Four volunteer lifeboat crew members – two fathers and their sons – standing in crew kit in front of an all-weather lifeboat at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset. Photo: RNLI/Charlotte Hill.

Two dads. Two sons. One Crew

Friday 29 May 2026

Jake Coombes and Rhys Jones are two young RNLI lifesavers who are proudly following in the footsteps of their lifesaving fathers - and training to be the inspiration for future generations.

Family has always been at the heart of saving lives at sea. For more than 200 years, generations of the same family have served on the lifeboats and behind the scenes. Some alongside each other. Some following in the footsteps of their ancestors. All becoming inspirational role models to younger and future generations of RNLI lifesavers.

Like father, like son

Despite this age-old lifesaving tradition, it was still a surprising coincidence when not one, but two father and son lifeboat volunteers attended the same crew training course at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.

The 2-day Crew Emergency Procedures (CEP) course trains our volunteer crews for worst-case scenarios, such as firefighting, capsizing and abandoning ship. New crew must complete the course before they can go out on a shout, and every crew member must complete a refresher course every 5 years.

It’s just one part of a continuous, structured RNLI training programme called the Operational Competence Framework (OCF), which includes a mix of coastal and college training and has the safety of our lifeboat and shore crews at its core.

Meet Jake

Taking on the CEP course for the first time in September last year was 18-year-old Jake Coombes from Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station.

A head and shoulders shot of Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member Jake Coombes in crew kit with the sea in the background.

‘My dad inspired me to join the crew from a young age,’ says Jake. ‘I was always watching him launch and recover the lifeboat. When I was 15, I achieved my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award by volunteering at the lifeboat station. After that, I knew the minute I turned 18, I would sign up as volunteer crew. I was counting down the days!’

In fact, Jake was so keen to become an RNLI lifesaver that in 2024, the summer before his 18th birthday, he trained to be an RNLI lifeguard - another notch on his lifesaving (life)belt.

After completing shore crew training, Jake progressed to lifeboat crew training. Passing the CEP course would mean he could finally go out on a shout - the moment he’d been dreaming of for so many years.

The back of father and son Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Crew Members Jason and Jake Coombes as they discuss their training. The RNLI Sea Survival Pool is in the background. — Jake listens to his dad’s advice on the Crew Emergency Procedures (CEP) course.

‘I enjoyed all of the CEP course,’ says Jake, ‘but my favourite part was the capsize of the Atlantic and D class lifeboats in the Sea Survival Pool.

‘After completing the course, I couldn’t wait to go out on my first shout and work together with my dad to save lives at sea.’

Meet Jason

This was the sixth course at the College but first CEP course for Jake’s dad, Jason Coombes, who has been on the crew at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station for 27 years. Today, Jason is a Volunteer Senior Helm, Mechanic and Lifeboat Trainer Assessor.

A head and shoulders shot of Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member Jason Coombes in crew kit with the sea in the background.

‘It was a proud couple of days attending the CEP course with Jake,’ Jason recalls. ‘It was heartwarming to watch him bond with crew from different stations, and all while doing something he loves and is very passionate about (he must get the passionate bit from his dad!).

‘Having Jake on the crew with me is exciting, emotional, and sometimes worrying. It also makes me feel old!

‘He’s now a valuable member of the crew and is always determined to do everything he does to an exemplary standard. When at sea, I treat him as if he were any other crew member, but in the back of my mind, I’m thinking: “That's my boy!"

‘I'm sure he will go above and beyond to help save lives at sea. And who knows, maybe one day his younger brother Lewis may even come and join us!’

Meet Rhys

It was also the first CEP course for 18-year-old Rhys Jones from Rhyl Lifeboat Station.

A head and shoulders shot of Rhyl RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member Rhys Jones in crew kit with the sea in the background.

‘I grew up around the crew, and they have all been fantastic role models,’ says Rhys. ‘When I was younger, my dad’s pager would go off and I always wanted to go with him and help him save lives.

‘We spent a lot of summers down at the beach, having barbecues with the rest of the lifeboat crew and their families, which were usually interrupted by the pagers going off! I don’t think there’s ever been a birthday or anniversary that hasn’t been interrupted by a shout, but my mum always reiterated that dad going out on the lifeboat was important and we were always proud of him despite our plans being interrupted.

‘His pager even went off when my mum was in labour with my sister Ffion - my mum didn't let him go on that shout!

‘I signed up on the day I turned 18 in December 2024, and I got my pager in April 2025 after completing my probationary period.’

