Dave Whiteley is preparing for his last Christmas on call as Hoylake lifeboat station’s operations manager.
Having followed in the footsteps of his own father Tank to join the RNLI, Dave is preparing to hand over his pager after 50 years of dedicated volunteering with the lifesaving charity. Joining him on duty over the festivities will be sons Dan and James and daughter Ros.
Recently, the Whiteley’s welcomed some special visitors to the station. Megan and Brogan Griffiths visited the station to wish them and other crew members who helped search for their brother Haydn a safe and peaceful Christmas.
The sisters have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of water safety since the tragic loss of their brother Haydn, 23, who went swimming with a friend near the Derby Pool in an attempt to reach the offshore wind turbines. He disappeared in the water and didn’t resurface following the tragic incident in 2022. RNLI crews searched tirelessly for Haydn, something his family will never forget.
Megan said: “Haydn’s body was eventually recovered by the RNLI who searched tirelessly to bring him home. It was the outcome nobody wanted, but what the volunteers did during our darkest days is something we will never forget. Whilst we face another Christmas without Haydn, we continue to ensure his death was not in vain and we’ll do everything to raise awareness of water safety and encourage support for the RNLI at Christmas and every day.
“It’s a pleasure to have paid a festive visit to Hoylake, we know Christmas will be just another day for the volunteers who are on call 365 days a year but they couldn’t do this without the support of the public.”
The Whiteley’s were all involved in the search for Haydn and were touched Megan and Brogan found the time to wish them well. It was a special end to the career of Dave Whiteley who joined the RNLI on his 17th birthday in January 1976. He will hand over his pager in January.
Haydn Griffiths
As Coxswain at Hoylake for 15 years of his career, Dave knows all too well that his sons and daughter will have to swap turkey and tinsel at a moment’s notice should the call for help come.
Figures show RNLI lifeboats launched more than 100 times during the Christmas period last year. One of those calls was for Hoylake RNLI, with a request to launch the station’s hovercraft just after 4pm on Christmas Eve.
The Whiteley’s were putting the last minute touches in place for a family Christmas when the call came.
James recalls: “I remember we were just winding down with my son Dylan, three, hoping to get him ready for an early night so we could get set for the big day, when the pager went off. You just never quite know when that call is coming, but that’s just a way of life for us. The pager actually went off on my 17th Birthday – the day I’d joined the RNLI – so dropping everything and heading down to the station is nothing new.
“If we do get a call over Christmas, then we’re just happy to help and put all we’ve trained for into practice. The camaraderie at the station is lovely over the festivities – we’re all just one big family.”
Around the UK and Ireland crews who make up the RNLI’s lifesaving service are preparing to drop their own celebrations to answer the pager at a moment’s notice. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements in their mission to save every one.
These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.
Brogan says: “We will do everything within our power to stop any other family suffering as we have, we’re keen that people look at our story and take heed of the RNLI’s vital safety advice. It’s amazing to know there are an army of volunteers on standby not just at Christmas but all year round. But they couldn’t launch without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment needed to save others and to get home safely.”
To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit https://rnli.org/WinterAppeal.
Photo credit: Hoylake RNLI