
Success for volunteer crew as Skegness RNLI progresses multiple crew members
Skegness RNLI lifeboat station proudly announces that various crew members have successfully demonstrated the commitment, values and behaviours to progress to new roles on station.
Notably, Billy Brookes who was awarded a D class inshore lifeboat Helm plan in 2022; alongside Ryan Speed and Curtis Redford; has been successfully chosen to become the station’s newest all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Trainee Navigator.
Alongside Billy, Shore Crew members Jaiden Elson and Simon Bell have progressed from this beach based role to becoming Trainee Lifeboat Crew.
On the beach, the station celebrates the progression of Michelle Collins, Nick ‘Smudge’ Smith and Raff Jurek who have all been awarded the role of Trainee Head Launcher and Trainee Launch Vehicle Driver of the station’s Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS), the tracked vehicle used to launch the lifeboat.
All of these advancements will mean the crew members will undertake additional training and assessments alongside their current role on station, a further demonstration of their commitment to delivering a world-class lifesaving service for the East Coast.
Commenting on the crew progression, Brad Johnson, Lifeboat Training Coordinator said: ‘To have so many crew advancements is just fantastic. The commitment to take on additional roles for our volunteers is truly outstanding and the progress they are making in their development is great to see.’
All of the volunteer crew members mentioned live and work in Skegness and volunteer for Skegness RNLI lifeboat station alongside their busy family and work lives.
Commenting on the success Paul Simpson, Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We cannot express our thanks as an Operations Team highly enough for the work of our outstanding volunteer crew members. Some of these roles take two years to train in and carry stringent assessments, so to take on these new roles is a big commitment for our volunteers.’
This is a period of fantastic success for Skegness RNLI with a renewed period of focussed learning and development under the leadership of new Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Simpson who joined the station in late 2022.
Skegness RNLI offers congratulations to all the crew on their accomplishment and thanks them for their dedication to providing lifesaving services in and around Skegness.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact RNLI Deputy Launch Authority Brad Johnson on 07799045121 or at [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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