Volunteer helm Mark Harding and his wife, Beth, were celebrating their wedding anniversary when the pager sounded.
On Tuesday 15th July 2025, two of our volunteers, Mark and Beth Harding, were celebrating their second wedding anniversary. Mark holds many volunteer roles at the station, including helm, tractor driver, and lifeboat trainer assessor. Beth also volunteers at the station as one of the fundraising team and as a visits officer.
Mark and Beth got married on the 15th July 2023 and celebrated their marriage with pictures in front of the Atlantic-85 lifeboat and its volunteer crew. New Brighton lifeboat plays an important role in both Mark and Beth's lives, and it's something they enjoy doing together as a couple.
On Tuesday 15 July 2025, whilst Mark and Beth were celebrating their anniversary, the pager sounded, and New Brighton's volunteers and Atlantic-85 lifeboat responded to two calls for service. The crew were tasked by HM Coastguard to reports of a child in difficulty at the end of a groyne.
Upon arrival at the launch site, it was confirmed with shoreside fire crew that, with their assistance, the person was no longer in difficulty and they were able to bring the situation to a safe resolution.
The boat was then re-tasked to an ongoing incident at Harrison Drive. Upon arrival on the scene, the incident had been resolved and the casualty safely located. The Atlantic-85 and its volunteer crew then returned to the station to wash down and fuel the boat ready for service. Mark Harding then returned home to continue the anniversary celebrations with his wife Beth.
All the crew at New Brighton would like to wish Mark and Beth a happy wedding anniversary and thank them for their commitment to helping us to continue to save lives at sea.
Lee Arnall, Lifeboats Operations Manager, said:
'The level of commitment from all volunteers across the station at New Brighton is absolutely outstanding.
They tirelessly attend training, take on additional roles requiring further training, and willingly take on additional tasks asked of them, and on top of all this, the support from the families is phenomenal.
It's expected to be a busy summer season for visitors to New Brighton, but all volunteers know what to expect.
We are all grateful for our families' and partners' support for our ongoing commitment to the RNLI, and we intend to show our appreciation later this year in arranging some activities to bring our supporters to the lifeboat station for some family fun, to be arranged by our dedicated Family Support Volunteer, a new role created this year as part of the RNLI Families Programme, providing support to the families of operational lifeboat station volunteers.'
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
RNLI Media Contacts:
For more information, please contact:
Emily Craven
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer/ILB Crew
New Brighton RNLI
07986119684
Connor Wray
Lifeboat Press Officer/ILB Crew
New Brighton RNLI
07756553092
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith
Regional Communications Manager
07977728315
Danielle Rush
Regional Communications Lead
+441745538995
Or RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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