New leadership for Dungeness RNLI in 2022
It wasn’t ‘farewell’ but ‘see you soon’ on Thursday 17 February as long-serving Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) Roger Gillett handed over his pager to new Dungeness LOM, Vicky Morgan.
Roger has been an integral part of the RNLI team on the south Kent coast since 1989, where he joined the crew as a volunteer at Littlestone Lifeboat Station and soon made his way to become a Helm in command of the boat.
He spent 8 years at Littlestone before moving over to volunteer at Dungeness Lifeboat Station in 1997, where he joined the All-Weather lifeboat as boat crew under Coxswain Stuart Adams. As a devoted and hard-working member of the team, Roger then trained up as Navigator, Mechanic and Deputy Second Coxswain.
Before retiring from the boat, Roger was part of a rescue involving a yacht overwhelmed by a storm gusting up to 70mph. Crew members were awarded a silver badge and a ‘Special Thanks’ on vellum.
Roger then retired from the seas and took the reigns as Lifeboat Operations Manager of Dungeness Lifeboat Station in 2016 and was well respected and admired as he led the team at Dungeness, always putting the volunteers first.
As Roger now retires from operational duties, he is succeeded by existing Deputy Launch Authority and Visits Officer, Vicky Morgan.
Vicky, says: ‘I’m incredibly proud to be part of the team here at Dungeness. The volunteers here are all one family and always pull together to Save Lives at Sea. I have enjoyed volunteering alongside Roger and value all the help he has given me and continues to give me.’
Vicky has been part of the team at Dungeness since 2016, where she joined as Lifeboat Visits Officer alongside her husband Jon, a serving member of the crew.
Vicky, with a background in Sports Therapy, enjoys some eclectic hobbies including fire breathing, martial arts, skiing and reading.
She has been a proactive advocate of the station and its volunteers for many years and has built up a wealth of operational knowledge.
Coxswain Stuart Adams, says: ‘Roger has been such an asset for myself, our Mechanic Trevor and all of our volunteers over many years and he has my utmost respect for the dedication he has shown to the RNLI and our crew. He deserves a relaxing retirement and I’m sure he won’t be a stranger at our station! Vicky has already shown dedication and great understanding in her role as Deputy Launch Authority and is a proactive member of our team, I look forward to the years to come.’
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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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.