Looe RNLI volunteer retires from the charity after 33 years of service

In the summer of 1992, the RNLI re-established an inshore lifeboat station in Looe for a trial season. At the time Brian Bowdler was a young commercial fisherman who remembers an incident on Hannafore when a trawler was stuck on rocks in the winter months. Brian remembers the coastguard boat was unavailable, and the lifeboat station was closed after the summer’s trial. Even though the trawler was able to self-rescue, it was this incident, together with the fact the newly established station saved 6 lives during the summer of 1992 that prompted the RNLI to make Looe Lifeboat Station fully operational. With the RNLI looking for additional boat crew, Brian says that as he was often out at sea fishing, he was not sure he could commit to serving on the inshore lifeboat, but he was persuaded to join the crew. His concerns proved to be unfounded as a few years later, living in the back streets close to the station Brian went out on 23 or the 27 shouts that year. Starting as boat crew in 1993 Brian says he was fast tracked to qualify as a D Class helm by 1997, alongside Dave Jackman and Toby Bray. During 2003 he trained with other crew members on a relief Atlantic 75, ready to take command of the station’s new Atlantic 75 Alan and Margaret when it arrived in Looe in the Autumn of 2003, and coinciding with the opening of the new Albatross boathouse. Stepping down as helm on 25 April 2021, Brian stayed with the station taking on Launch Authority and head launcher roles.

During the social evening last Friday, 17 April 2026 at Copperfish, Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey thanked Brian for his service and commitment to Looe RNLI and our wider community. Before presenting Brian with a retirement gift from the crew, Clive read out a few words from the RNLI Regional Lifesaving Lead, Tom Mansell. “I would appreciate it if you could express my sincere thanks to Brian for everything he has done over the years as crew, helm and now launch authority. I believe that you have given a huge amount to the station and crew, your experience as a professional mariner, your calm manner and friendly disposition is, and has been, hugely appreciated. You have seen the station through so much change from the early restart and D Class on a davit to the building of the Albatross boathouse and introduction of the Altantic – to now! Countless people aided by the Looe lifeboat crews and so many owe their lives to the skills and commitment of the Looe volunteers. You have done your bit ( and some ) and you will forever be part of the incredible history of this fantastic station and wider organisation. Thank you so much Brian – Stand easy.”

Ian Foster, Looe’s Lifeboat Press Officer says “since 1992 the charity’s inshore lifeboats at Looe have launched on service 1064 times, aiding 856 persons and saved 66 lives. RNLI statistics show that Brian was boat crew or helm on 205 of these launches and Brian had a direct involvement in saving 21 lives. For one of these shouts, on 3 May 2001, Brian was one of the four man crew who saved the lives of two sailors, after their Enterprise dinghy capsized off Downderry, and for this service he received a letter of commendation from the RNLI’s chief executive. For another shout he received a letter of thanks from the RNLI’s Operations Director on 23 December 2009. These statistics go on to highlight Brian’s contribution in directly aiding 321 persons. He spent 198 hours at sea on shouts and another 248 hours at sea on training exercises. When not on the boat, Brian acted as shore crew and head launcher on several occasions. The records also show that as launch authority, Brian has authorised launching the charity’s lifeboats to 55 incidents. This is an amazing record of service, and one for Brian to be immensely proud of.”

In thanking the crew for arranging the social evening to mark his retirement, Brian acknowledged several ex crew members who were also there. Brian went on to thank crew for their gift. He said “It’s been a pleasure serving with you all, for all these years as trainee, crew, helm, senior helm and then duty launch authority. He commented this is a path all crew could follow with the structures in place and with new crew members volunteering he felt it was the right time for him to retire; with confidence the station will go from strength to strength in the future with the team leading you”.

ENDS

Notes to editors

· In the early days of Looe inshore lifeboat station Tom Mansell was the RNLI Divisional Inspector for the area.

Photos:

· Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Clive Palfrey (left) presenting Brian Bowdler (right) with a retirement gift from the crew at Looe Lifeboat Station

Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· Brian Bowdler at the helm of the D Class inshore lifeboat D-741 Ollie Naismith

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]

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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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.