Filey Crew Member Fran Wilkins (pictured) showed a cool head at sea during her coxswain’s assessment in October when she was diverted to some walkers cut off by the tide. With Fran in charge, and two RNLI inspectors aboard, the crew found the three stranded people, took them to safety, and then continued the assessment. Fran passed with flying colours, and is now one of xx women who have qualified as lifeboat coxswains.

Hastings Crew Member Sloane Phillips is among that number too – she became the station’s Deputy Second Coxswain in September after completing her assessment. Meanwhile the RNLI’s youngest full-time coxswain has also taken the wheel. Andrew McHaffie was appointed at Tobermory Lifeboat Station in October, at the age of 25.