RNLI’s Geoff set to relax after 40 years

Geoff, who signed up with the life-saving charity when he was 31, said that, if he could, he would do it all again.

In his 40-year career with the service, Geoff, of Arundel Road, Littlehampton, has been praised by royalty for his dedication and has put his life on the line, countless times, to help save stranded and injured people in the waters around Littlehampton.

However, Geoff, 71, now says he is looking forward to a slower pace of life after leaving the RNLI.

The retired construction worker said: “I have had the experience of a lifetime working as a volunteer with the RNLI and I would do it all again, if I could.

“But there’s no point in lying, I won’t miss getting up at all hours of the morning through the winter and getting soaked and frozen right through.

“But it has been a truly wonderful experience.” Keen fisherman Geoff, who was born in Rustington but has lived in Littlehampton since 1965, said he jumped at the chance to join the RNLI as a crewman, in 1972.

After about 20 years he was promoted to a deputy launch authority, which meant he had to be on call day and night, to take requests from the coastguard to launch lifeboats, during emergency incidents at sea.

Lifeboat operations manager Nick White said: “It’s hard to adequately describe how much we will miss Geoff. He has always been such a significant member of our team, totally dependable, always making himself available, and known to everyone we deal with locally.”