This Father’s Day (21 June), the Guy family recall their 112 years of combined Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) service, spanning four generations. Three of the generations of the family, Dick, Dan, Tim and Ellie reflect on the legacy of their relative who first started the tradition.
For the Guy family, volunteering for the RNLI isn’t just about their commitment to saving lives at sea, it’s a way of life.
Ellie (18) is the fourth generation to walk through Eastbourne lifeboat station’s doors, with her great grandfather, George, leading the way. Her grandfather, Dick, completed 47 years of volunteering prior to his retirement. Tim, Ellie’s uncle, served for 20 years. Dan, her father, is celebrating his 30th year of duty in 2026.
The longest-serving family member, Dick, has seen prominent development of the RNLI’s crew kit and lifeboat technology.
When recalling the changes to the pagers, Dick said: ‘I remember the maroons that would fire twice to alert the crew and locals. Then we used telephone calls and the station would ring you up to say you’re needed.
‘In 1989, we got our first pager. Across the years they changed. There was a time when you would count the beeps to see which lifeboat was going out and to know which part of the station to go to. Then the modern pagers got screens and crews now have phone apps. Even though I don’t volunteer anymore, if we hear a pager, whether it be from someone else or on the telly, I still get the buzz and always will.’
Inspired by his father, Dick, Dan joined the RNLI at age 17 in 1996. Having given 30 years of voluntary service, Dan also works full-time for the RNLI, occupying the position of Fleet Staff Coxswain.
Dan said: ‘Eastbourne RNLI is a family outside of normal family life. When I came up to the age of 17, it was just natural that I joined.’
Dan responded to one particularly memorable call in 2002, where a 33 foot yacht found itself pushed onto shallows in gale force winds and breaking seas. During the rescue, the RNLI crew had to improvise when a violent wave tipped the yacht onto her side, washing her crew overboard. Whilst trying to save the skipper, Dan stepped beyond the lifeboat’s railings and was partially submerged himself, but managed to keep hold of the casualty. Dan was awarded the Bronze Medal for Gallantry for saving the man’s life.
Dan recalls the day Ellie was born a few years later: ‘I remember I was on my second service call of the day. I was about 7 miles out on a shout and my wife, Kirsty, rang me to say she was in labour. I said to myself, I’m not missing my first daughter be born. I made it home in time to get Kirsty to the hospital, and less than an hour later, Ellie arrived.’
Ellie added: ‘Being involved at the lifeboat station from a very young age, it just becomes part of you. Seeing my dad come home and see how happy and proud he was to be part of the crew – I wanted to be part of that as well.’
Tim agreed: ‘We used to come over to the lifeboat station and help dad out, even if it was just making teas and coffees for the crew and sweeping the boathouse.’
The four generations have collectively given 112 years of service, with two of the family still being active volunteers. This equates to over half of the existence of the RNLI.
Now with the youngest family member responding to the pager, Ellie hopes to both make her family proud, and encourage more women to join the search and rescue (SAR) industry.
Ellie offers some advice for those who are thinking of volunteering: ‘Just do it. Face your fears. Walk into your local station and go and see what it’s all about.’
Dan said: ‘We’ll keep volunteering together for as long as I can keep on doing it. Ellie’s got a long career ahead of her and we’re looking forward to it. She’ll make me proud.’
