Tynemouth RNLI life-savers carry on family tradition

Dec 22 2008 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal

SAVING lives at sea is in the blood for two North families. The Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat has just taken on two new recruits whose fathers and grandfathers were lifeboatmen before them.

Bobby Mole, is the third generation of Moles to volunteer with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He now volunteers alongside his dad, Kevin, the Tynemouth RNLI station mechanic, who himself joined the RNLI because of his dad, Douggie. Chris Nugent, who has also just been enlisted, is following in the footsteps of his dad, Michael. Michael is the Tynemouth RNLI station coxswain whose father, Geoff, is also former crew and now serves as Tynemouth deputy launching authority.

Bobby, 17, who was christened aboard the lifeboat, attended his first “shout” or call-out earlier this week after a trawler started taking on water 10 miles off Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland. Three fishermen were rescued.

He said: “It was hard when my pager went off at 6am but it was worth it when we got a good outcome. I’m really proud to be following what seems to be a family tradition.”

Chris, also 17, is from a fishing family and is equally proud to be part of the crew.

His dad, Michael, 41, said: “We have a family boat, The Adventure, which operates out of North Shields in the winter and Scotland in the summer, so we’ve always understood the needs of the fishing community and how valuable the RNLI is to them and others.”

Kevin and the rest of the 30-strong Tynemouth crew are also heartened by the continuing public support they receive.

He said: “I’ve been with them 30 years and it astounds me the support we get. Without the support of the general public we’d be sunk.”