Two new navigators and a new mechanic for Falmouth’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat
Falmouth volunteer crew members Nick Head and Adam West recently passed their assessments to become all-weather lifeboat navigators and Jamie Connoly passed his assessment to qualify as an all-weather lifeboat mechanic.
Nick joined the RNLI nearly 10 years ago and qualified as an inshore lifeboat helm about five years ago. He said: ‘It’s taken nearly two years to complete the Navigator training which was disrupted at times by the pandemic. Apart from the training at the station, I attended a search and rescue course specifically for the all-weather lifeboat at the RNLI College at Poole.’
Adam joined the crew just over 10 years ago and is a crew member on the inshore and all-weather lifeboats. He qualified as an all-weather lifeboat mechanic in November 2017 and is also a lifeboat trainer assessor.
Jamie has been a crew member for nearly six years and he qualified as an inshore lifeboat helm in March 2019. He is also an inshore lifeboat mechanic and shares this responsibility with another crew member.
He said: ‘I started the all-weather lifeboat mechanic training two years ago but it was interrupted by the COVID restrictions. During that time I attended two engineering courses and two electrical courses at the RNLI College as well as the training at the station.’
Jonathon Blakeston, Falmouth RNLI Coxswain, said: ‘Falmouth is a busy station with, on average, 85-90 launches a year so it’s great to have additional cover in these crew positions. Nick, Adam and Jamie have done very well in passing their assessments. The COVID restrictions made training difficult but we’ve had to concentrate on station needs. This is part of our ongoing succession planning to ensure we have sufficient cover in all crew positions, both for now and into the future.’
Note to editor
- The photo shows: top left Falmouth RNLI Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston (right) with Jamie Connoly, bottom left Nick Head and right Adam West.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Simon Culliford, RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971986978 or [email protected] or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager [email protected] or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.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.