Well done Rachel

Rachel was put through her assessment by RNLI assessor Dave Needham on Wednesday 9 October at sea where her tasks included search patterns, anchoring, boat malfunctions, boat handling and a number of other related tests, all of which she passed with flying colours.

Rachel has been a volunteer at the Sheerness RNLI lifeboat station for a number of years and is a crew member of both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats.

She is the first female to qualify as an Inshore lifeboat helm for many years at the Sheerness boathouse and is held in high regard by all her crew mates at the lifeboat station.

Not only does Rachel put in many hours as a volunteer at the Sheerness lifeboat station but also, along with husband Chris, raises many thousands of pounds for the RNLI in her ‘day job’ as landlady at their multi award winning micro pub, The Admirals Arm, in Queenborough where they host weekly events in support of the RNLI.

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.