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ONE of Penlee RNLI Lifeboat's best known and longest-serving officers is to step down at the end of this month.
Neil
Brockman attended his first lifeboat 'shout' in 1979, aged just 17, on
board the Watson Class 'Solomon Browne' alongside his father Nigel.
When the Solomon Browne was lost in 1981 he was among the first to volunteer for the new lifeboat despite losing his father in the disaster.
He served as a volunteer on the Arun Class Mabel Alice and was appointed coxswain in 1992 at the young age of 28, a post he has held ever since.
In 1994 he was awarded the RNLI's bronze medal for the rescue of the crabber Julian Paul in hurricane force winds.
Now 44, Neil says he has 'worn a pager for nearly 30 years' and is ready for a change.
His new command is the 80-feet Terramar, working for Marine Offshore Solutions as a tender for wind-farms off the coasts of the British Isles.
Simon
Pryce, RNLI Divisional Inspector in the South West, says Neil has shown
incredible devotion to the charity and appreciates that he feels the
need to experience new challenges.
"Neil's 28 years are a superb illustration of devotion to duty, both as a volunteer and as a member of RNLI staff," he said.
"But
it is totally understandable that he should wish to seek new challenges
while he's still young enough to enjoy the experience.
"We
all wish him good fortune in his new role and look forward to seeing
him around the coast as we know he will always keep in touch with the
RNLI."
article copyright WESTERN MORNING NEWS
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