12,16(x4),26 TEDDINGTON

D-785: Jun 3,4,11,25,29,30, Jul 6,10,11(x2),12(x2),15,18

D-874: Jun 1,3,4,9,25, Jul 11,12, Aug 2,3,18,22 TEIGNMOUTH

B-947: Jun 19,21,27, Jul 15, 19,20, Aug 6,9,10,20,24 TENBY

D-774: Jul 3,10,12(x2),14, 24,26(x2),28,29, Aug 1,2,5, 11(x2),12,14,16,21,22, 23(x2),24,26,27,29

D-858: Jun 9,16,19,22 ON1299 (16-19): Jun 15,28, Jul 3,5,13,26(x2), Aug 1,2,7, 15,16,17(x3),24,26,27,29,30 THE LIZARD

ON1300 (16-20): Jun 14, 17,20,22, Jul 13,18,31, Aug 4,13,14,21,25 THE MUMBLES

D-894: Jul 14,17,22,23, 26(x3), Aug 3,8,9,10,13(x2), 16,17,24,25,26

D-895: Jun 3,6,10,11,14,17, 18(x3),19,21,30, Jul 9,11(x2)

ON1307 (16-27): Jun 3, 6,10, Jul 11,14,26(x2),28, Aug 3, 9(x2),13,17,25,29

THURSO

ON1273 (17-42): Jun 7, Jul 21, Aug 17

TIGHNABRUAICH

B-862: Jun 1,2,6,19,21(x2), 23, Jul 29, Aug 6,8,24

TOBERMORY

ON1269 (17-38): Jun 21(x2),25, Jul 11,27,29

ON1270 (17-39): Aug 14,27

TORBAY

D-788: Jun 3(x2),20,22, 27, Jul 2,5,9,12,13(x2),14,16, 17(x2),20,22(x3),29(x2), Aug 3,5,6,9,12,21,24,25(x2), 26,29,31

ON1255 (17-28): Jun 6(x2), 11,21,22, Jul 2,5,9,13,16,18, 19, Aug 3,9,12,19,23,24,29

TOWER

E-07: Jun 6,7,8(x2),12(x2), 13(x3),14(x4),15(x2),16(x2), 17,19,20(x2),21,22(x3), 23(x3),26,27(x2),28,29, 30(x2), Jul 1,3(x5),4,10

E-08: Jul 29(x2),30,31(x4), Aug 1(x2),2(x4),3,6,7(x2),8, 10,11

E-10: Jun 1, Jul 5,6(x2), 7(x4),8(x3),9(x3),10,12,13, 14(x3),15,17(x4),19(x3), 21(x2),22,23(x4),24,26, 27(x3),28, Aug 12,13(x3), 14(x3),17(x2),18,19,20(x2), 22,23,24,25,27,28,29,30,31

TRAMORE

D-781: Jun 2,14,17, Jul 26(x2),29, Aug 14(x2), 15,17,24

TREARDDUR BAY

B-847: Jul 12(x2),21(x2), 24,26, Aug 5,9,16,22(x3), 23,25

D-885: Jul 19,21, Aug 16, 17,22

TROON

D-821: Jul 18(x2), Aug 16, 17(x2),27

LR75: Jul 21, Aug 5,16

ON1275 (14-38): Jun 1,23

ON1362 (13-55): Jul 10,12, 13,16,18, Aug 18,22,27

TYNEMOUTH

D-829: Jun 17,18,24,29,30, Jul 4,10(x2),11,14,27, Aug 2, 3,16,23,24,25(x2),28

ON1263 (17-34): Jun 1, 17,29, Jul 22,24(x2)

