Dedicated Bridlington RNLI crew member steps down after 20 years of life-saving
and live on Freeview channel 276
Bridlington RNLI crew member Ad Trower started volunteering in 1998 following a chance encounter.
He was walking to the fire station to see if there was any work available when he met Joe Jagger - a lifeboat crew member - who introduced him to the rest of the crew and helped him begin his lifesaving work.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"I wasn’t really interested in what my friends were doing at the time, so I decided to knock on the door of the fire station to see if there was any work going," said Ad.
"I was a little downcast when they told me that there wasn’t but after meeting Joe that day I decided I wanted to join the lifeboat crew."
Since that fateful day, he has taken part in countless exercises, rescues and operations not just off the Yorkshire Coast but nationally and internationally as part of his work with the RNLI Flood Rescue Team.
He was part of the Flood Rescue Team for more than 15 years.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe branch is deployed to flood-hit areas to provide lifesaving assistance.
Ad reached the level of Team Leader and Boat Leader, and even travelled to North Carolina in America alongside the International Flood Rescue Team.
Ad has also been the Senior Helm for Bridlington inshore lifeboat for over nine years and in 2006 received The Thanks Of The Institution Inscribed in Vellum from the RNLI.
The vellum is an award given to volunteer crew members for notable acts and Ad received his for his efforts in pulling a casualty from the water off Bridlington’s North Promenade in horrendous conditions.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAfter countless call-outs resulting in missed Sunday lunches, disrupted birthday parties and even attending shouts on Christmas Day, Ad has decided to stand down from his role in the RNLI.
"I feel like this is the right time for me," he said.
"I want to spend more time with my wife and young boy but I’m looking forward to seeing some of the younger volunteers at the station follow in my footsteps."
Ad’s final exercise on the inshore lifeboat was on Sunday morning and Bridlington Lifeboat Chairman Dave Garnett offered his thanks on behalf of the station.
"It’s always sad to see a senior crew member like Ad leave us but his commitment and contribution to the community of Bridlington is hugely appreciated and we hope that he enjoys some well-earned time with his young family."
A message from the editor
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world.
The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.
We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.
Thank you,
Jean MacQuarrie, Editor-in-Chief