Pass outs and retirements at Clovelly Lifeboat Station

Winter is traditionally a quieter time at Clovelly Lifeboat Station, with visitor numbers in the area down and fewer people spending time on or around the water. But for the RNLI volunteers in this picturesque fishing village, it has been anything but a slow season.

Behind the scenes, the crew has been taking advantage of the quieter months to brush up on their lifesaving skills, ensuring that they are ready for the busier weeks ahead. Thanks to a rigorous programme of training and exercises, both Paul Smale and Philip De Blocq Van Kuffeler recently passed out as helms, meaning that they are now qualified to take full command of Clovelly’s Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat the Toby Rundle.

Having spent several years as boat crew at Clovelly, both Paul and Phil are honoured to be taking this next step to help save lives at sea.

And they’re not the only ones to have passed a major milestone in their training. At the same time, volunteers Hannah-Jane Brown and Dave Harris both passed their Tier 1 assessments, proving their capability in essential skills such as anchoring, towing, mooring & berthing, and local knowledge.

It was also a successful day for Simon Cooper, who completed the last of his training modules and is now cleared to go on service.

While the crew were busy supporting their fellow volunteers in their various assessments, they also took some time to welcome an old friend to the station: former crew member, helm, press officer, and launch authority Dan Garnett, who recently retired after many years service with Clovelly RNLI. Having begun his lifesaving career as a volunteer with Clovelly’s independent lifeboat the Pride of Clovelly, which served the village from 1988 to 1998, Dan has continued to play a number of important roles at Clovelly station over the years. During his recent visit, he was presented with a certificate thanking him for his commitment and dedication to the work of the RNLI.

As the crew gears up for the summer season, the team of fundraisers and supporters who form the backbone of the station have also been hard at work putting together a programme of events including the Cobble Wobble sponsored run on 4 May and Lifeboat Day on 3 August. There’s also a new visits team in place, ensuring that the station can remain open for regular tours, helping tourists and locals alike to understand the vital work of the RNLI. If you’d like to book a tour of Clovelly Lifeboat Station, contact [email protected].