Brothers get first callout together as RNLI volunteers
Mark and James Nicholls were on Littlehampton RNLI's D-Class lifeboat Spirit of Fidelity when they got the shout on Friday evening (July 25) to take over the tow from Shoreham Harbour RNLI of a 24-foot speedboat that had broken down with three people aboard.
Mark and James, with fellow crew members Gavin Simmons and Stuart Taylor, met Shoreham Harbour's Enid Collett all weather lifeboat at sea. Mr Taylor boarded the broken down boat and the crew towed it back to the safety of Littlehampton Marina.
Mark has been volunteering at Littlehampton RNLI since November 2021. James joined in November last year.
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Mark, who was helm for the shout, said: 'My brother and I have been on the water since we were kids, both learning to sail at the age of eight. We've each built careers on the sea, and now, two decades later, it's incredibly rewarding to serve our community by saving lives on the very waters where we first learned to sail.
'The bond among the RNLI crew is truly unique – and being able to share that experience with my brother makes it even more special.'
James added: 'It seems funny that this was our first official shout together because we've worked together in Littlehampton Harbour in various different ways for some years now. As RNLI crew, it's good to already have an understanding of how Mark likes to work and approach different shouts as it makes everything go so much smoother when you're out on a boat.'
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