A day of crew pass outs at Walmer RNLI

A long but successful day for three Walmer RNLI volunteers, Heather Black, Babs Melles and Rob Black on Wednesday 26 November with the station’s D Class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard II and Atlantic lifeboat Hounslow Branch launching on three occasions

.Heather, who began volunteering in June 2024 completed her Head Launcher and launch vehicle driver passouts for both Talus and Bob Cat tractors. As Head Launcher she is responsible for all aspects of launch and recovery, including managing shore crew and co-ordinating with the tractor driver to ensure smooth and safe manoeuvring of the lifeboats across the promenade and down the beach. Her assessments were based on both theoretical and practical elements including roles and responsibilities, local knowledge, emergency procedures and vehicle operation.

The passouts were overseen by independent RNLI Machinery Trainers Mark Perry, Dave Tillotson and Henry Dempster who congratulated Heather on her success in the three roles, saying that she performed one of the best operations they had seen for some time.

Success afloat saw Rob, who started his journey with the RNLI in October 2023 and Babs who first arrived at Walmer in January 2023 achieve their Tier One and Tier Two passouts, conducted by Coastal Lifeboat Trainer Dave Needham. These rigorously tested the volunteers’ skills across a wide range of operational areas. Tasks included towing, man overboard procedures, emergency drills, helming, maritime theory, and other essential lifesaving skills.

Rob will now be working towards his Tier 2 qualification and Babs towards his Navigator status.

All of these successes are the result of hours of training in afloat and shoreside exercises, theory, practice and active service calls in a variety of weather conditions.

All three thanked fellow Walmer volunteers for their help, support and encouragement to enable them to reach this level.

The day was completed with the revalidation of Phil Curry in his Head Launcer role.

At the end of the long day, the trainers thanked the volunteers, especially shore crew who had remained all day assisting with the launches and recoveries. They also congratulated the station for its strong team effort in preparing its volunteers both afloat and ashore to the highest standards.

Walmer’s Operations Manager Denis Brophy echoed these sentiments and added:’ It’s testament to their dedication that all three have managed to achieve these successes in a short amount of time.’

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Hounslow Branch and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]

• Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]

• Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

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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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