Five young people begin their training as RNLI volunteers at Lyme Regis

Five new recruits have signed up to join the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew.

Set to become the next generation of sea-going RNLI volunteers are four young men and a 21-year-old woman.

They are all now undergoing rigorous training that could last up to two years.

The five are Peter Cable, 17, Tom Crabbe, 19, Dan Currall, 20, Shona Louise, 21, and Murray Saunders, 27.

Peter and Tom are the sons of crew members John Cable and Rob Crabbe, both having retired from the service at the age of 50.

Volunteer training co-ordinator and crew member Jon Broome said: “With up to five crew members retiring in the next two years, these new volunteer trainees are key to the long tradition of lifeboating continuing for years to come in Lyme Regis.

“They all have a long road ahead of them over the next 12 to 18months with training sessions, assessments and courses at our headquarters in Poole before they become full sea-going crew.

“But we are confident with the commitment they have shown so far that they will attain the standard required.”

Tom Crabbe, an electrician, said he was delighted to be following in his dad’s footsteps and Peter Cable, a sixth former at Woodroffe School, said he had plenty of support from his father, John.

Another newcomer, Murray Saunders, runs Boylo’s watersports shop on Marine Parade with his partner, Ellie, and has competed at professional level as a windsurfer.

Shona Louise is only the second woman to join the Lyme Regis lifeboat crew. She said: “I am really enjoying the training sessions and especially going to sea.”

Dan Currall is one of the most recent recruits and works closest to the lifeboat station - he is a chef at the Cobb Arms pub opposite.