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Brighton lifeboat operations manager retires after 42 years dedicated service

Lifeboats News Release

Roger Cohen MBE stepped down as lifeboat operations manager at Brighton on Friday (31/01) after 42 years of volunteering for the RNLI across London and Sussex.

Roger with the Brighton crew for his final shout as LOM

RNLI

Roger with the Brighton crew for his final shout as LOM

Roger served as crew and helm at Brighton for 18 years and crew at Tower – the RNLI’s busiest station, situated on the Thames – for 13 years before becoming lifeboat operations manager for Brighton and then taking on the same role at Newhaven.

Since joining the RNLI in 1982, Roger has been involved in 2,260 lifeboat launches resulting in 248 lives saved.

There was even a shout for Brighton RNLI on his very last day at Brighton as the crew were paged at 2:30pm to reports of a person in distress, they were stood down by the Coastguard soon after launching.

On Friday a celebration was held in honour of Roger at Saltdean Lido, attended by lifeboat crews past and present from across the region.

In a speech, Roger said: ‘Forty-two years, one month and 21 days is hard to sum up in a few words.

‘Much has changed – the boats have become larger, more complicated but overall a far better lifesaving boats.

‘What has not changed is the drive of ordinary people walking into a lifeboat station and becoming trained lifesavers.

‘Most importantly, is the fact that we continue to save lives.

‘The profile of the casualty has changed, but without fear or favour we will pause our daily lives or interrupt our sleep to answer the call to save a life.

‘I am immensely proud of the teams I have volunteered with and managed. Lifelong friends have been formed through the station.’

Roger added: ‘For those here on the boat, stay safe – the rewards of training will pay off as you cope in a horrible sea.

‘But remember to respect the sea. She is powerful and can always bite.’

As well as furthering the RNLI’s core aim of saving lives at sea, under his leadership, Brighton RNLI became the first LGBT accredited station in the country and was the first to take part in Pride.

In March 2024, Roger represented the RNLI by reading the charity pledge during a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey as part of the RNLI bicentenary celebrations.

In November 2022 Roger was recognised as an MBE by HRH The Princess Royal at Windsor Castle for services to the RNLI and charity.

RNLI head of region Ryan Hall said: ‘I’d firstly like to express my thanks to Roger – for truly showing the RNLI values over his selfless years of volunteering.

‘We strive for the RNLI to be a forward thinking and inclusive place to work and volunteer and Roger should be proud of the part he has played in this.

‘Roger has played a huge part in steering us on the right course during his 40 years of dedication and I’d like to wish him well for his retirement.’

Roger will continue his lifeboat operations manager role at Newhaven RNLI until the end of the year.

Roger at Saltdean Lido

RNLI

Roger at Saltdean Lido
Roger's retirement cake modelled on an Atlantic 75 lifeboat

RNLI

Roger's retirement cake modelled on an Atlantic 75 lifeboat
A painting gifted to Roger by artist and ex-crew member Tony Parsons

RNLI

A painting gifted to Roger by artist and ex-crew member Tony Parsons
A gift to Roger - a tea cosy made of RNLI lanyards

RNLI

A gift to Roger - a tea cosy made of RNLI lanyards

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

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