RNLI’S DAD AND DAUGHTER STAND BY FOR EMERGENCIES
RNLI volunteers at Sennen Cove, including Richard Puddiphatt and his daughter Izzy, are always prepared to rush out of the door at the sound of their pagers – even during Christmas dinner.
Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station has a long tradition of family members joining the lifeboat crew and the family of Peter Puddiphatt is no exception. Peter has now retired, but his son, Richard, and his granddaughter, Izzy, are both crew members. For both of them, it has been a very busy season, in spite of the restrictions of the pandemic.
Richard joined the shore crew at 14 years of age when the station had a Rother class lifeboat, because he was inspired to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was also excited by the sound of the maroons going off and heading down to the boathouse to help.
Izzy, 18, joined the crew this year and says she was inspired by the example of her dad and grandad, as they reacted to the pagers and quickly disappeared down to the boathouse. Her dad even borrowed her scooter once to get there quickly.
Setting foot on the all-weather lifeboat at the age of 13 whetted her appetite even further. The tradition in the village for people to volunteer for rescue groups made her determined to join as soon as she could, and she joined this year at the age of 17.
Izzy feels there is so much to learn. Every single shout brings a new experience and a new set of circumstances. She loves the buzz of turning up for a shout, not knowing what is going to happen next.
For Richard, the pleasure of volunteering lies in the camaraderie but also in the look of relief on the faces of the people they rescue, but he finds it rather strange going on shouts with his daughter. He says: “Everyone is busy doing tasks, I tend to forget until someone calls her name.”
When asked about what it’s like being on a shout with her dad, Izzy laughed and said: “I’ve been on a few shouts with my dad, but I sometimes beat him to getting on the crew. While he is parking the car, I get in the boathouse and on the boat. By the time dad arrives, we have a full complement and don’t need him.”
Izzy enjoys shouts where multiple agencies are involved. For her, whatever the outcome, she feels that the fact that they have done everything possible alleviates the stress and sometimes the sadness of someone lost.
As a charity, the RNLI relies on the generous support of the public to continue saving lives through the efforts of volunteers like Richard and Izzy – and that support is now more vital than ever. To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, visit: www.rnli.org/ Xmas