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Henk the Monday Man retires from Hunstanton RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A stalwart member of the visits team at a Norfolk lifeboat station has retired before he moves away from the county.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Senior hovercraft commander Lee Torrice (front, left) and Henk van Welsenes pictured with crew and personnel from the NCI's Brancaster watch station at his retirement presentation
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Henk van Welsenes has been welcoming visitors to Hunstanton RNLI for the last eight summers.

He volunteered on Mondays throughout his stint, earning the nickname the Monday Man among the station's busy visits team.

Dutch-born Henk, now 76, had a career in shipping which included managing a fleet of tankers before he retired.

'I thought what can I do now and heard the RNLI were looking for volunteers,' he said.

'They keep the coast safe so I thought I'd join them. I'm really going to miss it.'

One thing led to another, as Henk also joined the National Coastwatch Institution's watch team when its new station opened at Brancaster near the lifeboat station in 2022.

Members of the lifeboat crew including fellow visits volunteers and NCI personnel gathered for a presentation on Sunday 2 November, before Henk and wife Chrissy move to be closer to family in Derbyshire.

Senior hovercraft commander Lee Torrice said: 'Thank you for all you've done for the station and for all the time you've given us, we're going to miss you.'

Kate Craven, who leads the station's visits team, said: 'Henk spent eight years as our Monday man, covering the boathouse and went on to volunteer for the NCI.

'We're so grateful for that commitment and wish him well in his next chapter.'

Notes to Editors

Hunstanton lifeboat station's visits team open the boathouse throughout the summer months, to show visitors around and tell them about the work of the crew.

Almost 25,000 came through the doors last year, with this year's numbers expected to equal that.

More than 300 can visit on a summer's day, while school parties often arrive with a coach-load of enthusiastic young supporters eager to see the lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

Visits volunteers enjoy interacting with people of all ages and answering their many questions about the work of the RNLI, as well as helping to spread key messages about water safety.

RNLI Picture caption

The photo shows the presentation. Please credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop

RNLI Media Contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Chris Bishop
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Hunstanton

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