04/11/2026
Huge congratulations to Matt who has been awarded his long service medal having been crew for thirty years.
While he had his first experience of being in a lifeboat when he was 14, he had to wait until he was 17 to join us officially. Starting as shore crew, Matt quickly moved on to be mechanic and coxswain on the Spirit of Derbyshire, later progressing to be navigator and coxswain on the Shannon class.
He now still crews for us (as tractor driver and helm on the inshore lifeboats and also launch authority) but also works for the RNLI as a Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, conducting crew, navigator, helm and coxswain pass outs around the coast.
Over to Matt: “I enjoy being part of the Ilfracombe Lifeboat crew because it gives me the opportunity to make a difference, not only operationally but also in the development of others. I get real satisfaction from training, sharing my experience and helping people build their confidence, skills and knowledge. Seeing individuals grow, achieve their potential and become the best crew members they can be is incredibly rewarding. Ultimately, it’s about developing people, building a strong team and ensuring we’re always ready to help those who need us.”
Congratulations Matt! Thank you for your hard work and dedication!!
