Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat team strengthened by a new helm
Congratulations to Tony Peters on passing out as helm at Rye Harbour RNLI tonight (May 21) under the watchful eye of Allen Head, Area Lifesaving Manager (ALM), who was there to assess his performance: Tony passed with flying colours.
Tony has been involved with the RNLI for eighteen years. To enable him to be fully trained it has often required the whole team to be involved. For example, if he was wishing to be competent in electronic navigation the lifeboat would need to be launched, involving a crew and shore staff. There are many stages to this training as helmsman which provide a logical sequence preparatory to being passed out. Each stage is checked by an independent assessor to ensure that the crew member can demonstrate his/her knowledge of that particular set of skills. It requires hard work, commitment and determination.
Tony comes from a family with strong connections to the RNLI as his father, Roy, was helm at Brighton RNLI and Tony has many happy memories of being involved at Brighton Marina.
Jai Gudgion, a crew member at Rye Harbour said, ‘Tony has worked very hard to achieve this position. Once a helmsman passes out the real learning begins. He has experience and that comes with a good knowledge base. In the years to come, it will be the continuing to build on that that will give him greater judgement in the many situations he will find himself in. Tony always makes himself available, often sacrificing his own plans for the good of the station or the crew. Selflessness is one of the core values of the RNLI and he certainly demonstrates that trait. He is happy to help new crew members, bringing them along, and is approachable in doing so. Congratulations on a well deserved achievement.’
The journey has been a team effort: he has received support from his LOM(Lifeboat Operations Manager) Tony Edwards, the crew and his family. We wish him every success.
Tony Edwards said, “He will be a great asset to the station and now the ball has started rolling I look forward to others following in his footsteps and being passed out as helm.’
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 online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 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.