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Three new Scarborough RNLI volunteers pass assessments in time for Christmas

Lifeboats News Release

As the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) comes to the end of its milestone 200th year, the charity is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the volunteer crew members who are preparing to spend Christmas on call.

RNLI/Nick Gough

New Recruits to Scarborough Lifeboat Station

Connor McPherson, Jess Marton, and Olivia Slater have all passed their shore crew assessment in time for Christmas after only joining summer 2024.

Jess and Olivia will now begin their training on the inshore (ILB) and all-weather lifeboat (ALB).

Connor is going to start training as a tractor driver - which his grandfather Francis Appleby did for many years at Scarborough Lifeboat Station.

Francis joined the crew as a shore helper in 1978, he then became ALB crew on Lifeboat Amelia and finished off as a head launch and tractor driver in 2011. Francis still attends the station and even plays the organ at remembrance Sunday.

Jess also has a family connection on station, with her father Lee currently the station's Coxswain and has been a long serving crew member of Scarborough RNLI. Her brother Jacob also joined the crew at Scarborough before leaving for a career in the armed forces.

These three new competent crew will join thousands of crew members across the RNLI preparing for a callout this Christmas period.

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch more than 100 times during the Christmas period* every year. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea.

These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help. This year we have several new crew trained up in many different roles are ready to answer the pager call for the first time this Christmas.

Crew member Connor McPherson said: ‘I only joined the crew a short while ago and hopefully will follow my grandad's footsteps. In a short space of time, the RNLI crew have made me feel part of their family and already I've learned a lot about the shore crew role within the RNLI.

‘But as volunteer lifeboat crew, we couldn’t launch without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our own families.’

Roger Buxton, Scarborough RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Jess, Connor, and Olivia have worked hard in their training for some time now and all the hard work has paid off.

‘The station has gained three new competent crew and they will be an asset to the station and the area we serve.’

Assessments like this really come down to teamwork. Roger said: ‘The professionalism and teamwork displayed by the rest of the lifeboat crew was vital in achieving success in their assessments.’

The crews are all volunteers, ready to respond to a shout at any time of day or night, 365 days a year. There’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families – especially at Christmas.

Even at this time of year, people still get in trouble in the water, and we’re all prepared to leave our own celebrations to help them.

On Christmas day in 2018, our volunteer crew were paged out to a person cut off by the tide at Scalby ness. The pages sounded just as most of them were about to start their Christmas dinner with their families. When arriving back and getting the boat back ready for service again, the crew managed to spend the rest of the day with their families.

On Christmas Eve 2019, the lifeboat was called out twice.

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

ENDS

*'Christmas period' refers to 24 December – 1 January inclusive

Notes to editors 

Scarborough lifeboat station has been operating since 1801. The crews have received 35 awards for gallantry and today the station operates a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and a D class inshore lifeboat
To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: 
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/scarborough-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts 

Nick Gough RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07939025881 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

RNLI/Nick Gough

Olivia Slater

RNLI/Nick Gough

Connor McPherson

RNLI/Nick Gough

Jess Marton

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.