Falmouth RNLI changes hands, but Nick Lewis isn’t going far

After seven years as lifeboat operations manager at Falmouth RNLI, Nick Lewis handed the role over in September. It comes more than four decades after he first stepped on board as crew. Anyone expecting a farewell, though, will have to wait.

The new lifeboat operations manager is Jerry Plant, already a familiar face at the station as one of its launch authorities.

From the crew to the top job

Nick first joined the crew at Falmouth in 1985 and served on both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats. He went on to become a helm on the station’s B class Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat.

He stepped down from the crew in 2010 and took up a role as a deputy launching authority. In 2019 he was appointed the station’s lifeboat operations manager.

His years of service have been recognised along the way. Nick was awarded a crew long service badge in 2005, and a 30-year long service medal in 2020.

Not stepping away

Nick isn’t leaving the RNLI. He is continuing as a launch authority at Falmouth.

What the role involves

The lifeboat operations manager role was previously known as honorary secretary. It plays an important part in saving lives at sea, overseeing the day-to-day management of the lifeboat station so that it stays in a permanent state of readiness for service.

Who is Jerry Plant?

Jerry joined the station as a launch authority in November 2022, and his links to the area go back much further.

“I’ve been around Falmouth on and off since around 1996, when I came to Culdrose with the Royal Navy,” he said. “I’ve sailed around the local area for many years and I feel privileged to take over from Nick.”

📷Nick Lewis and Jerry Plant at Falmouth lifeboat station. Credit: Falmouth RNLI