RNLI New Brighton celebrates International Women's Day

With over 10 years’ experience between them; Anna, Steph, Lucy, Emily, Nicky and Helena are all vital part of the RNLI’s lifeboat crew at New Brighton.

Like many lifeboat volunteers across the country, few of the female crew at New Brighton RNLI come from a sea-going background. Their day to day jobs range from a junior doctor, bar staff, student, ship hand and control room operator in the North West Ambulance Service.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the women were asked about their most memorable rescue and reasons for volunteering with the charity.

Lucy Shaw, who was awarded the bronze marine medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for her part in a rescue of a kite surfer last summer, said:

‘Volunteering as part of the crew for New Brighton lifeboat has been the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s incredible to learn and work alongside the crew here, and I’m just continuously inspired everyday by the dedication, bravery and selflessness of the whole team. The station itself has played an integral role to the local community and maritime history of the River Mersey for decades, so I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to be a small part of that.’

The station’s newest female crew member, Emily XX, admits that the hardest part of joining the crew was taking the first steps through the door:

‘I think when I first started was my most difficult moment, there is so much to learn and coming from a non-boating background I think it took me a little longer to understand things compared to other crew but with the help of the helms and the rest of the crew I feel like I've learnt so much already.’

Ian Thornton, New Brighton Lifeboat Operations Manager said:

‘There are amazing volunteers within the RNLI and at New Brighton Lifeboat Station we are in the fortunate position to have some amazing women volunteering on the crew. I am proud to serve with each and every one of them

‘I would also like to thank all of the wives, girlfriends and partners of the remaining crew for their continued support, patience, and understanding for the work that we do. I know that it is never convenient when the pagers go. Thank you all for your efforts, together we make a fantastic team.’

To learn more about the six inspirational female crew at New Brighton RNLI visit the station’s Instagram or Facebook pages to read their own accounts of why they’ve chosen to volunteer to save lives at sea.

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.