Looe RNLI celebrates a successful 2025

The most visible part of a lifeboat station is the volunteer crew who are often seen launching lifeboats on shouts or training exercises. Not many people realise that here in Looe our operational crew of 30 are supported by an amazing crew of 60+ volunteers, who, behind the scenes open the charity’s souvenir shop, open the boathouse to visitors, promote water safety and organise diverse fundraising events.

As 2025 draws to a close, Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Clive Palfrey, the station’s operations team and crew invited everyone to join them for a “One Crew” celebration evening to thank them for all their hard work promoting the activities of the station and successful fundraising during 2025.

The crew welcomed everyone to the station during Wednesday evening, 10 December 2025, with a drink, and a buffet provided by Tonia, from Original Looe Bakery, who surprised us all by donating several more plates of delicious treats, as her personal thank you to the station. All our volunteers thank Tonia for her very generous gesture.

During the evening Clive mentioned the successes of the various teams and together with one of our longest serving crew members, Launch Authority and former helm Brian Bowdler, he recognised a few people who have been volunteering with the station for many years, including, Paul Sedgbeer who has been a member of the stations boathouse visits team for 20 years, Barbara Leck, who has been a member of the fundraising committee and shop volunteer for over 13 years and our volunteer shop manager Sue Bungey who had been volunteering the shop for several years before taking on the shop management role.

Starting a new tradition, creative crew members have made a “volunteer of the year” award crafted from the wooden floorboard of our former D Class inshore lifeboat D-461 Regina Mary, as the plinth for two yellow wellies. Unfortunately, the first recipient of this award, Ray Jowle, was unable to join us but with Ray on speaker phone, Clive thanked him for 15 years of service to the station, volunteering both in the shop and as a guide in the boathouse. For many years Ray emptied the boathouse pedestals weekly, counting and banking the donations. A few days later our Press Officer called in to see Ray at home to present him with his award.

Two of our volunteer crew became fathers this year, Clive presented Jack and Tom with yellow wellies for their daughters saying that he hopes this will become another station tradition welcoming “future crew” as the RNLI family grows.

On a serious note, Clive paused to recognise “Crew members of the year” David Jackman and Victoria Thomas who earlier in the year saved the life of one of David’s work colleagues when he collapsed on the quay. Clive said, “you never know when something will happen, but this is where RNLI training kicks in with the quick reaction from David, coupled with Vicky’s rapid arrival on scene saving a life.”

Some crew banter then followed with “crew awards” before the evening concluded with David Jackman repaying Clive’s compliments by thanking him for “stepping up to the plate” in taking on the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager and presented him with a stepping plate.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Photos:

· 1 – Looe RNLI volunteers in the boathouse – 10 December 2025
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Will Bray

· 2 – Clive Palfrey, Sue Bungey and Brain Bowdler
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· 3 – Clive Palfrey, Barbara Leck and Brain Bowdler
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· 4 – Clive Palfrey and Brain Bowdler with the volunteer of the year award
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· 5 – Clive presenting yellow wellies to Jack and Tom
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· 6 –Clive Palfrey and David Jackman
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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