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Mayor of Wirral joins Hoylake RNLI for lifesaving training exercise

Lifeboats News Release

The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Geoffrey Watt, joined the volunteer crew from the Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station on Tuesday 14 August 2018 as part of a lifeboat training exercise.

Councillor Geoffrey Watt, dressed in yellow RNLI all-weather gear and wearing his civic chain of office, stands with the Hoylake Lifeboat crew in front of the Shannon class lifeboat

RNLI/Daniel Whiteley

Councillor Geoffrey Watt (front right) joins the Hoylake Lifeboat crew before the exercise
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The Mayor swapped his chain of office for the RNLI's distinctive yellow all-weather lifeboat gear before launching with the volunteer crew on board Hoylake's Shannon class lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood. Councillor Watt saw first-hand how the crew train and develop the skills they need for saving lives at sea around the Wirral coast.

The Mayor witnessed how the crew would recover a person from the water in an emergency and saw how the Shannon class lifeboat's state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment have greatly improved the RNLI's search and rescue capabilities.

Councillor Watt, who is a former Commodore of Hoylake Sailing Club and a keen sailor himself, has nominated the Wirral's RNLI lifeboat stations at Hoylake, West Kirby and New Brighton as among the local charities that will benefit from the Mayor’s Special Charity Fund during his term in office.

Hoylake Lifeboat Coxswain Andy Dodd said: 'It was an honour to host the Mayor on board the lifeboat and to demonstrate how the vital funds he is raising this year will be used to train our local crews and ensure the RNLI can continue its lifesaving work. The Wirral's lifeboat stations form an important part of their local communities and we would like to thank the Mayor for his support.'
Councillor Geoffrey Watt, dressed in yellow RNLI all-weather gear, stands by the helm of the Hoylake Lifeboat while at sea

RNLI/Daniel Whiteley

Councillor Geoffrey Watt (left) on the bridge of the Hoylake Lifeboat alongside Coxswain Andy Dodd
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Councillor Geoffrey Watt, dressed in yellow RNLI all-weather gear, stands by the helm of the Hoylake Lifeboat while at sea

RNLI/Daniel Whiteley

Councillor Geoffrey Watt (left) on the bridge of the Hoylake Lifeboat alongside Coxswain Andy Dodd
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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, 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

Daniel Whiteley
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hoylake Lifeboat Station

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