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Proud moment for RNLI volunteer Stuart Lacey

Lifeboats News Release

Stuart Lacey is a helmsman/station mechanic at Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat station

Neve with her father, helmsman/mechanic Stuart Lacey

RNLI/Mike Lang

Neve with her father, helmsman/mechanic Stuart Lacey

He signed up almost twenty years ago, starting up as a member of the shore crew team, finally progressing to the status of helmsman, who also serves as a station mechanic. His 18 year old daughter Neve has been brought up around the RNLI and has always expressed an interest in following in her father’s footsteps.

Stuart Elaborates; ‘Neve was born August 2006, turned 18 this year, and signed up on her 18th birthday. She has been brought up around the RNLI and has wanted to follow in my footsteps since she can remember. Neve volunteering with RNLI has made me very proud as these days young people do not seem to want to get involved.’

On Sunday 3 November, Neve took her first step, as she donned a drysuit and joined Helmsman Jason Coombes on her first acquaintance trip, as he helmed Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat Doris Day and Brian. She also spent some time on the Burnham D Class lifeboat Burnham Reach, which was helmed by father Stuart

All members of the shore crew team are occasionally offered acquaintance trips, to gauge their suitability as future boat crew. The necessary training of volunteers, although complex and detailed, is supplied by the RNLI, both in house and at the RNLI college in Poole. Traditionally, lifeboat crew were professional seamen, but that is no longer the case, and these days, the training is carried out under a scheme, known as the Operational Competence Framework

RNLI Lifeboats at Burnham-on-Sea

A 8.5m Atlantic 85 named Doris Day and Brian plus a smaller 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable named Burnham Reach The station was opened officially on 15th May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Mike Lang, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station on 07889 815860 or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789



Neve Lacey before her acquaintance trip

RNLI/Mike Lang

Neve Lacey before her acquaintance trip

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.