Newest crew member joins a long line of family volunteers at Rock RNLI
Rock RNLI has welcomed their newest and youngest volunteer crew member on her seventeenth birthday.
Buffy joins a long secession of family members, some of whom have volunteered at the station since its formation, almost twenty five years ago.
She joins her brother, Ollie and her Dad, Jinx - who both serve as volunteer Crew members. Her Mum Kath also served as a crew member some years ago.
Jinx has been on the Crew since the RNLI first placed a lifeboat at Rock in 1994.
Jinx's father, Buffy's Grandpa - Mike Hewitt, was instrumental in identifying a need for a lifeboat at Rock, and started his volunteering with Rock RNLI at that time. Mike served as a volunteer until his retirement as Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rock RNLI two years ago.
Buffy was keen to join as a Crew member, and completed relevant paperwork and briefing before hand, in order that she could actually take part in her very first exercise with her Dad and brother on the morning of her birthday. Seventeen is the youngest age anyone can volunteer to be an operational crew member and go to sea.
Buffy said 'I am really delighted to be joining Rock RNLI as their newest crew member. The work of the RNLI is close to our family, and I think it's important to get involved. I've been brought up with a love boats, and love sailing and powerboating. I hope to be able to give good service to the RNLI for many years to come'.
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
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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.