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Hoylake RNLI Second Coxswain hangs up lifejacket after 32 years of lifesaving

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteer crew at Hoylake RNLI lifeboat station have bid farewell to their Second Coxswain Tony Warburton, who has retired from the lifesaving charity after 32 years of dedicated service.

Hoylake RNLI

Tony Warburton, Hoylake RNLI Second Coxswain, was presented with a special RNLI cake to mark his retirement
Tony’s long voluntary service with the RNLI began when he joined the Hoylake Lifeboat crew in 1992 as shore crew and on board Hoylake’s all-weather Mersey class lifeboat Lady of Hilbre.

Ten years later he became a Deputy 2nd Coxswain, commanding the lifeboat on emergency call-outs and exercises, before being appointed Hoylake RNLI’s Second Coxswain in 2016 on the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood. In this role, he supported Coxswain Andy Dodd and later Coxswain Howie Owen and played a key role in helping to lead the station’s volunteer crew.

Tony also served as both a commander and a pilot on Hoylake RNLI’s Inshore Rescue Hovercraft Hurley Spirit. He launched on service countless times and was instrumental to saving lives and keeping many people safe on the region’s coast and out at sea.

His commitment to the RNLI came alongside a career at sea and raising a young family and was recognised in 2023, when he was presented with the RNLI’s 30-year Long Service badge.

Howie Owen, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain, said: ‘On behalf of all the crew and volunteering teams at Hoylake Lifeboat Station, I want to say a huge thank you to Tony for his many years of dedication and hard work on both the lifeboat and hovercraft. We couldn’t save lives at sea without the incredible commitment of volunteers like Tony. We wish him well for everything the future holds.’

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact:

Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]

Claire Devine, Hoylake RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer 07734 817 068 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

Hoylake RNLI

Tony (left) joined Hoylake RNLI in 1992 as shore and lifeboat crew

Hoylake RNLI

Tony (right) was presented with the RNLI’s 30-year Long Service badge in 2023 by Head of Region Jo Partner

Hoylake RNLI

Tony’s dedicated volunteering service came alongside a career at sea and raising a young family (pictured L-R with his children Charlotte, Ava and Lewis)

Martin Fish

Tony (left) launched on service countless times and helped to lead Hoylake RNLI’s volunteer crew

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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