Exams passed after weeks of intensive training at Lytham St Annes RNLI lifeboat
Three volunteer crew members have recently passed out as qualified in their respective roles at the station.
A high level of skill is needed to operate a lifeboat and her respective launch and recovery vehicles. All recruits have to undergo thorough and complex training over many months, at times even years for some roles, to bring them up to the required standard to help save lives at sea.
Ashleigh 'Ash' Black has been passed to drive the Shannon Launch & Recovery System (SLRS) vehicle. The SLRS is used to transport the station’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to launch her into the sea in whatever the conditions are on this coastline, exposed as it is to the full force of south-west gales. A tricky job then follows to recover the lifeboat from the sea when she returns and take her back to her boathouse on South Promenade. Ash joined the Crew in 2022 following in the footsteps of her father Roy who is also a SLRS driver.
Tony Eaton, a Shore Crew member since 2022, tasked with ensuring the station’s lifeboats are launched and recovered in the sea safely, has passed out as a qualified 'Agricultural' Tractor Driver. This vehicle is needed to tow the crew transport trailer used to get the crew safely to the water's edge and back in even the most extreme weather conditions. Negotiating the many undulations, water runs and softer sand in parts of the beach is a very skilled job. This tractor is also used to launch the station’s Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) when a casualty occurs on North or South Beach.
The third member to pass out is Matt Weaver who has qualified as a Mechanic for the Shannon class ALB. As well as a Coxswain in command of the lifeboat onboard when she launches, a Mechanic also has to be present to look after the complex machinery and electronic equipment that a modern lifeboat needs to complete her rescue role. Matt joined the Lytham St Annes Volunteer Crew in 2021.
Lytham St Annes Station Coxswain Tom Stuart said: 'Congratulations to Tony, Ash and Matt who have all passed out on the same day. Well done all.'
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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