Station Personnel

The Coxswain/Mechanic, John Irving, is the only member of the crew employed by the RNLI. He is responsible for commanding the lifeboat at sea and for the upkeep and maintenance of the station boats, machinery, equipment and the boathouse. He works closely with the Lifeboat Operations Manager, Alan Fisher, who is responsible for the operational running ashore and the launch authorisation, in cooperation with the Coastguard.

Of the crew of seven or eight who go afloat for service launches, four are regulars - including the Coxswain, Second Coxswain and Emergency Mechanic - and the rest are taken from a rota of the remaining crew. Exercises are usually held every two weeks, subject to service launches, and the crew is then alternated between two pre-determined groups.

The ALB Crew with The Lincolnshire Poacher.
Photo: Michael Fagan

If the Coxswain is away for whatever reason, both the Second Coxswain and Emergency Mechanic must be available for a launch.

On the Inshore lifeboat, the Senior Helmsman, Ashley Tyrell, has overall responsibility. For exercise and service launches, there is usually a crew of three. This always comprises an experienced Helmsman and two others.

The ILB Crew with Leicester Fox II.
Photo: Michael Fagan

For service launches, the first Helmsman to the boathouse takes charge of the launch and will usually take the first two crew members.

Playing an equally important role as the crew, the tractor drivers and launch crew are vital to get the boats in the water.

Tractor Drivers and Launch Crew. From L-R:
Steve Jackson (Tallus Driver), Trevor Holland (Snr Tallus Driver), Tim Waite (Tallus Driver), Charlie Tibble (Tallus Driver)

The team is managed by Senior Tallus Driver and Head Launcher, Trevor Holland. With an eighteen-ton tractor roaming around the beach during recovery the launchers need to be especially careful...