OUR CREW
RYA level 2 instructor, D-class helm, SRT, lost and missing persons search trained.
Antony Graham (Sharpy)
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: It's good to give back to the community and help people who are in need.
- Best memory on the crew: There's a lot... Getting a good result on a rescue is always a good memory for me.
Land and missing person Search Tech, FREC 3 qualified
Tracy Arnold
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: At first, I thought I couldn’t volunteer as I didn’t want to be on the lifeboat itself. I did not know that Maryport Rescue did all sorts of rescue including land searches for missing and vulnerable people. That part really interested me so I jumped at the chance of this training. It allows me to still be crew and part of the rescue but remain on land. I wanted to give back to Maryport Rescue as they are an established part of the local community. It’s for the community run by the community and that in itself is very important to me. If any of my family or friends went missing I ask myself what I would hope for in searching for them and the compassion and respect I would want for my loved ones. We all deliver that level of care when searching and that is so important to me.
- Best memory on the crew: The best memory on the crew is actually being part of this huge family. We laugh and cry together, and we share knowledge and experience together, which is invaluable to new starters of any age.
Helm, Talus driver, 4x4 driver, blue light driver, lost & missing person trained, Director.
Marc Gibson "Gib/Gibbo"
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: My journey with the lifeboat started with one drunken night with Fez (Our chairman) when I admitted that I fancied joining but didn't think I could as I'm not a strong swimmer! So Fez encouraged me to come down and I've never looked back since!
- Best memory on the crew: Tough choice between Poole capsize training because nothing will get as close to real life. And, Portsmouth sea survival at the naval base.
Swift Water Rescue mod 3, FREC 3 first responder, L&MPS technician (lost and missing person search), Trainee boat crew, Shore crew, Generally, I help out with anything I can to learn new skills.
Mark Bell
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: After a family member was struggling a couple years ago I realized I could do more, I could help more people. What better way than joining a team designed to do just that. 10 months in and I'm already doing just that. Now I've joined I realised just what they do down there and there's no looking back now. My daughter tells me all the time she's proud of me for doing it and that alone makes it all worth it.
- Best memory on the crew: well... where to start, there's so many. If I had to pick one it would be the Swift Water course. Going in I was nervous, never thought I'd be any good at it but the crew were there for me. They helped build my confidence in the water and now I'd trust them all with my life... My second best memory is when some of the team went paintball. I never knew I'd actually be quite a good shot, sucked for the bald-headed crew that day
Lifeboat crew (MST-900, D-Class & ERB (Emergency Response Boat) Swiftwater Rescue Technician Mod 3, 4x4 & Emergency Response driver, FREC4/ECA enhanced medic, Casualty care trainer, Search Adviser & Lowland Search Technician.
Joe
- Why do you volunteer for SAR?: Having worked in specialist roles within the emergency services over the years & returning to my home county, I wanted to use my experience & skills to give a little back to help the local community & learn a completely new range of skills.
- Best memory on the crew: I have lots of great memories from over the last five years so it’s difficult to choose just one. Everything from the unique nature of the lifeboat crew training & working alongside other agencies to being able to deliver casualty care training & having a great bunch of people from all walks of life to work with when we’re needed most.
Director, senior helm, SRT 3 swift water and flood technician, blue light, and 4x4 driver.
Mark Norman "Norm"
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: I volunteered for Maryport Rescue after spending my teens enjoying water sports at Maryport Solway Sea Cadets - TS Caesar the lifeboat just seemed like the next step.
- Best memory on the crew: capsize training at Poole, as realistic as training gets! Hobbies: cycling, fell walking, paddle boarding and motorbikes.
Shore crew, Boat crew, SRT Tech, Lowland search tech, Drone Pilot, and Trainee D-class Helm
Steve James
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: Another crew member invited me to join so I came down to try out and been there ever since. I really enjoy working with a team and learning new skills I also find helping those in need very rewarding.
- Best memory on the crew:That's a hard question as there are so many to choose from, but one that comes to mind is when we went down to Poole on the capsize training course. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience from start to finish!
Boat Crew (MST-900 and D-Class), Shore Crew, SRT Mod3 and Team Leader, Drone Pilot, 4x4 Driver, FREC-3 Medic, Search Technician and Team Leader (Land search), Fundraiser.
Shelley Mattear (Polly)
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: There is not one reason, there are many! From seeing an advert over 20 years ago for a new search team in Warrington (Cheshire Search and Rescue), I took my son to the local lifeboat station and joined up there and then. It's just something that calls to you, helping those in need, teaching awareness, and being a part of the community are a few reasons!
- Best memory on the crew: Wow, so many with this lovely bunch! All the courses hold memories, meeting other teams, and sharing knowledge. Capsize training in Poole was an amazing experience. Go Orange Day's in school are amazing. Just all being there for each other, pushing to help each other be the best we can.
Shore crew, Radio Operator, Treasurer.
Mark Wood (Sparky)
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: Charity begins at home, so I wanted to be sure to do something meaningful for my local community. In addition, I love learning new skills, and the opportunity is there at Maryport Rescue to be trained in new skills and learn new knowledge as the ‘state of the art’ in search and rescue continues to develop rapidly, and Maryport Rescue is well ahead with methods and technology.
- Best memory on the crew: Learning the importance of teamwork during the swift water training.
