A father and daughter from Hastings are at the heart of lifesaving efforts along the East Sussex coast, both serving with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Volunteer Coxswain Mark Tewkesbury has dedicated nearly 20 years to Hastings RNLI, while his 17-year-old daughter, Grace, recently joined as a beach lifeguard. Their shared commitment highlights a powerful family tradition of rescue service that plays a vital role in keeping local waters safe.
Two Generations One Mission
Mark Tewkesbury approaches 20 years of volunteering as the RNLI Coxswain at Hastings, combining operational duties with ongoing training. Meanwhile, Grace grew up immersed in the lifeboat station environment, where emergency call-outs were routine family events. Inspired by childhood, she qualified as an RNLI beach lifeguard last summer after rigorous fitness, interview, and first aid training, contributing through the busy summer months on local beaches.
Life Around The Lifeboat Station
Grace recalls the pager alerts signalling her father’s emergency rescues as a normal part of daily life: “The pager going off was just part of life,” she said, remembering the anxious waits at the station. Now also studying PE, psychology, and geography at A-level, she combines lifeguarding with swimming instruction and champions the RNLI’s water safety education programmes, including the “Float to Live” campaign.
Storm Ciaras Severe Test
During Storm Ciara in 2020, Hastings RNLI faced extreme conditions when the all-weather lifeboat was launched and experienced a dangerous knockdown near the harbour arm. Grace and her sister were at home, worried for their father’s safety. “I remember being frightened because Dad was out there,” she said. Mark and the crew prioritised safety and recovery throughout the ordeal, feeling relief only once everyone was ashore and contact was made with family.
Ongoing Commitment To Rescue
Despite the rigours of rescue volunteering, Mark continues as Coxswain, recently passing operational competency assessments essential for maintaining RNLI readiness. Together, Mark and Grace exemplify a unique family bond rooted in lifesaving service, united by the shared goal of saving lives and promoting water safety along the Hastings coastline.
