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From Capital to Coast for RNLI volunteer Luke

Lifeboats News Release

Luke Bishop, who is a volunteer at Tower lifeboat station in London, visited Rye Harbour RNLI on Sunday 4 March to experience a different type of vessel and environment from the Thames.

RNLI/KT Bruce

Luke Bishop RNLI Volunteer Tower visits Rye Harbour
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He is part of the crew at one of the busiest RNLI stations in the country. In 2017 they were called out 520 times to incidents ranging from broken-down vessels to people (or the occasional animal) in distress in the water.

Luke said, 'It is always interesting and exciting to see a different lifeboat station. We are all part of the RNLI family'. He received a warm welcome from Tony Edwards, Lifeboat Operations manager (LOM) at Rye Harbour and the volunteers who were there for a regular training session.

On returning to shore Luke commented: 'I really enjoyed my visit to Rye Harbour station. It was interesting to see how an Atlantic 85 operates, and whilst there is a lot of familiar kit on board, it's still a very different boat from the E Class at Tower. Recovering onto the trailer was a new experience; good to see all the crew and the tractor driver working so well together to recover the boat safely.’

RNLI Media contacts

  • Kt Bruce, Rye Harbour RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (07789) 818878 [email protected]

  • Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI/KT Bruce

Luke and the RNLI Rye Harbour crew preparing to set out to sea
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RNLI/KT Bruce

Crew on board and setting off to sea at Rye Harbour RNLI
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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.

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