20 Years of Saving Lives At Sea Award for RNLI Helm Jake

Jake who started his volunteering career in 1998 whilst serving with the RNLI Crew in Weston super Mare, later moved across to the Crew at Portishead during 2014, in preparation of their formal adoption into the RNLI.

Jake has probably lost count of how many call outs he has responded to over the years but when the pager goes he is sure to respond. It can go at any time, day or night whatever the weather and even during family celebrations. Jake and his wife Kath who is also a crew volunteer at Portishead, were enjoying their wedding anniversary meal a couple of years ago when the pager sounded. Luckily, they were just around the corner from the Station and were able to respond. This shout was recently featured in episode 10 of the BBC 2 series Saving Lives at Sea.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Slack said ‘It goes without saying that this level of dedication to our charity is to be commended and, given that Jake also previously served as an RAF Search and Rescue Winchman, it would be impossible to accurately calculate just how many people he has assisted or how many lives he has saved over the years. A truly impressive career, of which he can be very proud indeed.’

Apart from Jake’s day job as an Aviation Training Manager, where he travels all over the world, he also, alongside his wife Kath, runs their Sea School in Portishead. If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy Jake is also the Lifeboat Training Co-ordinator and organises the training programme and competencies for the RNL Crew volunteers in Portishead, keeping them up to date and fully qualified to go out to sea.

Jake says, ‘I feel very privileged to have received this award. Being a crew member and Helm for 20 years has certainly been fun, challenging and very rewarding whilst helping to save lives at sea.’

All Photo credits to RNLI Portishead.

1. Jake Scott (left) with Dave Slack, Lifeboat Operations Manager

2. Jake, just returned from a training session at Portishead

3. Jake keeping a close eye on a training session at sea with the HM Coastguard Helicopter crew and RNLI Crew on board My Lady Anne.

4. My Lady Anne about to recover to the rig at Portishead

For more information please contact Helen Lazenby, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07800 595995 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 200 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 140,000 lives.

A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland

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.