News & Events

RNLI presentation to long-serving Walmer crew

Two of the volunteer crew at Walmer Lifeboat Station have been thanked for their participation and awarded a 20 year long service badge. Alan Head, Deputy Divisional Inspector for the RNLI's Eastern Region was at Walmer Lifeboat Station on Sunday 8th February to present the awards to Andrew Coe and Chris Brophy.  

Andrew Coe, a second generation member of the Coe family on the Walmer lifeboat, joined the crew in January 1988. He has progressed through several roles to become a helmsman qualified to lead either Walmer lifeboat on a rescue mission. He was also one of the crew on the "Hampshire Rose",  the former all weather lifeboat that many people will remember on Walmer seafront. Andrew received an RNLI award for the rescue of two people from the yacht "Tahi Tahi" aground on the Goodwin Sands in December 2002. Andrew works as a Service Manager for a truck dealership at Lympne.  

Chris Brophy is the brother of Denis Brophy, the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Walmer. Chris joined the crew in July 1988 and like Andrew, was on the "Hampshire Rose". He took responsibility for the launching equipment (bulldozer, winches and carriages) in 2002 and was a member of the crew until 2004. Chris now concentrates on the launching equipment and helping on shore at the Lifeboat Station. Chris is a green keeper at Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club.  

Both Andrew and Chris spent much of their spare time in their youth on the beach at Walmer, amongst the fishing boats, and grew to know and understand the local sea conditions before volunteering for the lifeboat crew.  

The thanks from the RNLI comes as a personal letter from Andrew Freemantle, the Chief Executive.  

Alan Head said "Twenty years service is a marvelous feat and there are not so many chances to make such awards nowadays. During Andrew and Chris' service Walmer Lifeboat has launched 406 times for rescues and saved 63 lives"

John Turgoose

Walmer Lifeboat Press Officer