Newhaven RNLI marks retirement of former crew member after a lifetime of service
On Friday 24 October, all-weather lifeboats from Shoreham, Eastbourne and Newhaven RNLI came together on a joint exercise to mark the retirement of Phill Corsi after 44 years, four months and four days.
Phill returned to the station where he began his volunteering, aged 17 on Newhaven’s lifeboat, the David and Elizabeth Acland. After pestering his mum relentlessly during his teenage years, on his seventeenth birthday she gave him a card with a letter inside to give to the Newhaven coxswain containing her permission for him to join the crew.
As well as spending many years as volunteer lifeboat crew, Phill also volunteered as a Special Constable in Lewes and then joined the ambulance service. After a distinguished career as a paramedic and service manager, Phill then moved to the RNLI full-time as a fleet staff coxswain, travelling all around the coast of the UK and Ireland to crew the charity’s lifeboats wherever they required support and training. Phill finished his career as RNLI area operations manager for Sussex, supporting stations from Shoreham to Rye Harbour.
Roger Cohen, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager for Newhaven RNLI, said: 'I have had the great pleasure of volunteering with Phill for 43 years and count him as a good friend. Phill embodies the RNLI values of selflessness, dependability, courage and trustworthiness every single day and although his retirement will be a great loss to the organisation, he has earned some time off for himself at long last.'
Nathan Jauns, Regional Operations Lead, said: 'These days the term ‘legend’ is often overused. In Phill’s case, it’s absolutely justified. Phill has always been incredibly generous with his time, patiently encouraging new crew and colleagues and sharing his vast knowledge to help them save lives at sea. He will be sorely missed by his friends all around the charity and we have been lucky to work with him for as long as we have.'
RNLI Media contacts Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager South East, Lifeboat Press Officer at Wells: Tel 07483488243 Email: [email protected] contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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