Tributes are paid to former Redcar RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Cammish

Scarborough born Dave enrolled as a crew member at Redcar in 1982 and served on the station’s lifeboats until 1996. He then became one of the RNLI’s deputy launching authorities, responsible for liaising with the Coastguards when the lifeboats are tasked to an incident.

In 2007, he became Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar and served in that position until his retirement.

In 2011, he was presented with a RNLI gold award by the charity’s president, HRH the Duke of Kent.

Dave said at the time: ‘I think what’s pleased me most during my time as Lifeboat Operations Manager is that, on every occasion the lifeboats have been called, the volunteer crews have returned home safely.’

Mike Picknett the current Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar RNLI said, ‘Dave was a highly respected member of the Redcar RNLI crew. He was a volunteer at Redcar Lifeboat Station for 32 years and a perfect example of the dedication and commitment all RNLI crews need so that they can continue to help with saving lives at sea.’

These sentiments were added to by Redcar RNLI Chairman Dave Cocks who said: ‘It's always a sad day when we lose one of the lifeboat family. Dave was 100% RNLI to the core.

I'd like to offer the sincere condolences of everyone associated with the Redcar RNLI Lifeboat Station to his wife and children.'

Notes to Editors

Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802.

Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Andy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, Redcar RNLI on 07954 435834 or 01642 484491 or email [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.