Portsmouth RNLI celebrates two volunteers becoming Atlantic 85 helms – including the first female helm in the station’s history.
Volunteers Kim Dugan and Simon Matthews passed out as Atlantic 85 helms on Tuesday 18 March.
Kim has become the first female Atlantic helm in the station's history. She is one of a growing number of women across the South East to take on a leadership role within the charity.
Kim joined the RNLI at 12 years ago, joining as a lifeguard at Southsea beach in Portsmouth. In 2016, she joined Portsmouth RNLI as volunteer lifeboat crew. Kim became the station’s first female D class helm in 2022, responsible for keeping the crew safe and coordinating lifesaving operations when out at sea.
At Portsmouth RNLI 30% of volunteers on station are women holding a variety of roles including management, helms, boat and shore crew.
Speaking of why she volunteers as lifeboat crew, Kim said: ‘Since I've started volunteering as crew, I've not looked back. It's part of my life, and I love it. When the pager goes off, we might be tasked to launch and save someone's life. It's surreal, so there's nothing like it. If as helm I can make a difference and have a positive impact on the lives of others, whether it's my crew members, the public or the people we're going out to rescue, it means I'm doing the right thing.’
Simon Matthews started volunteering with the RNLI 23 years ago at Portsmouth lifeboat station. Alongside being on the boat, Simon is also a plant operator, driving the tractor that launches the lifeboats.
Talking after his pass out, Simon told us: ‘Volunteering with the RNLI gives me the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a difference within the community. The feeling of returning to the station after a successful rescue is like no other.’
Simon added: ‘The assessment was carried out by our Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, who is independent of the lifeboat station. My two-hour assessment involved crew management, conducting search patterns and managing a casualty vessel under tow.’
Roy Marsh, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portsmouth RNLI, said: ‘Congratulations to Kim and Simon for passing out as Atlantic 85 helms! I am delighted for them. Both have worked very hard and has shown dedication, commitment and enthusiasm towards saving lives at sea throughout the training process.’
97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers, including 5,700 volunteer lifeboat crew members at stations around the UK and Ireland. Without our incredible volunteer lifesavers, the RNLI could not provide a 24/7 lifesaving service.
Notes to editors
- Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has been providing search and rescue for the eastern Solent since 1965.
- Atlantic 85’s are the fastest boats in the RNLI fleet, with top speeds of 35knts.
- Atlantic’s are ideal for rescues close to shore, near cliffs and rocks – areas inaccessible to our all-weather lifeboats.
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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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