Waiting list as volunteers flock to join Newcastle lifeboat crew

Waiting list as volunteers flock to join Newcastle lifeboat crew

2 May 2012

DEMAND for places on Newcastle’s lifeboat crew has become so high that a waiting list for applicants has had to be introduced, the station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager has revealed.

Kingsley Singer told last week’s annual meeting of Newcastle RNLI that the station is currently operating with the optimum number of crew and any future applications will be placed on a waiting list.

During the past year at Newcastle RNLI, in common with most other years, a number of personnel changes have taken place.

The station has said farewell to Francie Morgan, Johnny McComb, Ian Douthwaite and Ciaran King, while those joining the crew have been Dylan Mooney, Declan Barry, Charles McClelland, Nathan Leneghan, Seamus McGrady, Paul Beeks and Mark Rooney. 

Mr. Singer congratulated the lifeboat’s long-serving former coxswain Francie Morgan on his appointment as a Staff Coxswain within the RNLI and crew member Sharon Pollock on her new post on the staff of the RNLI as Community Fundraiser for Northern Ireland. In addition to her new job, Sharon will be remaining as a Newcastle crew member. 

Mr. Singer also congratulated Mr. Morgan’s successor as Newcastle Coxswain, Mark Poland, and Richard Herron who is assuming Mark’s former role as Deputy Coxswain.

The AGM heard that an intensive programme of crew training has been taking place during the past year, with Robert Latus and James McKnight completing mechanics training, Richard Burgess, Damien King and Dylan Mooney successfully completing training and assessment as inshore lifeboat helms, and a large number of crew taking part in a radar training course.

Since the 2011 annual meeting Newcastle’s all-weather lifeboat, Eleanor and Bryant Girling, was launched seven times and the inshore boat, Aldergrove II, was launched 10 times.

“This has been increase over last year’s figures at four for the all-weather boat and eight for the inshore boat,” said Mr. Singer.

The Lifeboat Operations Manager also reported that during the year the RNLI’s Divisional Inspector, Martyn Smith, inspected the Newcastle station and gave a favourable report, complimenting the personnel on the presentation of the station and on the attendance on the exercises and crew meeting nights.

“I believe that due to the continuing commitment and support throughout the past year of the management, shore crew and boat crews, Newcastle RNLI is in a sound and strong position to meet any demands placed upon it in 2012,” Mr. Singer concluded.