Southend RNLI volunteer passes 40 years of lifesaving with the charity

At the age of 15, Tony volunteered as a lifeguard at Shoebury west beach. Four years later in 1986, the year the coaster Kings Abbey sliced through the pier destroying Southend RNLI offshore boathouse and launch slip, Tony became a volunteer at Southend lifeboat station while continuing to volunteer as a lifeguard for a further 16 years.

Tony, managing director of C view security ltd started his RNLI career as shore crew working his way up to D class helm, hovercraft pilot and commander. In 2024 Mr Bonham with a few other Southend volunteers represented Southend-on-Sea RNLI at the RNLI 200^th anniversary service in Westminster Abbey. Tony also bears the charity’s flag leading the RNLI volunteers at Southend's annual Remembrance parade.

Since the stations digital records began in 1996 Tony has logged and is responsible for 101 lives saved and 953 people aided, not counting lives saved and aided during the ten years he served pre digital recording.

Recalling memorable shouts RNLI volunteer Tony Bonham said: ‘In 1989 our Atlantic 75 Percy Garon II launched in storm force winds to assist a sand barge sinking near the Shoebury buoy. While attending to the barge one of the lifeboats engine failed, then returning to station the second engine also failed. Our D class was tasked to help the Atlantic 75 drifting in the dangerous waters. I was shore crew that day, it took us 5 or 6 attempts to launch the D class as it kept being washed back in the surf. We finally got it afloat by the Prince of Wales jetty. Some hours later the D class was unable to return to station due to the extreme seas. I had to drive my lorry to Shoebury East beach to recover the lifeboat. Thankfully the crew of the barge and lifeboat were all saved from the storm.

‘And of course I must mention the two Dolphins stranded up the estuary. January 2020 we were tasked to two common Dolphins stranded near Mucking. Over a few hours working with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medics and firefighters our volunteers managed to rescue and release both Dolphins safely. A great piece for Saving Lives at Sea production except our helmet cameras ran out of battery just seconds before the release of the Dolphins, nonetheless an unforgettable and rewarding day for everyone involved’.

Tony continues to volunteer at Southend RNLI as a hovercraft commander, he has watched his son Tyler progress to Atlantic 85 helm and his grandson Noah following in their footsteps.

Last year 2025, Tony received an Excellency in Volunteering award from the RNLI, an outstanding achievement from a totally dedicated RNLI volunteer.

Could you be a RNLI volunteer? For volunteering opportunities visit: https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/volunteering-opportunities or contact your local RNLI station.

For further information please contact:

• Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
• Jess Curtis RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Notes to Editors:

• Southend RNLI is one of the busiest coastal stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
• Southend RNLI cover approximately fifteen miles of shore from Shoeburyness to Canvey and beyond.
• For more information, please visit: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/southend-on-sea-lifeboat-station

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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 RNLI News Centre.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

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.