Gravesend RNLI’s volunteer progresses through the ranks to Commander
Stewart Challis will now take duty command, carrying the responsibility of the duty crew on the twelve-hour shift, ensuring Gravesend RNLI’s twenty-six-mile patch is search & rescue operational.
New to volunteering in search and rescue, Stewart joined Gravesend RNLI as a volunteer in 2008 and has now progressed to a full time Commander after successfully passing out a thorough assessment on Tuesday 15 October.
Newly promoted Stewart said, ‘I had always been interested in boating from an early age and learnt skills from Sea Cadets, I wanted to put that to use whilst helping other water users, joining Gravesend RNLI was the perfect place to do that, a dedicated rescue service charity on the River Thames close to home’.
Due to the vast amount of requested launches, Gravesend RNLI is one of 3 stations from the charity that is permanently crewed on the river, although there are in excess of 60 volunteers at the station, there are a small number of paid Thames Commanders.
The safety of the crew is their responsibility and whether to launch or not will be their call. They must uphold the high standards of the RNLI and the smooth, day-to-day running of the station is also under their command.
Stewart continued, ‘The training across the years has been great but also tough. It’s incredibly rewarding, I feel honoured that my passion is now my full time job, I’m keen to bring my knowledge and experience to lifesaving work with other emergency services on the river to get the job done.
Gravesend RNLI Station Manager Ian Smith said, ‘I remember when Stewart joined in 2008, It’s been an absolute pleasure to witness Stewart train and progress his skill set on the crew. Going from a new volunteer all the way to Thames Commander.’
‘Stewart’s passion to detail is exceedingly high and brings many skill sets to Gravesend that can now be utilised on a full-time basis, It’s a truly proud moment for Gravesend RNLI to witness one of their own go from volunteer all the way to Commander’.
All Gravesend RNLI boat crew volunteer their time and frequently train to progress through different key stages and responsibilities, you can find out more here.
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.
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· Ashley Bard, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected]
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· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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