Rob Clements
Working the Dart - RNLI Operations Manager, Rob Clement
Are you a Dartmothian? Yes I am; we can trace my father’s family back to around 1700. They originated from Hallsands where they were beach fishermen.
How did your career start? I actually started as a cadet in the Metropolitan Police and served in London as a young constable before moving back to Devon and Cornwall in 1971. When I retired in 1999, I had completed 31 years in the police force.
Did you always want to be a policemen? No, I really wanted to go fishing but my father was dead against the idea. All of my family had been on the river but he didn’t think it was a clever way to make a living so I joined the police force.
My father was the last surviving skipper of the ‘Mew’ the old twin-screw steamer which was a big institution in Dartmouth. The Mew replaced the paddle steamer and was altered to be able to carry the Great Western railway’s road vehicles so as to avoid the heavy payments charged for the use of the lower ferry.
How did your police career develop? When I transfered back to Devon & Cornwall I served initially at Exeter and then in various other parts of the county. I have been a village bobby, a coroners officer and a liquor licensing officer. I was promoted to sergeant and became a crime reduction sergeant in Exmouth, eventually moving back to Dartmouth after my retirement in 1999.
Have you always had a passion for the water? I have always had a boat on the Dart from the age of about 10. I now have a 26 ft motor sailor so I’ve always been involved in the river in some way.
After I retired and moved back to Dartmouth I then worked for the DHNA part time as a river officer albeit working full time for 5 or 6 seasons in the summer.
In August 2004 the RNLI were looking for volunteers so I put myself forward and was asked to be the operations manager, mainly I think because being a police sergeant always involved driving and organising small teams.
What does the operations manager do? My responsibility is to make sure there is a trained, competent and confident crew and that the boat is safe and ready to launch in the event of a call out.
Other than this I mostly deal with crew issues, making sure they are qualified for the job and putting them on courses, training etc if and when required.
How many crew do you have? We have 20 crew which includes 8 helmsmen. The age range varies but there is a limit of 45 years; it’s a young man’s job working on inshore lifeboats and very physically demanding.
Is it difficult to find volunteers? No, it’s easy to find volunteers but the crew do change as their job responsibilities often mean they can’t commit to the hours required or be on call when needed.
Have you been called out recently? Yes, we had a shout in November when we saved two Plymouth University students in a canadian kayak that capsized near Blackpool Sands at 3pm. They were caught in bad weather in very cold conditions and were suffering from hypothermia. One student managed to climb the cliffs and raise the alarm and by the time we had got to the other student he was semi conscious so it was a good job we got there when we did.
What do the volunteers get out of working for the RNLI? It’s great fun and socially inclusive but it is a service and a responsibility so the job has to be taken seriously. The crew do put in an enormous amount of time. They get out a sense of belonging and are proud to be part of a good cause and service. They get a lot of training and experience and acquire skills they wouldn’t necessarily get under normal circumstances. We do take people that are absolute novices so it can be very rewarding. There is no greater calling if you’re living by the coast than to be at sea.
How long does it take for you to rescue on average? From the pager going off, we can be launched on the water as quick as 5-6 minutes. From there it’s a short burst to the river entrance - we can be at Blackpool Sands in 10 mins from the off.
How is the charity money raised spent? The RNLI fund supplies on average £1,000 per crew member per year. This is not a wage but is spent on boat training, equipment etc.
To keep the whole RNLI service going costs £335,000 per day! That’s to cover 233 lifeboat stations 24hrs per day!
There are specific campaigns set up by the RNLI for other requirements such as building refurbishments, life jackets for the crew, etc
We raised £305,000 to set up this station
Does the RNLI take up alot of your time? More so than I expected! I would still like to work as river officer again if I ever have any spare time but I have a lot to do in my spare time also especially with my family, my wife, two daughters and five grandchildren.
First published January 2009 By the Dart