Lifeboat crew members are renowned for mostly being volunteers and they are called to action from their ‘day job’ by pager alert (see page 14). In contrast, most RNLI lifeguards are paid (usually through local authority funding) as, when someone is already in the water and drowning, it’s not minutes but seconds that count. Lifeguards must be on the beach for their whole period of duty, ready to respond immediately.

But the great divide is closing: the RNLI is working closely with grass-roots lifesaving clubs to bring on a new generation of volunteers – volunteer lifeguards. They work alongside the full-timers and must hold the same national standard qualifications but, like their lifeboating counterparts, volunteer lifeguards come from all walks of life.

Vince Timson (pictured top left) is a little unusual. He carried out a record number of volunteer patrol hours last season. This year he is fitting 3 full days a week of volunteering around his work (as UK Manager of a surf travel company) and family life. He’s also Captain of Watergate Bay Surf Lifesaving club, an instructor and examiner for the national aquatic rescue standard (NARS) and a British Surfing Association coach. Vince explains: ‘Volunteering for me is what the RNLI is all about. My wife, three sons and daughter and I live 2 minutes from the beach and we all surf. We encourage club members to volunteer for the RNLI and gain valuable experience working alongside professional guards. In 2007, 10 members volunteered.

‘I’ve been involved in numerous rescues myself; major and minor fi rst aid; pulling people from rips. When you’re filling out the paperwork with a casualty after an incident and they see you are a volunteer, they are even more grateful. One hot sunny day last year, two elderly members of the public came over and said: “What a great job this must be – and you get paid for it!” I said: “Actually I don’t – I am a volunteer for the RNLI.” They were totally surprised and said: “We’re off to make a donation!”’

Some new recruits are far from at home in the water. Two staff from RNLI Headquarters who are training to become volunteer lifeguards, and their coach, speak for themselves.

Clare Eynon, Trusts and grants fundraiser

‘I had an accident while surfing 2 years ago. I got dumped by a wave and my board hit me and fractured my jaw. The experience made me think about safety and how good it would be to learn lifeguard skills and offer my help. ‘I was a club swimmer a long time ago as a child and through the course I have been inspired to get back to swimming after a break of about 8 years. I was nervous to start with. The first time I was in The Lifeboat College survival pool, its high sides made me feel claustrophobic and dizzy. But I got used to it. My technique has got a lot better.’

Kate Cooney, Volunteer development coordinator‘

In my paid job, I work with lifesaving clubs to increase volunteer participation on RNLI-patrolled beaches, so qualifying myself and volunteering at weekends will increase both my awareness and credibility. ‘Training has been challenging. Although I have always enjoyed being in the water, at the beginning of the course I considered myself to be a weak swimmer. I have worked hard on my technique, my breathing and my general fitness and can now swim strongly and with confidence. I hope to take my award this Summer.’

Peter Dawes, acting Head of prevention and Lifeguards and staff volunteers’ coach

‘Evening and weekend training takes about 6 months. As well as using the survival pool at The Lifeboat College, we go to the beach for board paddle sessions. Classroom work explains the theory before the practice, including personal safety, first aid and communicating with the public, as up to 95% of lifeguard work is ‘preventative’. (That’s identifying potential problems before they develop and giving advice and information to beach goers.)

‘The participants have to be fit and dedicated, as the training is quite demanding. They practice swimming independently too, twice a week, and by the end they must be able to swim 400m in under 7½ minutes: no mean feat.’