Filey RNLI celebrates Tom’s success.

Tom is now able to take any merchant vessel of any size anywhere in the world: quite an achievement for someone aged only 36.

Tom joined Filey Lifeboat in 2005. He is currently a navigator on Filey’s Mersey Class all-weather lifeboat (ALB), Keep Fit Association, and a helm for the inshore lifeboat (ILB), Braund. He also speaks fluent Spanish.

He is the second qualified Master Mariner on the Filey crew: the other being volunteer Coxswain Alex Harrison. Both Tom and Alex are keen, enthusiastic and highly respected crew members who are willing to pass on their extensive knowledge to the younger crew.

John Ward, Filey Lifeboat Press Officer said: “We are all very proud of Tom’s achievements. It has been a fantastic last 12 months of qualifications for Filey Lifeboat Station with the appointment of a full-time Coxswain/Mechanic; two crew passing out as ALB Coxswains and now Tom passing his Master Mariners. The station goes from strength to strength.”

Notes to editors

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.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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