Four Gravesend RNLI volunteers pass lifeboat crew assessments this week

Elliot Eyre:

Elliot has volunteered for Gravesend RNLI lifeboat station for 4 years. On 24 November 2024, Elliot completed his Tier 1 Crew Pass Out. Elliot’s assessment involved an evaluation of towing, anchoring, mooring/berthing, and testing his local knowledge of Gravesend RNLI’s 26-mile patch on the River Thames.

Elliot said: ‘The best bit was learning a whole new suite of technical skills that I wouldn’t have access to normally. I think the RNLI is probably the best training you could get as a civilian. The strong winds on the day certainly added an extra challenge to communication!’

Kayleigh Skinner:

Kayleigh has been a volunteer lifeboat crew member at Gravesend RNLI for 14 years. On 27 November 2024, Kayleigh completed her B Class Navigator Pass Out, making her the first ever volunteer Navigator at Gravesend station since the RNLI’s new training framework was introduced. Her assessment involved an evaluation of route and search and rescue planning, navigation skills, and use of radar systems to navigate the River Thames.

Kayleigh said: ‘The assessment was very good, and I enjoyed all of it to be honest. My least favourite bit of the whole thing was the wet and cold weather!’

Glenn Jackson:

Glenn has volunteered for Gravesend lifeboat station for 2 years. Glenn completed his Tier 2 Crew Pass Out on 27 November 2024. His assessment included testing out his watchkeeping, helming, and evaluating his knowledge of hydrology and hull types, as well as other important skills like risk assessment.

Glenn added: ‘My favourite thing has been the opportunity to show how hard I’ve worked towards my Tier 2, with a great crew and a great assessor. As with any assessment, there are always nerves, and being able to control them is always a challenge. What makes being in the RNLI so great is the people you get to meet and work with, and Gravesend lifeboat station is a fantastic learning environment, where everyone wants to help you. I always look forward to my next shift.’

Ashley Bard:

Ashley has been a volunteer lifeboat crew member at Gravesend RNLI for almost 2 years and is also a volunteer lifeboat press officer at the station. Ashley, like Kayleigh, completed his B Class Navigator Pass Out on 28 November 2024, making him the second ever volunteer Navigator at Gravesend RNLI. His assessment started with a test on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) and chart work, moving on to route planning, and the considerations of different search patterns. The assessment ended with the use of radar to navigate the River Thames back to Gravesend lifeboat station.

Ashley said: ‘Coming from a non-boating background, I was nervous about learning the full rules of IRPCS. Thanks to all of the RNLI’s training, that possibly became my favourite part after all! What once just looked like random lights, shapes and sound sequences all become understandable, as if I'd learnt a new language. My least favourite bit of the assessment was blind navigation. It really put it into perspective that one day radar may be our only aid to navigate with no sight or navigation screen, and how important all of these skills are.’

97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers. Without our incredible volunteer lifesavers, the RNLI could not be prepared to save lives at sea and on the Thames 24/7.

Notes to Editor

Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Helena Lane, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI on 07809 683883 or email [email protected]

Regional Communications Manager – SE & London, RNLI 07724 801305 or email [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected]