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Littlehampton RNLI in search for volunteer shore crew

Lifeboats News Release

Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station is looking for men and women from the local area to help launch its lifeboats.

Photos of shore crew at Littlehampton cleaning the launching tractor.

RNLI/Beth Brooks

Shore crew play a vital role in launching and recovering the lifeboats.

The lifeboat station, which is in the heart of Littlehampton Harbour and is manned entirely by volunteers, needs shore crew to join its friendly team. Shore crew have a crucial role at Littlehampton RNLI. They help with the launch and recovery of the station’s lifeboats on service and exercise. They also contribute to the overall upkeep of the lifeboat station, lifeboats and equipment.

Volunteer shore crew at Littlehampton RNLI:

· Launch, recover and clean the station’s two lifeboats – Renee Sherman and Ray of Hope

· Prepare and maintain the station’s equipment

· Drive the station’s two tractors – a New Holland TL80 and a New Holland Boomer

· Keep the lifeboat station in good order.

All shore crew are given a pager. Those interested in the role will therefore need to be local to Littlehampton and be able to get to the lifeboat station quickly if the lifeboat station is called into action. Full training and support will be given for this volunteer role.

Chris King has been shore crew and a launch vehicle driver at Littlehampton RNLI since spring 2022.

He said: ‘I decided to join Littlehampton RNLI as shore crew because I wanted to use my skills and experience to volunteer for a wonderful local cause. I have been given so much training in the role and I’ve learnt new skills. It is a great feeling to be working alongside a fantastic bunch of people to save lives at sea. It can be difficult when the pager goes off at 2.00am, or when I’m navigating the mud of the River Arun at low tide, but that’s what makes being shore crew so rewarding.’

To find out and more and apply, see: https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/shore-crew---littlehampton-531055.html

ENDS

Notes to editors

Littlehampton RNLI’s volunteer crew look after the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Bognor Regis and Worthing. Littlehampton RNLI is independent from the Coastguard and receives no government funding. To find out more about Littlehampton RNLI, see https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/27/10-facts-about-littlehampton-rnli-lifeboat-station

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.

Photo of shore crew looking out to tractor and lifeboat on the shore.

RNLI/Beth Brooks

Shore crew at Littlehampton help to launch and recover the lifeboats.

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, Twitter 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.

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