Looe RNLI Volunteer Retires After 33 Years of Service

A volunteer who has given 33 years of his life to the RNLI at Looe has retired, with figures revealing the remarkable scale of his contribution to saving lives at sea.

Brian Bowdler was celebrated by crew, colleagues and friends at a social evening at Copperfish in Looe on Friday 17th April, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter for one of the station’s most dedicated volunteers.

How It All Began

Brian’s connection to Looe’s lifeboat station stretches back to the very beginning of its modern era. When the RNLI re-established an inshore lifeboat station in Looe in the summer of 1992 for a trial season, Brian was a young commercial fisherman. He recalls an incident at Hannafore where a trawler became stuck on rocks during winter, with the coastguard boat unavailable and the station already closed after the summer trial. The trawler managed to self-rescue, but the experience left a mark. Combined with the fact the new station had saved six lives during that first summer, it was enough to convince the RNLI to make Looe a fully operational station.

With the station looking for boat crew, Brian was persuaded to join despite initial reservations. As someone who spent much of his time out fishing, he was uncertain he could commit to the demands of the role. Those concerns quickly proved unfounded. After moving to the back streets close to the station, he went out on 23 of the 27 shouts in one year alone.

A Career of Milestones

Brian joined as boat crew in 1993 and was fast-tracked to qualify as a D Class helm by 1997, alongside Dave Jackman and Toby Bray. In 2003 he trained on a relief Atlantic 75 alongside other crew members, preparing to take command of the station’s new Atlantic 75, named Alan and Margaret, when it arrived in Looe in the autumn of that year. The boat’s arrival coincided with the opening of the new Albatross boathouse.

He stepped down as helm on 25th April 2021 but continued serving the station, taking on Launch Authority and head launcher roles.

📷Brian Bowdler at the helm of the D Class inshore lifeboat D-741 Ollie Naismith - Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

The Numbers Tell the Story

The statistics behind Brian’s service are striking. Looe RNLI Press Officer Ian Foster outlined the scale of his contribution at the event.

Since 1992, the station’s inshore lifeboats have launched on service 1,064 times, aiding 856 persons and saving 66 lives. Brian was boat crew or helm on 205 of those launches, with a direct involvement in saving 21 lives and aiding 321 persons. He spent 198 hours at sea on shouts and a further 248 hours on training exercises. As launch authority, he has authorised the launching of lifeboats to 55 incidents.

Among the standout moments in those records: on 3rd May 2001, Brian was part of the four-man crew who saved the lives of two sailors after their Enterprise dinghy capsized off Downderry. For that service he received a letter of commendation from the RNLI’s chief executive. He also received a letter of thanks from the RNLI’s Operations Director on 23rd December 2009.

Ian described it as “an amazing record of service, and one for Brian to be immensely proud of.”

Fond Farewells

At the social evening, Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey thanked Brian for his service before presenting him with a retirement gift from the crew. Clive read out a message from RNLI Regional Lifesaving Lead Tom Mansell, who said: “I would appreciate it if you could express my sincere thanks to Brian for everything he has done over the years as crew, helm and now launch authority. I believe that you have given a huge amount to the station and crew, your experience as a professional mariner, your calm manner and friendly disposition is, and has been, hugely appreciated.”

Tom’s message continued: “Countless people aided by the Looe lifeboat crews and so many owe their lives to the skills and commitment of the Looe volunteers. You have done your bit (and some) and you will forever be part of the incredible history of this fantastic station and wider organisation. Thank you so much Brian. Stand easy.”

Brian acknowledged several ex-crew members who attended the evening and thanked the crew for their gift. He said: “It’s been a pleasure serving with you all, for all these years as trainee, crew, helm, senior helm and then duty launch authority.” He added that the path he had followed was one all crew members could take, and that with new volunteers coming through, he felt it was the right time to step back, saying he had confidence “the station will go from strength to strength in the future with the team leading you.”

📷Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Clive Palfrey (left) presenting Brian Bowdler (right) with a retirement gift from the crew at Looe Lifeboat Station - Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster