Two volunteer crew members at RNLI Angle lifeboat station have had a vital part of their crew training funded by the Lloyd's Register Foundation. Michael Higgins, 39, of Tiers Cross, and Carl Morgan, 36, of Milford Haven, recently travelled to the RNLI College at Poole, Dorset, to complete the charity's Trainee Crew All Weather Lifeboat Course. A key part of the RNLI course is the sea survival element, which enables new volunteer crew to be trained in a variety of crucial subjects including how to 'abandon ship' with a 4m jump into water; team survival swimming and coping in a liferaft in simulated darkness; how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats; how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat; and the importance of lifejackets. Training took place in the Sea Survival Centre at the RNLI College, which includes a wave tank and a fire-fighting simulator, allowing trainees to experience first-hand some of the scenarios they may encounter at sea as lifeboat crew. The training was funded by the Lloyds Register Foundation, an independent charity that funds work to enhance the safety of life and property at sea, on land and in the air. It is funding the Sea Survival element of the Trainee Crew Course for a five-year period from January 2011 to December 2015. This additional funding of nearly £1 million brings their total support to just over £1.5 million. Michael is tree and landscape officer with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and previously served at RNLI Little and Broad Haven as a helmsman in its D class inshore lifeboat. Carl is a deckhand with Milford Haven's Svitzer tug fleet Talking about the training, Michael and Carl praised the quality and professionalism of the intensive course, with brilliant trainers and superb facilities at the Lifeboat College. RNLI Angle Lifeboat oerations manager John Allen-Mirehouse said: "The support given by the Lloyd's Register Foundation is hugely important to the RNLI. We are extremely grateful that it has chosen to fund sea survival training, which teaches vital core skills to our volunteer crew. "This training is central to allowing the RNLI and its volunteers to stay safe while on rescue missions. It equips volunteers with essential sea survival skills; providing them with the courage, poise and self-confidence to save lives even in the most perilous seas." This donation is just the latest in the Lloyd's Register Foundation relationship with the RNLI, which was recognised in 2010 when it received the Group Supporter Award from HRH Prince Michael of Kent in recognition of its valuable support of the charity.

Photo: RNLI Angle