Childhood friends John Crabb and Verity Pope, both aged 17, have recently joined the crew at Looe inshore lifeboat station, in Cornwall.

They are both continuing family traditions: John's elder brother Ben is a crew member and Verity's cousin Nick Pope is a helmsman. Verity's dad John retired from seagoing duties last year and is now a member of the shore crew. Verity also holds the honour of being Looe's first female crew member..