New Launch Authority role for Fowey coxswain
The coxswain of Fowey lifeboat station, Jonathan Pritchard, has taken on a new role at the station. From September, Jonathan will become a Launch Authority, as he steps down from his role as coxswain.
Jonathan was the coxswain for Fowey’s all-weather Trent lifeboat, and with the departure of the all-weather lifeboat from Fowey this August, the station no longer has a coxswain role. Jonathan was appointed coxswain in 2010, having joined Fowey RNLI in 1988 serving first as volunteer crew on the all-weather lifeboat, and as a D Class lifeboat helm, then as Deputy 2nd Coxswain, 2nd Mechanic.
Fowey Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Ogg, said: ‘As a station we are delighted that Jonathan will continue to be part of the station’s management and Launch Authority team. Jonathan has played a key role at the station for many years and we thank him for his total of 37 years of dedicated service to Fowey lifeboat station. It has been a difficult time saying farewell to our all-weather lifeboat after 30 years but as we enter a new era for the station we are lucky to have someone as experienced as Jonathan on our Launch Authority team.’
When the coastguard receives a 999 call they contact the lifeboat station’s Launch Authority (LA). The LA is responsible for authorising the launch, and if a launch is agreed, the coastguard will then page the crew. As the volunteer crew quickly make their way to the station, so does the LA, who will collect as much information as possible about the shout so that they can brief the helm of the lifeboat and assemble the crew.
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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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