Barry Dock RNLI

09/10/2026

CLOSING DATE THIS SUNDAY!

could you help keep people safe around our coast?

We’re looking for a volunteer Water Safety Officer to join the team at Barry Dock Lifeboat Station.

Our crews are there when people get into trouble at sea – but an equally important part of the RNLI’s work happens before anyone needs rescuing.

The Water Safety Officer helps lead our local prevention work, supporting the development and delivery of our Water Safety Plan and working with communities to help people understand the risks around our coastline and enjoy the water safely.

It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, wants to make a difference locally and would like to become part of the wider Barry Dock RNLI team.

Applications close 11 October 2026.

Find out more about the role and apply through the RNLI website: https://volunteer.rnli.org/opportunities/122215-water-safety-officer-barry-dock-rnli-lifeboat-station-2026-09-01

Please share – the right person for the role could be somewhere in our local community.

07/10/2026

People person? Safety champion? Social media whizz?

We might just have a volunteering role with your name on it…

Barry Dock RNLI is looking for some brilliant new people to join our One Crew – and you definitely don’t need to be heading out to sea in a lifeboat to make a difference!

Love meeting people and having a chat to visitors? Our Lifeboat Visits Team could be calling.

Always the one taking the photos, spotting a good story or knowing what will work on social media? We’re looking for a Social Media Officer for the shop and visitor experience.

Forever telling people to check the tide, respect the water and maybe not do that thing they’re about to do? Water Safety Officer could be the role for you.

Three very different roles. One brilliant crew. And one shared purpose – helping to save lives at sea.

Have a look, see what takes your fancy – or tag someone who would be perfect.

Find out more about volunteering with Barry Dock RNLI - https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/october/05/people-water-safety-or-social-media-volunteer-with-barry-rnli

Go on… you know you want to join us.

05/10/2026

Week 5 – Handing back the pager

After 52 years, Brendan has handed back his pager. In our final instalment, h reflects on what a lifetime with the RNLI has taught him and shares a message for the volunteers who will follow in his footsteps.

What kept you volunteering for more than five decades?

To be honest, I feel volunteering to crew a lifeboat is one of the most noble deeds a person can do. There will be discomfort, risk and danger at times but being part of a team that saves a life, well, the reward is truly massive.

The RNLI is often described as one big family. How important have the friendships and camaraderie been throughout your volunteering journey?

I have had some wonderful memories of my time with the RNLI both in Rosslare and here in Barry, also when I served as relief coxswain at many stations, sailed with dedicated crews, and I am very proud of the trust and support they gave me when serving on their patch.

What are you most proud of when you look back on your time with the RNLI?

I had many proud moments; one of which was bringing the station’s new Severn Class ALB ‘Donald and Barbara Broadhead’ into Rosslare for the first time. It is an experience that few coxswains get to enjoy - it is special. Another proud moment was when Mary and I were invited to the Buckingham Palace garden party in recognition of my 50 years' service with the Institution.

As you hand back your pager after 52 years of service, what message would you give to the next generation of RNLI volunteers coming though?

Many new volunteers come from a non-maritime background. There is a fully structured training program in place with various levels of knowledge and competencies to be mastered on an assessment basis over time. There will be challenging times and sometimes discomfort that will test your resolve and commitment but remember you will become part of a dedicated team who will have your back, help and look out for you.

The rewards speak for themselves when lives are saved. In reality that's what it's all about. But, (unfortunately there is always a but) you need to prepare yourself also that on occasion despite best team efforts the desired result is not achieved. I have seen the sea when it is at its most benign and when it is at its most vicious, either state can pose a threat to life.

You need to be prepared to answer the call whenever tasking is requested. It can happen any time day or night whatever the weather.

So, as I drift off on the ebb tide of life outside of active RNLI operational involvement, I’m starting to enjoy nights of uninterrupted pager free sleep!!!! My message to current and new volunteers joining is that you all have my respect, admiration and support. I wish you fair winds and calm seas BUT in reality, you know it is not always going to be like that!

Take care and keep safe out there.

Brendan.

02/10/2026

💛We’re already in yellow – so this one feels particularly appropriate 💛

Barry Dock RNLI is proud to support Welsh charity Calon Hearts’ Go Yellow campaign, taking place from 1–16 October to raise awareness of heart health and funds for the charity’s lifesaving work.

Go Yellow is held in memory of local boys Ben McDonald and Kory Russell, two fit and healthy young men whose lives were cut tragically short by sudden cardiac death.

Ben died after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon, while Kory died after taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon.

Today, their families are helping to build a lasting legacy in their memory by supporting Calon Hearts – raising funds to help provide heart screening, but just as importantly, raising awareness of why screening matters.

Many serious heart conditions can exist without obvious symptoms. Calon Hearts provides free heart screening for young people aged 15½–26, alongside subsidised screening for those aged 27 and over, helping to identify potentially life-threatening conditions that might otherwise go undetected.

The charity also works to save lives by placing defibrillators in communities and providing CPR and defibrillator training across Wales.

As a lifeboat crew, we know just how important it is to have the right skills, equipment and knowledge when every second counts.

So, for the next 16 days, we’re very happy to be Going Yellow for Ben and Kory, and for Calon Hearts.

If you’d like to support their legacy and help Calon Hearts continue this vital work, you can donate here:

https://calonhearts.org/donate

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

Yes! It’s our favourite day of the year… welcome back all!

Did someone say treats?!

With the summer dog restrictions on Whitmore Bay coming to an end TODAY, we’re looking forward to seeing a few more four-legged visitors popping into our RNLI shop and visitor centre.

