Redcar RNLI volunteers inspire Royal Marine Cadets

The Cadets wanted to learn more about the work the lifeboat station's volunteers do to help save lives at sea. During their visit they discovered the many roles within a lifeboat station that help keep lifeboats and crew ready to respond to calls for help 24/7, 365 days a year.

Mike Picknett Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar said: ‘We gave the Cadets the opportunity to speak with members of our volunteer crew so that they could find out for themselves what motivates and inspires them to put to sea sometimes in quite difficult conditions in order to save others.’

Mike went onto say: ‘Factors we look for in our volunteers are commitment and an ability to work as part of a team, very similar to those expected to be displayed by the Royal Marine Cadets.’

Company Sargent Trevor Calvert RM, summed up the Cadets visit saying: ‘Our Cadets were inspired by the RNLI volunteers who must be prepared to drop all previous commitments to get onto the water within minutes to potentially save lives in a very hostile environment.

'The Cadets also got to explore the two Advanced Lifeboats, along with the Boat-Towing Talus Tractor. They found it very educational discussing the lifesaving technology available to the RNLI to help preserve life at sea. A special thanks to the crew at RNLI Redcar for giving up their valuable time to show our Cadets around the Lifeboat Station.’

Notes to Editors

Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802.

Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Andy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, Redcar RNLI on 07954 435834 or 01642 484491 or email [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (North and East): [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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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.