Friday, February 7, 2025
regency radio sussex news
Click here to listen to Regency Radio The Number One Advert Free Radio Station in Sussex

Lifeboat legend Nick Gentry floats through 40 years of heroic service

Nick Gentry, a lifelong Newhaven resident, has marked a remarkable milestone by completing 40 years of dedicated service with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Nick’s journey with the RNLI is a testament to his unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.

Nick Gentry’s connection to the RNLI goes back to his childhood when he could see the lifeboat house from his home on Hillcrest Road. The entire town would buzz with excitement when the lifeboat was called to launch. The sound of Maroons being fired was a signal that the lifeboat was heading out to sea.

From an early age, Nick had a passion for being out on the water. His father’s purchase of a 16ft open fishing boat when Nick was just nine years old was the beginning of his seafaring adventures. As a teenager, they owned a Mitchell 23, and Nick’s sights were set on even bigger challenges.

Nick’s volunteering journey with the RNLI started with the launch team, serving as an apprentice. He spent countless hours at the Newhaven lifeboat house, eagerly waiting for the opportunity to become a crew member. His first shout came on May 2, 1982, when the 44ft Waveney class lifeboat, under Coxswain Len Patten, was launched on service to assist a vessel in distress during the Royal Escape Race.

Photo – Newhaven RNLI

Over the course of his 40-year service, Nick has served under six different Coxswains and two Second Coxswains. He has witnessed three generations of station lifeboats while also crewing many other vessels in the RNLI fleet.

In 2015, after retiring from his career in chartered accountancy, Nick took on fleet passage work, embarking on journeys from the west coast of Scotland to the Orkney Islands, passing through the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness. He also played a pivotal role in training and establishing a new crew in Saint Helier, Jersey.

Roger Cohen MBE, Lifeboat Operations Manager, spoke highly of Nick’s contribution, saying, “Nick plays a critical role in bringing new recruits onto the lifeboat, working them through their competencies and supporting them as substantive crew.”

Nick remains as dedicated as ever, stating, “I made a lifetime commitment. I’ll be staying on ’til I get kicked off!” When not on call with the RNLI, you can often find Nick walking his faithful companion, Max, a cocker spaniel. Tragically, Nick has been called out to rescue more dogs than he can count, many of whom went over cliffs, with only a few fortunate survivors.

The nature of the RNLI’s taskings has evolved significantly during Nick’s four decades of service. With more people enjoying recreational activities on the water, the crew is called out to as many distress calls in fine weather as they do in rough conditions.

Nick recalls some of the most challenging moments he’s faced, including a daring rescue operation during a storm in January 1990 when the Newhaven lifeboat was tasked with saving the Newhaven – Dieppe ferry Chartres, which was carrying 80 passengers and 50 crew. These conditions were eerily similar to those experienced during the devastating October 1987 storm, when the lifeboat launched to save the French fishing vessel La Francoise and its crew of five.

Photo – Newhaven RNLI

Phill Corsi, Area Lifesaving Manager, praised Nick’s incredible contributions, saying, “Nick is an inspiration to us all, and we congratulate him on receiving this important recognition.”

One of Nick’s proudest moments came when Queen Elizabeth II visited Newhaven, and she expressed her appreciation for the crew’s dedication, particularly during a tragic incident in October 2013 when a young boy was lost at sea. The Queen’s acknowledgment of their efforts was a moving moment that highlighted the importance of their life-saving work.

Nick Gentry’s 40 years of service with the RNLI stand as a shining example of unwavering commitment and dedication to saving lives at sea.

More Sussex News

Sussex News Pages

sussex news logo
Click here to listen to Regency Radio

Sussex Coast News