Why did you join HM Coastguard?
Originally from London, Coastguard Rescue Officer (CRO) Ronnie Stowell joined the Coastguard after an old friend convinced him to have a look at his local Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT).
He said: “When I first moved to New Romney from London, I’d been saying to my wife about how I’d like to give back to people in our community and a friend of mine suggested that I find more about our local coastguards.
“Since a younger age, I’d always wanted to be involved with the Coastguard, but living in London until about three years ago, it just wasn’t possible. I feel like I have a lot to offer, and I’m always willing to help in any way that I can.”
What is the most unusual incident you have attended?
“We were called to a humpback whale that’d washed up on shore. Who’ve thought that would turn up on Dymchurch beach. I don’t think that’s happened before?”
What is the most unusual place you’ve been when your pager has gone off?
For Ronnie, who usually covers beaches, cliffs and coastline in Kent, heading to emergencies in areas outside of his patch, like Hastings in Sussex, is a bit more unusual, but it’s not unheard of.
“The most unusual has probably been the village of Fairlight, which was my first proper shout as a CRO,” he says.
What is the most challenging part of being a Coastguard?
Being a Coastguard can put people in challenging situations where a positive outcome isn’t always the case, Ronnie explains.
“Dealing with family and friends on calls where someone’s been missing or has sadly lost their life can be really challenging. You feel the pain of people affected.”
Ronnie says it’s also the case that these difficult situations and ‘tricky calls’ can be tough to handle among coastguard families and loved ones.
Which local beach is your favourite and why?
“Dymchurch beach in Kent is my favourite. It always seems to be a positive place where people interact and look out for each other.”
When you’re not working or volunteering as a CRO, what do you enjoy doing?
Ronnie enjoys fishing, playing golf, and walking his dogs.
What new skills have you learned as a CRO?
“I have learnt further leadership skills on top of what I already know, and I’ll keep aiming for more,” says Ronnie. It’s about having the confidence to ‘run a job’ (incident) and follow training, while using your own instincts and not being afraid to ask for help.”
“There’s always time to work on perfecting team skills, but I’ve got better at learning the strengths and weaknesses within our team too. I’m also keen to further my mapping skills.”
What do you enjoy most about being a member of the team?
Ronnie says he enjoys playing his part, whether being ‘up front’ and in charge for an incident or playing a more supporting role within the team.
He says: “We all generally bounce off each other, and we have a laugh when we can, but we also know when to buckle down and get on with it.”
What do you do for a living?
“I work in the roofing and building industry, and I’m slowly building up my own company.”