VALENTIA

BB-742: Jul 2,6

ON1218 (17-07): Jun 7,30, Jul 2,11(x2),12(x2),13,20, Aug 13,14,15,16

WALMER

B-950: Jun 8,18, Jul 1, 10(x2),16,30, Aug 11,22

D-794: Jun 9,11,19,21(x2), 22(x2), Jul 7,16,18,30, Aug 9,11,27,28

WALTON AND FRINTON

D-798: Jun 16,28,29, Jul 15,16

WELLS

D-797: Jun 14,16(x2),21, 22,23,27, Jul 8,22,25,30, Aug 14,24

ON1353 (13-46): Jun 11, Jul 17,25,31, Aug 4

WEST KIRBY

D-883: Jul 8, Aug 20,25

D-888: Jun 16, Jul 23

WEST MERSEA

B-946: Jun 2,14,15,18,20, 21,24,27(x2),28,29(x2), Jul 1,2,4,7,10,11,13(x3), 14,15(x3),16,25,31, Aug 9, 10(x2),11,12,13,14,19,22, 26,27(x2),28

WESTON-SUPER-MARE

B-875: Jun 24, Jul 7,12, 13,31, Aug 14

D-832: Jun 18,21,24,26, 29, Jul 4,7,9(x2),11,12(x5), 13,24,30,31, Aug 3,14(x2)

WEXFORD

D-782: Jun 20, Jul 2,25

WEYMOUTH

B-917: Jun 17,20(x2),21(x2), Jul 1,7,11,13(x3),14,15,22, Aug 2,5,8,11,13,16(x2), 17(x2),18,26(x2)

ON1254 (17-27): Jun 8

ON1261 (17-32): Jun 19, 20,27, Jul 3,7,9,13,15,31, Aug 2,3,8,17,18,26(x3),27,30 WHITBY

D-810: Jul 3,28,30,31(x2), Aug 5,13,25(x2)

ON1356 (13-49): Jun 8, Jul 10,19,28, Aug 5,6 WHITSTABLE

B-877: Jun 1,4,12,14,21, 23(x2),24(x2),30, Jul 4,7, 10,13,14,20,26, Aug 8,9, 15,16,17,23,24,26,28,29 WICK

ON1204 (14-06): Aug 11

ON1224 (14-20): Jul 17,20

WICKLOW

D-806: Jun 16, Jul 10

ON1340 (13-33): Jun 13, 16,27, Jul 5,10,12,18, Aug 1,2,9,14 WITHERNSEA

D-837: Jun 15,18(x2),22, 29(x2), Jul 23

D-894: Jun 4

WORKINGTON

D-901: Jun 30, Jul 30, Aug 7

ON1326 (13-19): Jun 30, Jul 1, Aug 7

YARMOUTH

ON1249 (17-25): Jun 1,2, 6(x2),7,18, Jul 7,13,23,31, Aug 1,2,5,9,16,17,28(x2),31

YOUGHAL

B-890: Jun 18(x2), Jul 3(x2),5,24, Aug 11

Troon RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat Roy Barker VI (ON1362)

Photo: Nicholas Leach

NAMING CEREMONIES

B-947, Claude and Kath, Teignmouth, 7 June 2025

ON1360 (13-53), Roy Holloway, Arklow, 21 June 2025

D-893, Annie Lizzie, Borth, 28 June 2025

D-896, Arangy, Sennen Cove, 5 July 2025

ON1361 (13-54), John Sharp, Hartlepool, 5 July 2025

B-951, Neil Crowe, Port Erin, 12 July 2025

D-899, Swaine-Legane, Little and Broad Haven, 19 July 2025

D-889, James and Deanna Adams, Cleethorpes, 17 August 2025

B-942, Loving You, Cleethorpes, 17 August 2025

D-906, Richard Peter McFarland, relief, 28 August 2025

ON1362 (13-55), Roy Barker VI, Troon, 30 August 2025

B-949, Ralph, Aldeburgh, 30 August 2025

Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard

Special delivery

Your letters, posts and pictures

Rebel with a cause

We would just like to give a huge thanks to the staff at the Weymouth RNLI Shop for being so friendly when we visited and letting our daughter Rebel (3) try on all the gear. She absolutely loves her teddy that we bought on the day too.

