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Dover RNLI appoints youngest ever volunteer Coxswain

Lifeboats News Release

On Monday December 2nd, Jack Coupland successfully passed out as the newest member of Dover’s team of voluntary Coxswain’s. Whilst Jack is also the youngest Coxswain to have passed out in Dover’s history, he is also the youngest Coxswain in the national RNLI fleet to command the Severn Class.

RNLI/Nicholas Cobb

Dover crew and newly passed our Coxswain Jack Coupland

Joining Dover’s all-volunteer operational crew in January 2022, Jack quickly progressed through the ranks from crew to navigator and this week undertook the gruelling Coxswain pass out examination and successfully passed, making him the youngest Coxswain to pass out at the station. The examination assessed a number of scenarios including the attendance and towing of a casualty vessel, the location and recovery of casualties, navigation as well as a number of emergency procedures, amongst other key assessments.

According to Rob Bendhiaf, Dover RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager:

Jack has done incredibly well and we are delighted that he has joined the operational leadership team here at Dover. He has shown great commitment to the station, the boat and crew and has passed out in record time, having passed all the relevant assessments. Having another Coxswain in Dover gives us enhanced resilience which means that we can remain on station and provide 24-7-365 lifesaving work in the Straits of Dover.

Until Jack’s pass out, Dover’s long standing Boathouse Manager and former Coxswain Tony Hawkins MBE held the title of the youngest Coxswain at 23. In 2023 Dover was also proud to announce the passing out of our mechanic Carl at the age of just twenty one.

Founded in 1837, the Dover RNLI has a strong record of saving lives in the Channel in both peace & wartime and as one of the busiest stations in the country, the Dover volunteer crew is constantly in need of volunteer personnel – with a crew of over thirty, Dover also has four Coxswains and a number of mechanics and navigators, all of whom are integral to launching on service.

Dover's crew are drawn from every walk of life, background, age and sex & this latest addition to the senior operational team will help the station continue it’s lifesaving work for many years to come.

RNLI/Nicholas Cobb

Assessment underway in Dover Harbour

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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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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