Newhaven RNLI celebrates volunteer Coxswain pass out

After three years of intensive training and development on station at Newhaven and at the charity’s training college in Poole, John is now qualified to take command of Newhaven’s lifeboat as Coxswain.

The Coxswain is in command of the all-weather lifeboats when at sea. They are also responsible for the lifeboat crew and casualties’ safety when on the lifeboat. An all-weather lifeboat can’t go to sea without a Coxswain.

The pass-out was undertaken by Dave Needham, one of the RNLI’s Coastal Lifeboat Trainers, who is external to the station. John undertook a series of assessments, both on and offshore including search and rescue, navigation, command and emergency procedures.

The training to become a coxswain covers all aspects of the highly skilled requirements to take command and lead the volunteer crew at sea. John had the opportunity to learn from other Coxswain’s at Newhaven, and from around the country when at RNLI College.

John has been volunteering at Newhaven RNLI since 2018. He joined to learn new skills, meet new people and to save lives at sea. When not volunteering with us, John runs Sussex Boat Trips.

John Simcock, said: ‘I look forward to volunteering as a Coxswain at Newhaven. I’d like to thank all of the other crew at Newhaven, for their support, and time to help with my training and pass out, and also everyone who passed their knowledge down.

Commenting on the pass out, John said: The pass out involved many exercises, safety situations and emergency drills which, although trained and practiced seemed more pressured whilst under assessment. With the confident crew members carrying out their roles flawlessly the outcome was a successful one.'

Roger Cohen MBE, Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Congratulations to John. The journey from lifeboat crew to a Severn Coxswain takes a lot of time, dedication and training. The crew as well as the RNLI have every confidence in John as a new volunteer Coxswain at Newhaven.’

97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers, including 5,700 volunteer lifeboat crew members at stations around the UK and Ireland. Without our incredible volunteer lifesavers, the RNLI could not provide a 24/7 lifesaving service.

Notes to editors

- Newhaven RNLI was established in 1803, and covers from Beachy Head to Brighton. It’s a modern afloat station and operates an all-weather Severn class lifeboat, and a inshore D class lifeboat.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Sam Carragher, Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager on 01273 818012 or [email protected] or contact the 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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.