Celebrating 30 years of dedication: Weymouth Lifeboat Coxswain, Andy Sargent

Celebrating 30 Years of Dedication: Weymouth Lifeboat Coxswain, Andy Sargent, Marks Three Decades of Service

This month, Weymouth Lifeboat Station celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 30 years of dedicated service as Coxswain by one of its most respected crew members, Andy Sargent.

From his first shout on Boxing Day 1982 when a family was washed off the beach at Durdle Door, Andy’s journey with the RNLI has been defined by courage, commitment and community spirit. Born and raised in Weymouth, the sea has always been part of Andy’s life. As a boy, he worked on a fishing boat for a local Coxswain, helping clean brass, scrub decks and make tea at Weymouth Lifeboat Station. His earliest trip afloat came in 1976, when he went aboard the 52ft Frank Spiller Locke to welcome the new Weymouth lifeboat - the 54ft Tony Vandervell, the station’s first fibreglass Arun Lifeboat. “I was only about 11 when she arrived, that was my first time afloat on a lifeboat,” he recalls.

Andy went to sea with the Merchant Navy at just 16, serving on ships in the Baltics, Mediterranean and East Africa, eventually gaining his Master’s certificate. After later working on the cross-channel ferry from Weymouth, he officially joined the Lifeboat crew in 1988. “When I joined, nearly all the crew were professional seafarers, fishermen, mariners, people who lived and worked on the water,” he says. “Now we recruit volunteers from all kinds of professions who are willing to commit and train hard. It’s about attitude and teamwork.”

In January 1995, Andy joined the RNLI as Coxswain at Weymouth Lifeboat Station, a move he describes as a vocation rather than a career choice. “It’s never been just a job. It’s something you believe in, and it becomes part of who you are.” When the role became full-time in October 1999, Andy stepped into history as the station’s first full-time Coxswain, a position he still holds with pride today.

Over the decades, he’s witnessed major changes in lifeboat technology, training and operations. The arrival of the Ernest and Mabel in 2002 remains one of his proudest moments. “Bringing her into the harbour for the first time was incredibly special, it felt like the whole town turned out to watch.”

There have been unforgettable rescues too, fishermen found clinging to life rafts in rough seas, and lifesaving missions in brutal winter conditions. Yet through everything, the core values remain unchanged. “It’s about trust,” Andy says. “When you go to sea, your priority is your crew, always. You look out for each other.” Supporting the crew after a shout is just as important. “We always debrief as soon as we’re back — what went well, what we could improve, how everyone’s feeling.” The RNLI’s TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) process ensures crew members can access support after particularly difficult callouts. “Everyone processes things differently, it’s important no one takes it home with them.”

Balancing family life with a pager has never been simple. “When my kids were young, they grew up around the station. Everyone accepted that when the pager went off, I would go.”

Thirty years on, Andy’s passion for the RNLI and the Weymouth community remains as strong as ever. “It’s been a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated people. This station has a proud history, and I’m just one part of it.” And of his long service award? “I’m proud,” he says. “But we don’t do it for the recognition — we do it for Weymouth.”

Congratulations, Andy, on 30 remarkable years as Coxswain.

Key facts about the RNLI

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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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.