RNLI appoints first female full-time coxswain
The RNLI has appointed Di Bush as the full-time coxswain for Harwich RNLI, the first woman in the charity’s almost 200-year history to hold the position.
Bush joined the RNLI in 2003 as a volunteer at Falmouth RNLI in Cornwall. In 2017, she joined Harwich RNLI as full-time mechanic, while also acting as a helm and 2nd coxswain.
On the appointment, Harwich Lifeboat operations manager, Peter Bull, said: “I am very pleased to announce that the RNLI has appointed Di Bush as full-time coxswain, the first woman to hold such a role in the charity’s history – and four years after she was appointed the first female full-time mechanic – both here at Harwich. She is well respected on station and will command the Severn class all-weather lifeboat Albert Brown, as well as lead the team.”
Women have played a key role in the RNLI’s success since its formation in 1824 – from famous lifesavers like Grace Darling to behind the scenes roles raising funds to keep the charity afloat. The RNLI says that ‘representation has improved hugely since 1969, when Elisabeth Hostvedt became the first fully qualified woman on a lifeboat crew.’
“We’re working hard to create a more diverse RNLI and a crucial part of that is encouraging women into search and rescue roles,” comments Sue Kingswood, RNLI inclusion and diversity manager. “Across our organisation, the more role models we have which represent a greater breadth of diversity, the more successful we will be in our core purpose of saving lives at sea.”
