Colin McCarthy Steps Down After Two Decades of Volunteering on the River Thames
After nearly 23 years of dedicated service, Colin McCarthy has stepped down from his role as a volunteer crew member on the River Thames, serving his last shift on 21 November 2025.
The RNLI, a charity powered almost entirely by public donations, operates its busiest lifeboat station at Tower, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by full-time Thames Commanders and an exceptional team of volunteers.
Colin has been a cherished member of Tower Lifeboat Station since its first year of operation. Known as a friend to everyone, he brought warmth, humour, and a steady presence to even the toughest shifts. Widely regarded as the crew joker, Colin had a remarkable ability to keep spirits high, providing laughter and levity during long nights on watch and difficult rescues alike.
Throughout his service, Colin played a vital part in over 400 rescues, directly contributing to saving numerous lives on the River Thames. His experience, calm under pressure, and instinctive teamwork made him an invaluable part of the crew.
In 2024 Colin was awarded a commendation from the Met Police in a ceremony at the US Embassy for his dedication and hard work in keeping our waters safe.
Tower Station Manager Kevin Maynard said, ‘Colin has been nothing short of fantastic. His dedication, skill, and humour have shaped this station in ways that words barely capture, the crew also loved his cooking! He’s been a constant source of positivity, a dependable crew mate, and a true character, the kind you only get once in a generation. We’ll miss him enormously, not just for the work he’s done but for who he is. There is simply no replacing someone like Colin.’
The RNLI extends its heartfelt thanks to Colin for his extraordinary service and wishes him the very best in the years ahead and reminds him that he’s always welcome back at Tower anytime.
Notes to Editor
Tower RNLI, based in the heart of London, is our busiest lifeboat station. The crew are on the station 24/7, 365 days a year- ready to respond to any incident immediately.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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