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Bob Meller is appointed Appledore RNLI's new Lifeboat Operations Manager

Lifeboats News Release

Appledore RNLI are delighted to announce that on Thursday 1 February Bob Meller officially became its new Lifeboat Operations Manager

RNLI/Niki Tait

Bob Meller officially becomes Appledore RNLI's new Lifeboat Operations Manager
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Having taken early retirement in July 2017, Bob, and his wife Ann, moved from Nottingham to Northam. He joined Appledore RNLI in February 2018 as a member of the shore crew, passing out as a Launch Vehicle Driver in August of the same year, and as a Head Launcher in March 2021. In January 2019 he also joined the Operations team as a Deputy Launch Authority.

Appledore RNLI is delighted to announce that, following the retirement of Tony Merrill from that role, Bob becomes its new Lifeboat Operations Manager. All at the station thank Tony for looking after the local management over the last 4 ½ years, and welcome Bob to his new role.

Amongst many responsibilities, the voluntary role of LOM is to authorise launch of the lifeboats, provide leadership to the operations team and ensure that all operational activities are carried out to maintain the lifeboats and all associated equipment in a constant state of readiness for launching on service.

Bob is ideally suited to this role with many years of management behind him, particularly with Boots, Babcock International (Power Systems) and the National Grid. Past managerial roles include engineering, IT, new business development, programme management and planning/project controls. As a Yachtmaster sailor, his other hobbies include classic cars. He is membership secretary and magazine editor for North Devon Sports & Classic Car Club and also volunteers at North Devon Maritime Museum in the archive.

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.

About the author

Niki Tait
Lifeboat Press Officer, Appledore Lifeboat Station

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