New coxswain at Tynemouth RNLI

Sam Clow has been successful in the recently advertised position of coxswain of Tynemouth RNLI.

Sam originally joined Sunderland RNLI in 2011, quickly rising up the ranks to become a D class and Atlantic 85 Helm. In May 2018, Sam moved to Arbroath to take up the position of coxswain/mechanic of their Mersey Class lifeboat. Sam is now making the move back to the North East to take up the position of coxswain at Tynemouth RNLI.

On joining Tynemouth, Sam stated: ‘I’m really looking forward to taking up my new role with the crew at Tynemouth RNLI and feel great about being back in the North East. The volunteers have been very welcoming and although Michael has some big boots to fill, I'm looking forward to the challenge.’

Michael will be stepping down as full-time coxswain of Tynemouth Lifeboat in October but will stay on the crew serving as a deputy for Sam where required.

Michael joined the RNLI at Cullercoats in 1984, before transferring to Tynemouth in 1995. Michael became coxswain of Tynemouth Lifeboat in 2002 and has led on hundreds of rescues across both the Severn Class lifeboat and D-Class inshore lifeboat.

Some of Michael’s notable jobs include a 220 mile round trip to rescue a Danish Fishing Trawler in 2015, and more recently, a 140 mile round trip during Storm Arwen in November 2021 to rescue a broken down fishing vessel.

Sam takes up his first duties on station on the 3 October 2022.

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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