Four volunteers pass RNLI training

Four Fowey RNLI volunteers have completed the next stages of their training.

Luke Watts becomes a qualified lifeboat navigator and Tom Cunningham, Oli Luck and Harry Smith all passed out as fully trained inshore lifeboat crew.

Luke joined Fowey lifeboat station in 2020 and qualified as an all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat crew member 15 months later. Just 11 months after that he has now qualified as a lifeboat navigator.

Luke, who manages the local butcher and delicatessen, said: “As a lot of the crew know, I don’t leave Fowey too much so they should have a bit of reassurance that I can navigate the water better than I can navigate the roads leading out of Fowey.”

Tom, who joined the Fowey crew in 2022, and also passed out as crew on the all-weather lifeboat a couple of months ago said: “Going back to when I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be on the lifeboat crew and from being accepted to now I haven't looked back. I love every minute of it.”

Oli, who is a marine engineer and trainee commercial diver, said: “Joining the lifeboat crew has been a lifelong ambition for me, having spent my entire life out on boats and all of my working career either on or under them.”

Harry said: "I’m excited to get out on the inshore lifeboat this summer and use everything that I have learnt in the past year.”

Fowey Coxswain Jonathan Pritchard said: “I am very pleased for the four of them. They have all worked very hard and shown great dedication and enthusiasm throughout their training.”