A COMBER man is Portaferry RNLI’s newest helm after successfully passing an assessment following months of training.
Paddy Lowry joined Portaferry RNLI in 2022 after moving close to Portaferry with his family. In 2023, he became one of two station mechanics taking on maintenance responsibilities and earlier this year started training towards becoming an inshore lifeboat helm.
Over the summer, Paddy has undergone extensive training and has now passed a series of assessments making sure he is prepared and ready to take on this new role.
Portaferry RNLI lifeboat operations manager, Heather Kennedy said; ‘Paddy has worked very hard over the past few months to attain his helm pass out.
“He is always prepared to go the extra mile to fix and sort items giving his time generously for the benefit of our boat and station.’
Paddy said he is ‘delighted to have passed out as inshore lifeboat helm at the station’.
“My wife Terri, our LOM Heather, and the rest of the crew have been really supportive over these past few months and I’m really grateful for all the encouragement and good advice,” he said.
“I’d also like to thank coastal lifeboat trainers Simon Bunting and Mark Mitchell for everything they have contributed to my training and pass out. I’ve learnt a lot and I’m really looking forward to this new challenge.”
PIC IN FOLDER
CAP: Portaferry lifeboat’s newest helm, Paddy Lowry shows his wife Terri and their children around the station’s inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter.
