Hunstanton RNLI celebrates International Women's Day

Crew member Louise Kyle rings the station bell to mark the occasion

Louise Kyle, 22, was one of six female volunteers taking part in exercises on Sunday, involving its fast inshore lifeboat and search and rescue hovercraft.

Louise, who joined the crew soon after turning 17, rang the boathouse bell to celebrate International Women's Day, after returning from two hours at sea.

"It's really cool when you come back in and you've got little girls watching," says Louise, "They always seem so excited when they see a girl on the boat or the hovercraft.

"They see that they could do this too, it's not just something men do. If you want to do it and you believe in yourself, you can - just like me and all the other women in our crew."

Image RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hovercraft pilot Leesa Espley signed up to help save lives at the station more than 20 years ago, and became the RNLI's first female hovercraft pilot.

"I was a bit nervous at first," she admits, "I knew there'd been women in the crew before but I was the only girl when I joined.

"But everyone made me welcome, they were all very supportive and I knew straight away that it was something I really wanted to do.

"It's a lot like becoming part of a family when you join our crew. We all look out for each other, we all just muck in and get on with it."

Leesa driving the hovercraft, Image RNLI/Charlie Parfitt

Hunstanton's team includes shore crew member Emma, trainee boat crew members Louise and Ellie, plant driver Clare, hovercraft pilot Leesa, hovercraft commander and lifeboat helm Charlie, and trainee launch authority Tara.

The are also females in other senior roles at the station like its visits lead, water safety lead, souvenir shop manager, treasurer and operations administrator