TORI

Editor: Thank you, Tori, for the smashing photo and for putting the spotlight on our amazing shop volunteers. Thank you to everybody who supports their local RNLI shop or shops online at shop.RNLI.org

Welcome aboard

Despite living near the sea for the last 37 years and donating to the RNLI when I could, I never considered joining until about a month ago, when it occurred to me that a regular amount was better than an every-now-and-then amount! I was delighted with my badge, keyring and handbook, but especially with the summer issue of Lifeboat. I cheered, gasped and cried my way through it from cover to cover, especially the incredible story of the Green Lily and the inspiring tales of rescue against the odds. I can’t wait for the next edition! You could say I ’m very pleased to have finally come aboard!

ROSEMARY LEWIS

Editor: Thank you for your heart-warming message, Rosemary. You’re very kind. Thank you – and everybody else reading this – for your regular support. Your generosity will help ensure our selfless volunteers have everything they need to save lives.

You’re an inspiration!

I loved reading your Stormy Stan article in Lifeboat My brother James and I were some of the first members of Storm Force 40 years ago and now all four of his kids have been members in their time. As fifth generation RNLI, James was always going to join the crew. He now spends much of his working life repairing and servicing lifeboats, while I have been volunteering for the RNLI as a fundraiser for 40 years like my Dad Eric and my Gran ‘Lifeboat Mary’ before that. It just shows what a great job Stormy and the rest of his crew mates do.

ISABEL TAYLOR BEM

Editor: If readers would like to find out about the legendary Lifeboat Mary, listen to episode 17 of the RNLI podcast series 200 Voices. Simply search ‘200 Voices’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Write to us

Were you moved by a rescue story? Do you want to know more about something you’ve read in Lifeboat? We love hearing from you and seeing your photos. Please get in touch with us. Email the editor at

Share your stories on social media

Biking holiday

I was on a holiday on my Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a week in June around south Dorset, south Devon, and Cornwall. I visited as many lifeboat stations as I could. One of the things my whistle-stop tour showed me was just how different each station is. But whatever the weather, whatever the time of day or night, whatever the peculiarities each station has, one thing unites them all: saving lives at sea. If you are in trouble on the water, the RNLI will be there for you.

MITCH PEEKE

Editor: If you’re inspired by Mitch, why not plan your own adventures! Find a lifeboat station to visit at RNLI.org/FindMyNearest.

Mitch (left) met Patch Harvey at Penlee and visited Exmouth, where both he and his wife’s names are on the side of the Launch a Memory lifeboat R and J Welburn

Hero Harrison

Most of my son’s friends choose superheroes for Hero Day at school, but my son Harrison (aged 5) wanted to be a true hero and chose this outfit himself. He told his class mates at news time: ‘We save lives at sea.’

REBECCA (HARRISON'S MUM)

Editor: Thank you, Harrison, for all your lifesaving support! Your auntie Linda and your great grandma Ellen sent in the photo. Your mum and all your family are very proud of you. And so are we!

Deck the halls

Editor: We love your RNLI baubles! Thank you to everyone who sent in these festive photos from last year. Have a lovely Christmas!

Your RNLI family

The lives and loves of your fellow lifesavers

New kid on the crew

New Brighton RNLI are celebrating the birth of baby Rosie, daughter of Crew Member Ben McGinn and his partner Alice.

Rosie Tilly McGinn was born on 2 July 2025 at 5.43am, weighing 6lb 10oz. She’s already visited the station for a tour to see where her dad volunteers – and perhaps where she’ll volunteer too one day! Dad Ben joined the crew in 2018, alongside his brother, Thomas. Their dad, Mark, was already part of the crew and mum, Sharon, is a shop volunteer. Volunteering is clearly in Rosie’s genes – and we hear plans are already afoot to size her up for her first pair of yellow wellies!

Tying the knot

On 1 July, Yarmouth RNLI proudly celebrated the marriage of their Senior Station Technician Richard Pimm and Lifeboat Press Officer Hebe Gregory. After their wedding ceremony, the happy couple visited Yarmouth’s Severn class lifeboat Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ 17-25.

Can you spot the special significance of the wedding date? Hebe explains: ‘The date of our wedding ceremony was chosen because it ’s the numbers on the side of Richard’s one true love –he now doesn’t have the excuse of EVER forgetting our anniversary. It was originally a joke made between the crew that then became a reality!’

