Cullercoats RNLI station launches first all-female crew

Anna Heslop, Rose Short, Kay Heslop, Sarah Whitelaw and Hannah Oliver

An RNLI station celebrated a "momentous occasion" when it launched its first all-female crew.

The four-strong Cullercoats crew helmed by Anna Heslop spent an hour-and-a-quarter in the North Sea on a training exercise.

Lifeboat operations manager - and Ms Heslop's mum - Kay Heslop said it had been an ambition to have an all-female crew for a long time.

She said 10% of RNLI volunteers across the country were women.

While at sea on Sunday, the crew scattered the ashes for a local family before doing helm, equipment and navigation training.

'One big family'

Kay Heslop said: "It was a momentous occasion and we all felt very proud.

"We have spent a number of years trying to get more women into the station.

"Obviously we couldn't do it without the lads, we are all one big family and everyone has their different strengths which we utilise.

"We have people from a raft of professions and experiences and each brings their own skills."

The Cullercoats crew, which was set up in 1848, currently has 24 volunteers, four of whom are women.

Joining Anna Heslop, who is the station's first female helm, were Hannah Oliver, Rose Short and Sarah Whitelaw.

Sarah Whitelaw (pictured with RNLI colleagues Martyn Walsh and Josh Evans) said the charity needed people with all sorts of skills

Ms Whitelaw, who started volunteering for the RNLI six months ago, said it was an "honour" to be part of Cullercoat's history-making crew.

She said: "We all reflected upon it and mentioned how amazing it was to be a part of.

"The nice thing about the RNLI is everybody brings different skills, it's not all about physical strength for example.

"Growing up in the area I knew how important the lifeboat was to the community but I never felt able to volunteer as I never felt I had anything to to offer.

"But they need so many different skills and experiences, everyone can be of use and we learn so much from each other.

"They just want people with enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved."

The exercise was also the last to be conducted in the station's Atlantic 85 boat Hylton Burdon, with Cullercoats subsequently taking delivery of a new vessel called Daddy's Girl.

"It's nice to be a part of that history," added Ms Whitelaw, who works for the Marine Management Organisation.