Well-behaved dogs on leads are always very welcome – and there may even be the odd treat waiting behind the counter! (There’s always a treat behind the counter!!)

And don’t worry, we’re happy to welcome well-behaved owners too!

So, if your walk along the prom brings you past the yellow welly, pop in, say hello and have a browse. Every purchase helps support the RNLI’s lifesaving work.

We’ll see you – and hopefully your dog – soon!

30/09/2026

TONIGHT Barry Dock RNLI is on Saving Lives at Sea - BBC2 and iPlayer 8pm.

Check out our behind the scenes filming!

Our lifeboat press officer can now retire! 🤣

29/09/2026

Do you know somebody who would love this role? Please share!

Could you help keep people safe around our coast?

We’re looking for a volunteer Water Safety Officer to join the team at Barry Dock Lifeboat Station.

Our crews are there when people get into trouble at sea – but an equally important part of the RNLI’s work happens before anyone needs rescuing.

The Water Safety Officer helps lead our local prevention work, supporting the development and delivery of our Water Safety Plan and working with communities to help people understand the risks around our coastline and enjoy the water safely.

It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, wants to make a difference locally and would like to become part of the wider Barry Dock RNLI team.

Applications close 11 October 2026.

Find out more about the role and apply through the RNLI website: https://volunteer.rnli.org/opportunities/122215-water-safety-officer-barry-dock-rnli-lifeboat-station-2026-09-01

Please share – the right person for the role could be somewhere in our local community.

28/09/2026

Week 4 – More than a lifeboat crew

What keeps someone volunteering for more than five decades? Brendan talks about friendship, camaraderie, trust and some of the moments that have made him most proud.

Is there one shout, rescue or moment during your time with the RNLI that has stayed with you more than any other.

Over time in Rosslare as the years went by, I served under 4 different Coxswains, I learned so much from each of them being part of their crew on many memorable services.

During my tenure as station coxswain there were two significant winter/bad weather services I recall. The first was to the MFV ‘Alf’ in 2003.

Alf had engine failure and was lying beam on, rolling violently in heavy breaking 8-metre seas 14 miles South of Tuskar Rock lighthouse. The wind was SSE 9. Towing the casualty was the best and safest solution to effect rescue of her 5-man crew.

It was an 8-hour service which posed a major challenge when the tow parted at the casualty end as we were lining up for the fairway entrance to Rosslare. Alf was now in danger of being swept by the heavy breaking seas onto the Holdens Bed sand bank.

We managed to retrieve the situation by the quick recovery of the tow rope. With little time to spare, we then closed on the casualty, got the tow line passed over, rigged and back under control again. We managed to safely berth the casualty back in harbour without further incident. This service thankfully had a positive outcome all down to the assistance and great teamwork from my crew.

The second was in 2006 to the tanker Breaksea who had lost all power, drifting and in danger of striking rocks in the near vicinity of Tusker Rock lighthouse in very rough seas with a 6-meter swell height and a southerly force 8 gale.

Our colleagues from the Kilmore Quay ALB were 1st on scene; they quickly managed to rig a towline and hold the casualty head to sea. We arrived in conjunction with the Navy vessel LE Aoife who was appointed OSC. Our initial role was to transfer Aoife's messenger line to Breaksea for Aoife to rig her strong wire hawser and effect a support tow with Kilmore's ALB.

Some 2 hours later after dark, the weather was deteriorating and Kilmore's tow line parted. We were then requested to establish a support tow to Aoife's. We had some difficulty getting a line to the casualty as it was proving challenging for both crews with seas breaking over the casualty foredeck and also the close proximity of the Naval vessel's hawser in the water.

Eventually we got our support tow established, then in conjunction with Aoife we jointly headed in a south westerly direction at a rate of 2 knots to rendezvous with the commercial tug Tramontane. At the rendezvous point, we were jointly requested to retrieve our lines to allow the tug to set her tow.

We were released when the casualty under tow by tug, escorted by LE Aoife, passage to Waterford Harbour. 9 hours later we got back to station. The success of our particular participative part in this service was once again down to the input and supportive teamwork displayed by my crew.

Thanks Brendan - that was like being on the set of Saving Lives at Sea! It's the last instalment of Brendan's story next week so don't forget to log on to hear what it was like handing back the pager.

25/09/2026

Better to make the call than ignore something that doesn’t look right

At 2.10pm on Sunday, our volunteer crew were tasked by HM Coastguard following a 999 call from someone on the mainland who was concerned that they could see two people on Sully Island apparently waving a white flag.

Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team attended and, with the benefit of some rather powerful binoculars, were able to get a closer look. What had appeared from a distance to be people waving a flag looked rather more like fishermen, fishing rods and possibly a white fishing bag being set up.

Our inshore lifeboat launched to check and the crew were able to confirm that the two people were fishermen and were not in difficulty. They also confirmed there were no other people needing help on that side of the island.

Our colleagues at NCI Nell’s Point were able to get an even wider view and confirmed there were four fishermen on the island in total – two on the south side and another two on the north side.

So, thankfully, no rescue was needed on this occasion.

But the person who made the original 999 call did exactly the right thing. From the mainland, something didn’t look right and they reported it. We would always rather investigate a genuine concern and find everyone safe and well than have someone hesitate to make that call when help really is needed.

If you see someone who you think may be in difficulty at the coast, don’t assume someone else has reported it.

Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

And if you’re heading out around Sully Island, remember to check the tide times, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back, and carry a fully charged mobile phone.