Andy swaps his RNLI rescue work on the River Thames for a new role helping to save lives at sea

The latest recruit to join the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis Lifeboat is swapping the River Thames for Lyme Bay.

Andy Butterfield, 42, joined the RNLI at Teddington, on the Thames, 13 years ago and has just moved to Uplyme with his wife Jacqui and children Harry, seven, and Alexandra, 11.

“It’s a massive difference operating on the Thames to going to sea, so there’s plenty of learning to be done,” said Andy.

“The decision to move was made on a work/life balance, and we felt we wanted to enjoy the countryside and the coast as much as possible,”

Andy was a crew member for six years, and at the helm of the D-class lifeboats on the Thames for a further seven years.

He said: “The Thames involved much first-aid work, and assisting the police and other emergency services, and many of our calls for help were at night.”

Despite his years on the Thames Andy, who works in I.T. as a customer experience specialist, is a trainee crew member at the lifeboat station on the Cobb illustrating the huge differences between the two locations.

“Like many of my volunteer colleagues I joined the RNLI because I wanted to help those in trouble, but also, of course, there is a great sense of camaraderie,” added Andy.