
Libby takes the Helm of Cowes lifeboat
Cowes RNLI lifeboat station has its first woman helm — Olivia ‘Libby’ Finch. She joins the five male crew members at the station qualified to take charge of the station’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat ‘Sheena Louise’ on rescue operations in the Solent and River Medina.
Libby, who works as fundraiser with the Cowes based Ellen McArthur Foundation, said: ‘I’ve been a sailor all my life, and was keen to also volunteer with the local lifeboat.’
Noting that there were a number of female crew members at the station, she added: ‘Perhaps there will come a time when all four crew members responding to a ‘shout’ will be women.’
The lifeboat station’s Operations Manager, Mark Southwell, said: ‘I was delighted that the assessor told her she was ‘one of the best ever’.
‘We’ll done Libby! You join a very professional team of helms, and we wish you well in your new role.’
This is not, however, the only activity related success for Libby in her life. She had also once played in the England women’s lacrosse team.
RNLI Photo caption
Olivia ‘Libby’ Finch in her RNLI kit. Photo credit: Nick Edwards.
RNLI media contacts
- George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07530 254052/ [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer (London and South East) 0207 6207425/ 07785 296252/ [email protected]
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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