AN RNLI volunteer is spending her first Christmas on call at a lifeboat station after switching roles with her partner.
Bea Homer will have her eyes on her pager during the festive season while boyfriend Ian Foden takes over the duties at home preparing the dinner.
Bea joined Littlehampton lifeboat station as shore crew in February.
Ian recently stood down from the crew after nine years of service.
Bea used to watch the maroons – flares that were used before pagers – go up to alert the lifeboat to launch and was so impressed that at ten years old she did a sponsored walk to raise funds for the RNLI.
When she moved to Littlehampton last year she got the chance to join the team, starting with those on shore who help launch and recover the lifeboat.
She is now a trainee crew member.
Bea, a management accountant for the NHS, said: “I didn’t imagine at ten years old I would end up at 44 bouncing around at sea.
“I was a bit worried and anxious to start with, but as soon as we exited the harbour it was just amazing, you can’t describe that feeling.
“So from that point I knew I definitely wanted to join the trainee crew programme.
“A couple of weeks ago the pager went off just after I was serving up the fish, so I left Ian to sort out the rest of the dinner and when I came home bless him, he had put both of our dinners into the oven to keep them warm and waited for me.”
“He is incredibly supportive, it’s fantastic.
“I don’t think you can volunteer in this role without the absolute support of your partner.”
Bea is one of thousands of volunteers who will be on call this Christmas and is asking the public to support the charity’s Christmas appeal.
Over the past decade, RNLI lifeboats have launched over 1,200 times during the festive period.
These rescues would not be possible without donations from supporters, helping to fund the kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews all year round.
To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit RNLI.org/Xmas
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