Littlehampton RNLI helm celebrates 30 years of volunteering

Ivan, who is 51 and lives in Littlehampton, joined Littlehampton RNLI in 1991 as trainee crew. He successfully qualified as crew and then as a helm – a role in which he is responsible for the lifeboat during shouts and training sessions. He is also one of the station’s mechanics, who makes sure that the station’s two lifeboats are maintained and ready for service.

‘I initially became a volunteer with Littlehampton RNLI because I spent most of my youth in the Sea Scouts and thought it would be a good way to serve the community,’ Ivan said. ‘It has been a great experience over the last 30 years to serve the local community and help people that get into trouble at sea.’

Ivan, who works for Arun District Council, has been involved in countless shouts during his time with Littlehampton RNLI, but it’s his very first search and rescue mission that sticks in his mind the most. ‘I was sitting in my Nan’s house with my pager. For some reason, my pager didn’t work, because it was only when I heard the maroons going off at the lifeboat station that I knew we had a shout. I rushed to the station, and we spent several hours at sea searching for a small fishing boat with three people aboard.’

Despite his extraordinary commitment and service to the community, Ivan has no plans to stop. ‘I will keep volunteering for Littlehampton RNLI as long as I am able to,’ he said.

Nick White, Littlehampton RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, added: ‘When Ivan joined us, he quickly became an ever-present, and he continues to be central to the running of our lifeboat station with later generations of crew learning from his experience. It’s great to see Ivan receive recognition for the time and commitment that he has devoted to the RNLI.’

ENDS

RNLI media contacts

Beth Brooks, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI

07544 209256 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, London and South East

07785 296252 [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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