RNLI Walmer Lifeboat

14/06/2026

🙏 The flag at Walmer lifeboat, alongside other UK and Ireland lifeboat stations, the International Marine Rescue Federation and other international search and rescue partners, will be lowered to half-mast on Monday 15 June to honour the memory of Bill Ewen and Frank Petsch of Marine Rescue New South Wales, Australia who tragically lost their lives in Ballina last month.

📷 Chris Mansfield

13/06/2026

🥇Walmer lifeboat takes great pleasure in announcing that in the King’s Birthday Honours List, our Boathouse Manager Les Coe has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for voluntary services to the RNLI.

🥇In November last year Les was presented with a Bar to his medal commemorating 70 years of service after joining as a 15 year old, and his contribution was recently recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Global Search and Rescue Awards.

🛟Les said: ‘This is such a great honour to receive such an award.
‘I have many fond memories from my years in the RNLI, across the wide range of roles I was fortunate to hold. I still remember testing the new inshore lifeboats back in 1963, and it’s incredible to see how far they’ve come since then.

🛟‘As a crew member, I was involved in a number of challenging rescues, including saving two people cut off by the tide, for which we received Vellums for bravery. I’ve loved every moment of being part of the RNLI, and it has been a privilege to serve.’

📷 Walmer RNLI

12/06/2026

⚓️Many of our followers may have heard or read that Walmer RNLI is due to hold a Naming Ceremony for our lifeboat Hounslow Branch on Saturday 27 June.

🔧Unfortunately, the boat has had to be returned to Cowes to allow some essential maintenance work to be carried out.

🙏The Ceremony has been rearranged for Saturday 19 September. The Annual Blessing of the Lifeboats Church Service due to be held on Sunday 6 September has also been postponed to that date.

📷 Chris Mansfield

11/06/2026

⚓️ Throwback Thursday ⚓️

Freddie Upton finally retired as the Coxswain of Walmer in 1962, after holding the position for 16 years. As part of his retirement, he was given a yearly RNLI pension of £28, most of which was apparently spent in his local pub the ‘True Briton’.

During his retirement, Freddie would spend much of his time on Walmer beach, along with tinkering about on his boat “Rose Marie”. During the summer months he could often be seen taking out fishing parties. In his first boat also named “Rose Marie” he used to take out Dr. James Hall to ships in the Downs, who require assistance from a doctor. He also had a rowing boat and once rowed nonstop across the Channel for 15 hours 20 minutes, when he assisted Tom Blower to swim across the Channel.

Freddie recalled “I’m usually at the pub at opening time and treat the landlord’s Alsatian to a packet of biscuits. I have a chat, a few drinks and a take of darts. I’m the ‘True Briton’ champion darts player.”

📍 Colin Varrall

10/06/2026

🙋‍♂️ Midweek meet the crew.

The latest installment of 'Midweek meet the crew' features Freya one of our Shore Crew.

🛟 Name: Freya Emmerson

🛟 Occupation: Civil Servant

🛟 Position at the station: Shore Crew (training to be apart of the Boat Crew)

🛟 Length of service: 6 months

🛟 Reason for joining: I've always loved the sea and have been around it from a young age. I've wanted to join for a while but it was never the right time until recently. I thought if I don't do it now I never will.

🛟 What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the RNLI: Absolutely you should do it! The experiences, the knowledge you take home, the people you meet are all fantastic. You won't regret it.

🛟 Tell us something interesting about yourself: I have rowed from one end of Loch Ness to the other. All 21 miles of it with my old Rowing Club.

📸 Freya

08/06/2026

🛟 Below are the tide times for Deal for the next 7 days in BST.

🧭 Remember: Always check local tide times before you plan a coastal walk.

⛵️ Remember: Different states of tide will affect the sea in different ways.

07/06/2026

📟Tasking 22. At 9.06am this morning, whilst out on exercise, our relief Atlantic lifeboat Howard Bell was diverted to an area in Sandwich Bay just off the sailing club to a dog reported in the water.

🛟The crew was stood down ten minutes later as the dog had made it back to shore and the lifeboat returned to complete its exercise.

📷 Walmer RNLI

04/06/2026

⚓️ Throwback Thursday ⚓️

In February 1962, Walmer lifeboat Coxswain Freddie Upton was invited to a function at Deal restaurant organised by the Committee of the Deal and Walmer Lifeboat Men’s Comfort Fund. Captain Harry Morgan, head of the American Coastguard in Europe, was present. He brought a message with him from Admiral A C Richmond, Commandant of the US Coastguard, whose headquarters were situated in Washington DC. In a letter, the Commandant thanks Coxswain Upton for his assistance given to Americans, who were in distress off the coast of East Kent. Freddie was also presented with a testimonial of appreciation, for his many services to American sailors and shipping during the war years and after.

Freddie also received a framed picture of a US Coastguard boat hitting the surf. A third presentation was then made to Freddie from the Mayor of Deal, Alderman Captain E H Hopkinson, from members of the Goodwin Sands and Downs Branch of the RNLI.

📍 Colin Varrall

03/06/2026

🙋‍♂️ Midweek meet the crew.

The latest installment of 'Midweek meet the crew' features Stuart one of our newest members of the boat crew. Stuart also had his first tasking this week.

🛟 Name: Stuart Chivers

🛟 Occupation:
Heating and Gas Technical Manager

🛟 Position at the station: Shore and Boat crew

🛟 Length of service: 10 months

🛟 Reason for joining: I have a love of the ocean sparked by growing up in the Sea Scouts and wanted to give time back to the community improve my skillset and meet new people.

🛟 What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the RNLI: Dont wait just come down, and with enthusiasm and dedication it will be a very interesting and rewarding way to spend time learning many skills whilst working with a great team, its like having another family.

🛟 Tell us something interesting about yourself: I have a passion for travel, photography, Rock climbing and hiking. I like to have fun and try new stuff like line dancing.

Next week meet Freya one of our newest shore crew.

📸 Stuart and RNLI

02/06/2026

🎉 All this month Acordo Lounge in Deal High Street are raising money for the RNLI.

🛟 With everything from raffles, live music, cake sales and even charity leg waxing they will be aiming to raise as much as possible for the charity.

🎂 Why not pop in and grab a drink or some food and at the same time help them with the fundraising.

❤️ Everyone at Walmer Lifeboat would like to thank all those at the Acordo Lounge for their support.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Huq5m6am/

🚨 Our biggest charity event of the year starts TODAY! 🚨

Throughout June 2026, we will be proudly supporting the RNLI and raising money for an incredible cause ❤️🌊

Pop in to see us, get involved, and help us make a difference while supporting the amazing lifesaving work the RNLI do every day.

Every donation counts — let’s make this our biggest fundraising month yet! 🙌

June2026