Father and son Rhyl Crew Members Colin and Rhys Jones at the side of the RNLI Sea Survival Pool listening to one of the trainers. — Rhys and his dad Colin listening to the trainer’s instructions on the Crew Emergency Procedures (CEP) course.

‘I felt incredibly lucky to have him by my side’

Having his dad with him on the CEP course made the whole experience even more meaningful for Rhys.

‘It was less scary. He gave me tonnes of advice. I respect my dad a lot and always value any help he gives me. I felt incredibly lucky to have him by my side.

‘The course was definitely challenging! I really enjoyed the practical side of learning, especially the sea survival exercises, which put you in real-life scenarios and teach you skills you’ll need if you ever find yourself in those situations.’

Meet Colin

Colin Jones, Rhys’s dad, has been a volunteer crew member at Rhyl Lifeboat Station for all of Rhys’s 19 years, joining when Rhys was just a baby.

A head and shoulders shot of Rhyl RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member Colin Jones in crew kit with the sea in the background.

Speaking about his second CEP course, Colin says: ‘It was great to meet our colleagues from Burnham-on-Sea. It’s amazing to see Jake and Rhys following in our footsteps. I know Jason will be every bit as proud as I am to see our sons stepping up to volunteer and help save lives at sea.’

Like Rhys, Colin also achieved a personal milestone last year when he passed out as coxswain.

‘I worked hard over many years to become a coxswain,’ says Colin, ‘and I’m incredibly proud (and relieved!) to have finally made it.

‘I couldn’t have done it without the crew, past and present, who helped shape me over the years. I learned something from every shout, every training session, and every conversation on the boat - and am still learning! I’m honoured to have this new responsibility and to continue serving with such a dedicated team.’

Like mother, like son

In Rhys’s family, going out on a shout is a full-on family affair because Rhys’s mum, Terrie Jones, is a shore crew volunteer, meaning she is also paged and helps to launch and recover the lifeboats.

Not forgetting those left behind …

Even Ffion, Rhys’s 18-year-old sister, is part of the RNLI’s One Crew because, just like in many lifeboating families, she’s the one who stays behind to look after the family dogs Monty and Ollie and who prepares hearty meals for her family’s return. She is also on the waiting list to join as shore crew!

Meet Terrie

‘I always wanted to join the crew too,’ says Terrie. ‘So, in November 2023, when the kids were old enough, I thought now’s the time. They are the reason I joined as shore crew - so that one of us would always be on the shore in case they needed us in an emergency.

A head and shoulders shot of Rhyl RNLI Volunteer Shore Crew Member Terrie Jones, with the launching tractor in the background.

‘I took to the training like a dog with a bone!’ Terrie continues. ‘After passing out as shore crew in March 2024, I trained to become a head launcher for our D class lifeboat. That means I can oversee the whole launch and recovery and make sure it’s executed as safely as possible.

‘Most recently, in September 2025, after almost 1½ years of training, I passed out as a launch vehicle driver, also known as a SLARS driver, for our Shannon class lifeboat. [SLARS stands for Shannon Launch and Recovery System.] So now I can help with the launch and recovery of both our inshore and all-weather lifeboats.’

Rhyl RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat being launched on the beach by the Shannon Launch and Recovery System and its shore crew drivers. — The Shannon Launch and Recovery System is the mother of all launching tractors.

‘Training keeps us safe’

Terrie’s next mission on her training programme is to become a launch vehicle driver for the D class lifeboat too, which means learning how to operate the station’s County tractor.

‘Training is so important because it keeps us, and the public, safe,’ Terrie says. ‘There are so many things that can go wrong if you don't know what you're doing, or if your competencies are out-of-date. It keeps us all on the same page too.

‘I mean, how quickly could a child or a dog run in front of you or behind you when launching the Shannon in such a big machine, especially on a busy beach?

‘Even when you pass out in a role, it's important to keep training so that you retain your confidence. Safety is the most important thing.’

Crew members in the RNLI Sea Survival Pool with a B class Atlantic lifeboat as part of capsize training on the Crew Emergency Procedures course. — Capsize training in the RNLI Sea Survival Pool on the Crew Emergency Procedures (CEP) course.

We are One Crew

Of course, you don’t have to be related to be part of the RNLI family. Our One Crew ethos recognises everyone’s contribution to saving lives at sea, regardless of kinship and role, and that includes caring supporters like you.

Your kindness can help keep our lifeboat and shore crews safe. The money you donate or raise can help to provide the training that keeps our lifeboating families safe when saving lives at sea. Thank you for your lifesaving support.