Mother’s Day: meet the RNLI mum saving lives at sea
As families celebrate Mother’s Day, one expectant mother will be marking the occasion with her lifesaving Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) family. Emily Craven, 27, has volunteered alongside her fiancé, Tom, for seven years, with their son, aged 2, very much being a part of the crew.
Emily joined the RNLI crew at New Brighton lifeboat station in 2019, after being encouraged by her fiancé. At the time, Tom had already been part of the New Brighton crew for a year and qualified as helm in 2023.
Emily said: ‘He told me I’d love it and I’ve never looked back since. In fact, I think I love it more than him.’
Her two-year-old son, Harry, spends plenty of time at the lifeboat station with his parents, having visited first when he was under three-weeks-old.
Emily and Tom’s fellow crew have seen the couple’s story unfold over the years. From watching them get engaged on a lifeboat, to learning of Emily’s first pregnancy by a RNLI-themed announcement on her Instagram blog. Only a few months ago, Harry announced to the crew that he was going to be a big brother by bringing in an ultrasound scan to show everyone.
She recalled how Harry often waves her off on her launches, visits the crew after they come in from exercises, and attends station barbeques.
Emily said: ‘Harry absolutely loves being at the station, and he’s always around the boat and the tractor. He’s probably going to be future crew, and he is a key member of New Brighton RNLI.’
During her time volunteering, Emily has been involved in many rescues. One call she recalls is that of a challenging rescue in 2020, where she and her crew were awarded a Certificate of Commendation in 2023.
Working collaboratively with a RNLI lifeguard, the crew and their lifeboat were tested as they faced rough waves. Expert navigation allowed the team to manoeuvre closer to the casualty and his dog. The weather appeared clear, but the sea was treacherous.
In what Emily described as an ‘emotional day’, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy awarded the crew with their Commendations. They were also reunited with the man they rescued, who remains a supporter of the RNLI to this day.
Emily, who will be 30 weeks pregnant as of Mother's Day 2026, plans to spend the day restfully. She and her family will head out on a walk, her fiancé bringing his RNLI pager with him.
Emily said: ‘Tom is responding to the pager for both of us. I’m currently training to become a Lifeboat Press Officer, but I will go back to crew duties as soon as I can.’ Lifeboat Press Officer is a voluntary role which helps promote safety messaging and share station news more widely.
Emily is part of the 97% of the RNLI’s frontline crew who are volunteers. Selflessly giving up their time, operational volunteers respond to thousands of shouts annually around the coast of the UK and Ireland. In 2025, the RNLI reported having 8,000 members of voluntary operational crew.
Notes to editors
· See Emily’s blog here.
· New Brighton lifeboat station was established in 1863, and the crews haven been awarded 48 awards for gallantry since being founded.
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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.
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.