Massive congratulations to Natalie Simmons – Appledore RNLI’s first female helm

 

Natalie joined Appledore RNLI about six and a half years ago. The only boating experience she had ever had was sunbathing as a child on the front of her father’s boat.

She quickly progressed through shore crew, and then became a full crew member on both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats. She worked extremely hard to become passed out as a navigator three years ago before training to become a helm on the inshore boat. This training has been really intense with theory and practical training both at Appledore and at the RNLI headquarters in Poole, with her competence assessed throughout by a mix of Appledore and external RNLI assessors.

Following her final written paper yesterday, Natalie took the inshore lifeboat out on Wednesday in a gusting F7 wind during the highest tide of the year to undertake a series of scenarios set by the on board RNLI external assessor Lyle Stantiford, and fellow crew members, Matt Rowe and Robbie Ward.

First they had to find and rescue a casualty with very scant information, which they achieved, only to find this casualty’s boat had sunk and there was a missing crew member. A search and rescue resulted in CPR having to be administered and the casualty transferred to an ambulance. A wide range of further scenarios followed, including a trainee crew member falling overboard, an engine fire, an inshore to all weather lifeboat slow speed casualty transfer, and much else, culminating in getting the lifeboat back to station and onto the launch and recovery trolley, in the dark and the swell, using emergency steering. – Not the easiest of evenings for her!

In the words of the assessor: ‘Every scenario was handled safety, calmly and flawlessly. Natalie was brilliant’.

Appledore RNLI coxswain, Martin Cox, says. ‘This is a real achievement for both Natalie and the station; our first female helm. She is outstanding and this pass out is richly deserved, and has not only been achieved through her own hard work and total commitment, but also that of all those at station’.

Natalie says: ‘This is my starting point. It is like passing a driving test, but only when you pass and you go out as helm, do you really learn and gain the real experience.

‘I have had such huge support throughout this journey by all at the station, on the boats and on the shore’. They have given up so much time and help with all my extra training. This is something I never thought would be achievable for someone who arrived at station with no boating experience at all. It still feels surreal. The station has been my rock and if it wasn’t for the collective positivity and encouragement I could never have achieved this. Thank you all so much’.

Massive congratulations Natalie Simmons.

Video: The moment when Natalie Simmons is told she has passed out as Appledore RNLI's first female helm - by fellow crew member Alex Hall.

 

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