The new man in charge at Dartmouth’s RNLI has been telling us what it’s like to deal with 2am call-outs, stranded whales and floating sheep. Mark Strudwick took over as operations manager in April and admits the job isn’t as straightforward as he expected!
Mark has been involved with the town’s RNLI since it was formed 10 years ago and he’s held many different positions. As deputy launch authority he was responsible for taking the initial phone call from coastguard and deciding whether to launch their D class lifeboat. He’s also been chief mechanic, looking after the boat and the all-important tractor that pulls it across Coronation Park to the waters edge. “The mechanical role can be quite challenging,” he says, “there are daily, weekly and monthly checks from refilling the diesel to taking bits apart.”
A few months ago another opportunity came Mark’s way when operations manager Rob Clements decided to stand down. “Rob really has been the cornerstone of the whole outfit. He’s been in charge since day one and has built up this incredible crew - so it was an honour to take over from him.” Mark admits he had his eye on the job for a little while but three months in, he realises it’s not an easy ride: “There is certainly a lot of work involved. The buck stops with me so even if I delegate jobs I still have to make sure they are being done. There’s a surprising number of jobs that need to be carried out regularly, such as checking the beacons on each lifejacket. I come into the station every day, sometimes twice a day, to check emails and answer the phone.” Mark has a tight knit team of 27 - 20 boat crew and seven shore crew.
So far 2017 is shaping up to be the station’s busiest year with 14 shouts between January and the end of May. Mark says each time the boat is launched, whether for real or for a training exercise, there is paperwork and routine checks that have to be done before the boat is put away. Ever changing rules and regulations mean Mark is often contacted from higher up the chain with details of changes like new communications systems in helmets. He says the operations managers at neighbouring RNLI branches (Brixham and Salcombe) have been very helpful teaching him the ropes and helping out when possible. “We usually talk once a week to compare notes and discuss new policies. They sometimes give us a heads-up when they have been called out if they think we may be needed as back up.”
The Dartmouth team is made up of 26 men and one woman, Katie, who they affectionately call ‘the mermaid’. When they aren’t battling the waves the men and women work locally as architects, builders, deli workers and mechanics. RNLI rules state that each member needs 12 training sessions a year so the boat goes out every Tuesday evening and Sunday morning. Before Tuesday training there is often a meeting and when the boat returns the team pop over to The Ship In Dock for, as Mark puts it, “some much needed wind down and catch up time!” When on call the crewmembers can’t stray more than 20 minutes from the station and can expect their pager to go off any time of day or night. “You’ve got to remember we are all volunteers. I’m very proud of the team – they do so well juggling family life, work and their commitment to us. Some have young children and still manage to work around our tight on-call restrictions.”
Mark says they can be called to pretty much any incident on the water and when he looks down at his pager there isn’t much that surprises him now. Their usual shouts are to missing people or boats in distress. “Two call outs will always stick in my memory,” he says. The first is the fire on the African Queen, “no one enjoyed that one.” A happy one was when the crew assisted wildlife divers who were trying to free the Slapton whale caught in fishing pot ropes. “Getting close to an animal like that is a once in a lifetime experience.” Then there are the sheep who’ve fallen off cliffs. “We usually throw a dumpy bag in and scoop them up. But the state of the boat when we return is not pleasant – no one volunteers for that clean up job!”
When not at the station Mark is the owner operator of one of the Castle Ferries. He loves pootling up and down the river chatting to locals and tourists. He’s a local lad, moving here when he was just four. He attended Dartmouth Primary and Secondary and then went on to work for various local companies using his skills as a mechanic.
At home he leaves the cooking to wife Claire, but admits he does sometimes knock up a mean chilli or spag bol.
When he isn’t at home, on the ferry or at the lifeboat station Mark can be found out rowing on the river. He says he gets his buzz from working hard to help people in the town whether that’s spending 26 years on the Regatta Committee or saving lives on the water. “I really do love being part of the RNLI, it is challenging at times and there are certainly easier organisations to be part of in the town!
But the job is very rewarding. I know it sounds silly but we are like a family. We look out for each other. Before every shout I wish them all luck as they put on their gear and rush out the door and, like a protective dad, I’m on edge until I’ve counted everyone back in.”
First published in By The Dart magazine July 2017