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Two new volunteer Coxswains for Lytham St Annes RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Training has been completed for Tony Cox and Ben McGarry to take command of the Barbara Anne, the station’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.

Two men in RNLI clothes shake hands

Chris Roberts / RNLI

Tony Cox (left) is congratulated by Paul Little (Station Operations Manager) on becoming a Coxswain

Station Mechanic Tony Cox has been appointed as a Coxswain for the Lytham St Annes all-weather lifeboat (ALB) Barbara Anne, after he completed his final training pass-out at sea on the Tuesday 5 November 2024.

Ben McGarry, a Trainer / Assessor for the RNLI and a volunteer ALB Mechanic and inshore lifeboat (ILB) Helm at Lytham St Annes has also passed out as a Coxswain.

Both crew members now join Station Coxswain Tom Stuart, Second Coxswain John Atkinson, Staff Coxswain / Mechanic Martin Jaggs MBE, and volunteer Coxswain Vinny Pedley, as fully qualified to take command of the Lytham St Annes lifeboat when at sea on rescue services or exercises.

The training to become a coxswain covers all aspects of the highly skilled requirements to take command and lead the volunteer crew at sea. This included courses at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset as well as on-station training. As with all these important roles for the sea charity’s life saving work, it is externally assessed to ensure all future coxswains meet the same high standards throughout the RNLI fleet of lifeboats, which covers the entire coastline of the British Isles from 238 stations.

Tony, a former Merchant Navy Engineering Officer, joined Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station in 2018 and was appointed Station Mechanic in 2021 (in 2024 now called Senior Station Technician) to lead in the maintenance of the boats, vehicles and equipment needed locally to save lives at sea.

Ben joined the station in 2011 and trained to be an ALB Mechanic in 2015 and an ILB Helm in 2017. He was appointed Lytham St Annes Station Mechanic in 2016, a post he held until 2017 before changing jobs within the RNLI. He is now employed as a Trainer / Assessor for the RNLI, a highly skilled job which requires visiting other stations around the coast to ensure all their crew members are trained to the same high standards needed to provide the first class sea rescue service that the RNLI is today. Being brought up in Lytham and still living in Lytham St Annes, he is a volunteer locally, bringing his expertise and skills to the station, and from now on as a Coxswain as well.

Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Little later said:

'Congratulations and thanks to Tony and Ben for all their hard work completing their training as coxswains to allow them to command the Barbara Anne. The RNLI provides lifeboat coverage 365 days a year and this boosts the number of coxswains available to ensure the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station fulfils this commitment'.

David Forshaw Lifeboat Press Officer - Lytham St Annes

A man in RNLI lifejacket and wet weather coat smiles at the camera

RNLI/Nigel Millard

Ben McGarry of Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station

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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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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