Spain beckons for retiring coxswain (From Western Telegraph)

Spain beckons for retiring coxswain

Fishguards longest-serving coxswain this century is heading off to Spain when he retires in August.

Frank George joined the Fishguard lifeboat crew as coxswain on October 1st, 1983, having previously been on the crew in 1973/4. Since then, he has skippered hundreds of shouts - so many, he says, that they now blur into one.

But certain incidents do stand out, he said, including his furthest shout in 1995.

The lifeboat was called to rescue drug smugglers stranded about 65 miles south-west of St Davids Head.

The crew towed the smugglers in to Milford Haven, where they were arrested as soon as they came ashore.

Its the only time Ive ever rescued someone and theyve been taken off the boat in handcuffs, he said.

For most of the last 19 years, Frank has had to stay in Fishguard all the time, apart from one Saturday a month.

Over the last three years, regulations have loosened slightly and coxswains can now take two weekends off a month. But after August, Frank will be seeing less of Fishguard and more of Spain.

He will be moving to the Malaga area with his wife Jane, where he already travels twice a year on his motorbike.

Frank will retire on August 4th on his 55th birthday - the compulsory retirement age for offshore lifeboat coxswains.

Taking over as coxswain is Paul Butler, who joined the Fishguard lifeboat crew in 1993.

Paul became deputy second coxswain in 1995 and second coxswain in 1999. He has previously served with the Merchant Navy and worked at the Environment Agency in Haverfordwest as Water Resources Officer.

Paul, who lives in Llanwnda, Goodwick, with his wife Carmen and daughters Sophie and Jasmine, is looking forward to the job and does not mind having to stay in Fishguard.

I would rather have to stay in Fishguard than drive up the M4 every day! he said.

The second coxswain will be Stephen David Phillips (known as Hosey as he is also a part-time fireman).