Recently qualified Deputy Second Coxswain, Graeme Cushnie, was presented with his badge of office, his Coxswain’s hat, by Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mary Corran, following a lifeboat exercise yesterday (29th September).
 
Graeme, who began his career as a Marine Biologist and then moved into teaching and is currently Headteacher at Ballaugh Primary School, explained his involvement as a RNLI volunteer: ‘I've always felt a connection to the sea having being raised in the village of Kircubbin on the shores of Strangford Lough and learning to sail a rickety old Mirror dinghy with my Dad. There's nothing quite like messing around in boats and as a child I enjoyed being on, in and beside the sea.
 
It wasn't until 1989 that I became officially involved with the RNLI, joining the Portaferry shore crew while on a placement at the QUB Marine Laboratory.  Then, in 1991, while at The Marine Laboratory in Port Erin, I signed up to help with the Rother Class lifeboat Osman Gabriel.  In 1992 she was replaced by an Atlantic inshore lifeboat and by 1996 I was passed out as a helmsman. There I stayed until October 2008, learning a great deal from those around me, when I then moved to Douglas.  It was refreshing to start from the bottom again, learning the ropes on the Tyne Class all-weather lifeboat The Sir William Hilary which brings us up to the present day. 
 
None of this would have been possible without the support of the people at each of the lifeboat stations, my employer and of course Lisa, my wife who is the only person I know that can sleep through multiple pager alerts.’
 
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with the RNLI as lifeboat crew, shore helper, or fundraiser should contact their nearest lifeboat station.

Photo - Douglas RNLI lifeboat Operations Manager, Mary Corran, presents Graeme Cushnie with his Coxswain’s hat.