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Newquay RNLI recruit qualifies as lifeboat crew

Lifeboats News Release

One of Newquay RNLI's newest volunteers has recently completed his probationary period at the town's lifeboat station and passed out as qualified crew on the charity's two inshore lifeboats.

Newquay RNLI volunteer James Coombes, wearing lifeboat kit in front of the lifeboat station, shakes hands with RNLI Assessor Trainer, Carl Beardmore, after qualifying as lifeboat crew.

RNLI/Kev Goulding

Newquay RNLI volunteer James Coombes (right) qualifies as lifeboat crew, with RNLI Assessor Trainer, Carl Beardmore.
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James Coombes works as a self-employed carpenter and joined Newquay RNLI in January 2020, after a nine-year career as a mine clearance diver in the Royal Navy and experience sailing yachts around Europe, the Caribbean and across the Atlantic.
James said: 'My dad used to be in the lifeboat crew at Newquay when I was younger and growing up around the harbour it was always something I wanted to do, so now's a good time to achieve that ambition and give something back'.
RNLI Assessor Trainer for the region, Carl Beardmore, assessed James' competency during an exercise launch in November, after James had completed nearly two years' training with crew at the lifeboat station and added:
'James is not only an extremely experienced person on the water, both in the leisure and commercial sectors, he is also an extremely competent lifeboat crew member and demonstrates all of the RNLI values ie selfless, trustworthy, dependable and courageous.
James has integrated well into the lifeboat crew and I believe he will go far at Newquay, I wish him well for the future. Very well done'.


Notes to editors
Please find attached photo, James Coombes (right) qualifies as lifeboat crew with RNLI Assesor Trainer, Carl Beardmore. Credit: Kev Goulding.

RNLI contacts
For more information please contact Andy Hobkinson, Newquay RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or 07880 507464 or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer at [email protected] or 07786 668847 or contact the RNLI Press Office (24hrs) on 01202 336789.

Newquay lifeboat station opened in 1860. Today’s RNLI volunteers operate two inshore lifeboats and are on call 24-hours-a-day to save lives at sea. You can donate to Newquay RNLI online and support the work of our lifeboat volunteers at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/newquay-rnli-lifesavers-fund-2021

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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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.

About the author

Andy Hobkinson
Lifeboat Press Officer, Newquay Lifeboat Station

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