Our heartfelt congratulations, Richard and Hebe. We wish you a long and happy marriage!

Baby Rosie visits the station with Ben and Alice

Hebe and Richard celebrate with some welly good footwear

Paging Dr Chloe

Huge congratulations to Crew Member Chloe Urquhart, who recently graduated as a doctor! Chloe moved from Portree in Skye to Aberdeen to study medicine back in 2019 – packing her pager with her and volunteering between both stations.

‘I am now graduating from the University of Aberdeen as a doctor with a Bachelors in Medicine and Bachelors in Surgery,’ says Chloe, who credits both stations with being supportive and encouraging. ‘It’s been tough at times – lots of studying and having to put university work first above everything else, but it has been brilliant overall.’

Well done, Chloe. What a fantastic achievement!

Chloe, who volunteers at both Portree and Aberdeen lifeboat stations, has graduated as a doctor

Remembering Tony Hawkins

The Dover community are mourning the loss of Tony Hawkins mbe, whose unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea spanned an incredible 65 years.

Tony joined the RNLI in 1960, when he was 16 years old. In the following decades, he took on many different positions at the station –including coxswain, a role he held for 23 years. Tony saved hundreds of lives and helped thousands more. He was honoured with a Bronze Medal for Gallantry in 1975, received three Thanks of the Institution on Vellum, and was awarded an MBE in 1998.

Celebrating life

Join us in remembering our RNLI family members who have recently passed away

George Bradley – September 2025

Former Lifeboat Operations Manager at Campbeltown RNLI

Eoin Brett – March 2025

Box Secretary and Fundraising Branch

Member at Clontarf Branch

Nuala Cashman – July 2025

Founding member of the Ballycotton

Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild

Captain Kevin Donnelly – July 2025

Chairperson at Limerick Fundraising Branch

June Ellard – June 2025

Fundraiser at Rosslare Harbour RNLI

Brian Gibbard – July 2025

Chair at St Albans and District Branch

Jeanette Hallett – September 2025

Former Committee Member at Middleton Branch

Betty Hawkswell – September 2024

Founder and President of the Boroughbridge Fundraising Branch

Bryan Jackson – August 2025

Former Station Mechanic at Barrow RNLI and Lifeboat Machinery Trainer at RNLI College

Fair winds and following seas, Tony

He will be fondly remembered for his kindness, generosity and courage.

Ellen Love – August 2025

Flag Day Organiser at Cork Fundraising Branch

Tony McCarth – June 2025

Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Ree RNLI

Stewart Moffat – April 2025

Former Coxswain at Girvan RNLI

Alan Moorby – June 2025

Boathouse Attendant and Box Secretary at Cleethorpes RNLI

William (Wing) Munro – September 2025

Former Coxswain at Thurso RNLI

James Shovlin – August 2025

Volunteer at The Rosses Fundraising Branch

Captain Jim Whyte – August 2025

Branch Committee Member at Limerick Fundraising Branch

Photos: Jodie Hope Photography, RNLI/(Emily Craven, Robert MacInnes)

Fun for all the family

This time of year is for getting together and having fun! Enjoy endless entertainment with our range of puzzles, games and crafts –perfect for rainy afternoons and cosy evenings in with your crew.

For some family-friendly competition, gather round the table with our Lifeboat Rescue Board Game and see who’ll be the first to cross the finish line. While listening to your December playlist, puzzle your way through our Heritage Timeline jigsaw –and learn about the RNLI’s incredible history along the way! And if you’re feeling crafty, have a go at building your very own lifeboat with the Airfix Shannon kit and decal sheets.

How to buy Online

To browse all products in our games and hobbies range, visit shop.RNLI.org/FestiveFun or scan the QR code with your smartphone or tablet.

Over the phone Call 0300 300 9916 (from the UK), 01 511 9872 (from Ireland), or +44 1202 336738 (from any other country). We’re here to help Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and Saturday from 8am to 6pm (charges apply). Always get the bill payer’s permission.