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Loch Ness RNLI celebrates four crew passing senior role assessments
Loch Ness RNLI is celebrating the success of four members of the volunteer crew who recently passed Helm and Navigator assessments after many months of hard work.
Rachel Nixseaman and John Bull successfully completed their Navigator assessments, Graham Hughes passed his Helm assessment, and Craig Turner successfully revalidated as a Helm which must be completed every five years.
As senior volunteer roles on the operational crew, both Navigator and Helm assessments require a huge amount of training and commitment over approximately 12 months.
Rachel Nixseaman, volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Navigator, said: ‘I'm really pleased to have passed my ILB Navigator assessment. It's a world away from my 'day job', but the crew have been amazing at supporting my training from the get-go, and trips to the college in Poole have always been incredibly valuable. I'm really looking forward to putting my new skills to the test on the Loch.’
John Bull, volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Navigator, said: ‘It was a great sense of achievement to complete my ILB Navigator assessment, especially since training is “different” on Loch Ness with a lack of aids to navigation, however the training I received from my Navigator course at the RNLI College in Poole, the Helms and other Navigators at Loch Ness was invaluable and together provided me with the knowledge and skills to successfully complete the assessment.’
Graham Hughes, volunteer Helm, said: ‘I am very pleased to have passed out as a Helm, it feels like a big achievement. I am looking forward to using the experience and training from the last nine years as a crew member and Navigator, both here at Loch Ness and previously at Queensferry, to help on shouts and with training.’
Craig Turner, volunteer Helm, said: ‘Firstly, congratulations to all our crew on their collective pass outs. The real achievement is successfully navigating your initial pass out, no matter the level. It demonstrates a huge effort, commitment and competence in a new role.
‘Re-validation as a Helm is as much a relief as it is a reaffirmation of our ongoing and frequent training. This greatly helps in preventing any 'skill fade' and it is the collective contributions of all our crew that make these individual achievements possible to ensure we have a crew available at all times.’
Joanna Stebbings, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat station, says: ‘We are delighted that Rachel, John, Graham and Craig passed their recent assessments. This is a great achievement and testament to the time and dedication they have put into training for these senior roles within the crew.’
Ends
Notes to editors
· Loch Ness lifeboat station was established in 2008
· Situated on the northern shore of the iconic Loch Ness, lifeboat station volunteers operate in a unique, inland environment
· To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/loch-ness-lifeboat-station
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Lynsey Macready, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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