
RNLI welcomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall to Fistral beach
The RNLI was incredibly honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall to the RNLI lifeguard facility at Fistral beach today (Thursday 9 May).
The Duke was introduced to RNLI Head of Lifeguard Services Robbie Warrington, Henry Irvine, RNLI Lifeguard Lead for the south west, and RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Lewis Timson who talked through the RNLI lifeguard service on Fistral beach and further afield. In 2023, RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall aided 6,973 people and saved 26 lives across 58 beaches.
The Duke observed RNLI lifeguards carry out a training session on an all-terrain vehicle around a course controlled with barriers and training signage.
The Duke then walked up to the RNLI lifeguard facility and into the observation tower to meet with duty lifeguards Saul Woodfinden and Elise Irish.
His Royal Highness also met several volunteers from Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Station, including volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Gareth Horner MBE, who often train with the Fistral lifeguard team to ensure they are ready to jointly respond to a rescue if tasked. Last year, Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Station launched 58 times.
Prior to leaving, The Duke was presented with a copy of ‘To Save Every One’, a new book to commemorate 200 years of RNLI courage and three RNLI lifeguard towels for Their Royal Highnesses children.
Gareth Horner, volunteer RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manger for Newquay lifeboat said: ‘It was incredible for myself and some of the lifeboat crew to have the opportunity to meet The Duke of Cornwall today. The team spoke to him about the lifesaving work we do, the training and commitment involved in being a volunteer, and the joined up work we do with the charity’s lifeguards and other search and rescue services in the area. It was particularly special for me as today is my birthday, The Duke wished me a Happy Birthday, it was a lovely way to celebrate.’
With a personal background in search and rescue from serving as a search and rescue Sea King helicopter pilot for the RAF, His Royal Highness showed great interest in the lifesaving work of the RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crew across Newquay.
Lewis Timson, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor and volunteer at Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Station, who hosted the visit said: ‘We were extremely privileged to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall to our lifeguard facility today and be able to talk to him about our lifesaving work at the beach.
‘It was an incredible honour to meet him and he showed a genuine and passionate interest in the work of the RNLI and the part we each play in saving lives at sea.’
This is the first official engagement to a RNLI facility in Cornwall since His Royal Highness became The Duke of Cornwall in 2022.
The Duke has visited the RNLI across the UK on numerous occasions, the most recent being in 2023 when, accompanied by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Their Royal Highnesses met RNLI volunteers at St Davids Lifeboat Station in Wales.
Notes to editors
Credit RNLI/Phil Monckton
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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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