RNLI Clacton’s resident chaplain passes out as Shore Crew
Thursday 21 May 2026 saw one of our newer volunteer crew members who kept the faith, worked hard and passed their shore crew assessment.
Such a lot has happened since the (below) picture was taken back in September 2025. Fr Matt Simpkins is the Vicar of Clacton St James & Jaywick St Christopher Churches as well as being our RNLI Chaplain.
He is the Vicar who blessed our all-weather lifeboat at the naming ceremony of RNLI 13-52 “Chris & Jo West”.
Matt has found himself becoming more involved with our local lifeboat station and asked to join the crew as shore crew, since then he has progressed so quickly and with total dedication, he has passed out as competent shore crew this week.
If that is not impressive enough, he wants to progress to become sea going crew and is looking to start training for our 2 lifeboats.
Our lifeboat operations manager said “To have Matt wanting to do this is amazing, to get him onboard as a Chaplain was special, he brings something unique to our lifeboat station, then to have him as shore crew seemed a natural progression as he fitted in so well. He wants to go afloat; it will be an absolute pleasure to have him onboard our lifeboats. He has brought something special to our lifeboats station, the link with his church and community is a wonderful thing to have for all our volunteers”.
Well done Matt, we are all extremely grateful to have you on our crew.
Notes to the Editor
- RNLI Clacton is powered by the dedication of our volunteers.
- The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
- The charity relies on donations.
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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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