Srt, Boats crew, FREC 3, lost and missing persons trained
Dave Gilhespy
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: I was an Above water warfare specialist in the Royal Navy for 25 years and felt I had something to offer Maryport Rescue in terms of experience and working with boats etc when I became a civvie. But the biggest factor is that I love my hometown of Maryport and the people of Maryport and I feel that if I can help to give something back to the community, Maryport Rescue has got to be the organisation to be part of.
- Best memory on the crew:Definitely got to be the king's award ceremony, but also the crew social when we went paintballing.
Search Technician (L&S)Shore Crew
Kian Wells
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: I've always been interested in emergency services and spent 5 years volunteering for fire and rescue. I thought a water and rescue service would be a good step in the right direction for the future.
- Best memory on the crew: Finally getting onto the boats for the first time. Before this, I'd never been to sea so it was a massive challenge for me, that I turned out to love.
Trained in swift water, flood rescue and l&mps (lost and missing persons)
Keann Fallows
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: I volunteer for S&R because I love helping people and making a difference in people’s lives, I tried out for the Navy but then having my daughter at a young age stopped that so this is my way of helping my local community!
- Best memory on the crew: There have been so many funny memories while being part of Maryport Rescue and I’m sure many more to come! But if I’m honest the best one for me was my 1st man overboard practice and jumping into the sea. my adrenaline was pumping but I’d never felt so free!
Lifeboat helm, Launch vehicle driver, 4x4 driver, blue light driver, lost and missing person search tech, director, DLA.
Mike Taylor
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?:
I have always enjoyed giving back to the community and with a keen interest in boats and the outdoors the lifeboat was a natural choice. - Best memory on the crew:
I have many good memories, including exercises with the helicopter and neighbouring lifeboats plus the comradery within the crew when working together.
boat crew (MST-900 and D-Class) SFRBO (flood rescue boat helm), SRT Mod 3 and Team Leader, drone pilot, 4x4, FREC-3 first responder, lamps search technician.
Paul
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: I was new to the area and wanted to integrate into the community. The opportunity to be part of a team who work closely together to offer a vital service across a diverse range of situations greatly appealed to me.
- Best memory on the crew: So many good memories, but the lifeboat capsize training was particularly memorable - being put under stressful situations with people you trust and believe in really helps pull us together as a team. The best memories are of the people I work with as much as the rescue activities themselves.
Senior Helmsman and Training Office for all boats, Talus/tool trak driver, SRT3 flood rescue technician, , SWRBO Mod4 boat operator, Water/Floor Incident Manager Mod5, Blue Light Driver, drone pilot, 4x4, FREC-3 first responder, lama search technician, Power Boat Instructor and I'm a LAMPs Team Leader.
Steve W
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?: After a long career in the RNLI I took some time to reflect, however I felt like I still had more to give. Having may ties to the station after marrying the daughter of the station secretary, I was asked to come and help develop the training to meet the Rescue Boat Code and bring my experience and knowledge to training the existing crew
- Best memory on the crew: Assisting the existing Training Officer in developing the syllabus and training schedule to allow us to become a Delcared Facility within the HMCG.
Swift Water Rescue Technician, Trained in Lost and Missing Persons (SAR) and part of the Fundraising Team
John Spearman "Spear"
- Why do you volunteer for S&R?:
I volunteer because: I like putting the skills I've got as a vehicle technician to good use by helping with the maintenance of the vehicles and boats and keeping them running so the crew can keep on saving lives. - Although I live in the North East, approx. 10 miles from Newcastle) I have a caravan in Gilcrux and come over every weekend, which is when I volunteer. I do everything I can to support Maryport Rescue because its such a great organisation with great people and I am proud to be part of the crew.
Best memory on the crew:
there have been loads of good memories and it's really hard to choose , receiving the Kings Award for Voluntary Service is high up on the list , but I think one of the most poignant memories , which I will always be grateful for, is being saved by the crew after capsizing my own boat 😊. It was a bit embarrassing because I had only been a volunteer a few weeks, it's a long story ,which made the local newspapers, anyone interested can read about it on Maryport Rescue FB page,the News and Star and Cumbria Crack .
Lifeboat crew, Launch vehicle driver, 4x4 Trained driver, Rescue 3 (flood rescue) SFRBO boat operator SRT Advanced Water incident manager, Blue light response driver, LAMPS Lowland search trained
Dave T
- Why did I become a volunteer
To serve the local community and feel others when needed.
The good times, to many to list
Director, Lifeboat Helm, Senior Drone Pilot, Launch Vehicle Driver, FREC-3 first responder, L&MPS Search Technician, 4x4 off-road driver.
Daniel Brannon "Dan"
- Why do you volunteer for S&R? Volunteering for a search and rescue (SAR) charity is a noble and rewarding commitment. I love being part of a team with a desire to help others and enjoy assisting people in distress, especially in life-threatening situations. I enjoy the thrill of a challenge. The excitement and unpredictability of SAR missions is appealing to those who enjoy adrenaline-fueled activities. Witnessing the gratitude of those rescued and their families can be incredibly rewarding.
- Best memory at Maryport Rescue: Attending the Carlisle floods of 2015. The streets were completely flooded and homes and businesses had to be quickly evacuated by us and colleagues from other rescue organizations as water levels rose to dangerous levels. This was a very tiring challenge, and we were on the go for 3 days straight evacuating people day and night.