VOLUNTEERS at Cowes Lifeboat Station turned their attention from lifesaving at sea to welcoming visitors on land.


The education and visits team hosted Cowes RNLI Guild, the group of volunteers responsible for raising funds.

They were joined by volunteers from Cowes RNLI shop and a guest from Yarmouth Lifeboat Station. 

The visitors toured the station and lifeboat and several of the activities and teaching aids used by the visits and education teams were demonstrated. 

Search and Rescue Radio Operators Certificate (SARROC) licences were also presented to several crew members. 

They cover all the requirements of lifeboat voice and data VHF communication between vessels, shore stations and personnel, and rescue helicopters.

They were presented by Andrew Cooper, from Cowes, a member of the national RNLI Council.

In particular he noted the relatively new Cowes RNLI station's successful efforts to embrace the whole town into its community life-saving plan. 

Cowes Lifeboat operations manager Mark Southwell said of the course: "Our volunteers give up a lot of their time for routine training and assessments — and this course demands two days extra.&am p;#160;

"It is a credit to the volunteers that they make the time available."

RNLI scarves for new education and visits volunteers and a certificate of thanks to a departing crew member were also presented.