RNLI College Poole
- Allan & Helen
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
What better way to relax for a couple of days after completing our final challenge visit than a two night break at the superb RNLI College.
Opened in 2004, the RNLI College is the national training centre for the RNLI. It provides state of the art facilities for crews to train in all aspects of various roles from Coxswains, Shore Crew, Boat Crew and Lifeguards. In addition to the training facilities it also includes superb hotel rooms a restaurant and bar open to the public.
We checked in to our room after our visit to Poole Lifeboat Station. We then relaxed and updated our website before heading down to the restaurant for dinner.
The following morning we went down to breakfast where we were joined by Selina the End User Computing Services Manager. We had met Selina by chance when we popped by the RNLI Regional Centre in Swords, Ireland. She noticed us taking some photos outside and welcomed us in. There we had a lovely chat about our challenge and told her about our upcoming visit to Poole. After that chance meeting, Selina very kindly arranged for us to have a behind the scenes tour of the Poole Support Centre after breakfast.
RNLI Support Centre
Located across the road from the RNLI College, the Support Centre is a huge office and warehouse complex managing the whole of the RNLI operation. We started on the ground floor with a look at the extensive warehouse facility which holds spares for boats, merchandise for shops and a myriad of other items that can be distributed to every lifeboat station in the UK and Ireland. Up to the top floor, with stunning views over Poole and the rest of the RNLI Estate, we entered a massive open plan office floor. Here, hundreds of staff manage many aspects of the Charities operation. We were first introduced to Katie who is a Senior Manager in the Chief Executives Office. We had a lovely chat with Katie and she very generously gifted us some unique items. We could see RNLI Chief Executive, Peter Sparkes working in his office and although we didn’t get to meet him directly, it was lovely to see him at work running this immense charity.
We next visited various teams of people on this floor and it was clear there was very much a close knit team ethos with a single aim in mind. The offices were a superb open working space with places to relax and network. Selina then introduced us to her team in IT support. They look after all of the IT functions of the charity from Systems Support, Service Desk, Apps and IT Process. A small but very busy team.
The main appointment we had that morning in the Support Centre was in the Heritage Collection and, as we were running a little late due to the interesting conversations we were having, we headed straight to the newly relocated space housing the historical records and artifacts. Here, behind secure doors, we met David the Heritage Manager. He gave us a fascinating insight into the role of the Heritage team and showed us the newly developed environmentally controlled rooms that house hundreds of thousands of historical documents. These included the original documents belonging to Sir William Hillary detailing the establishment of the RNLI in 1824. Documents detailing the history of every lifeboat station dating back to the foundation of the RNLI were stacked on hundreds of shelves. VHS, Betamax and Film Roll were stored in the temperature controlled area. Much of the footage and hard copy items had been digitized but the originals were still maintained in this area.
In another room he showed us where larger items were stored such as models of lifeboats dating back hundreds of years. The original gallantry medals bestowed upon RNLI heroes such as Henry Blogg were stored in very secure safes and huge works of art were displayed on racking. It was an awe inspiring department and we could have stayed there all day chatting with David and having a look through the amazing archive.
We had run out of time and had to get to our first official tour of the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre so headed straight back to the College Reception to meet our guide. Thanking Selina for her time she offered to show us the remaining areas of the support centre after our tour.
All-Weather Lifeboat Centre
After joining the group and our guide we headed across the road to the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre or ALC. This impressive manufacturing building was officially opened on 21st August 2015 and brings every stage of the lifeboat building process in house. This gives the RNLI complete and consistent control over the design and build of their all weather lifeboats. The primary aim at that time was to build at least 50 Shannon Class lifeboats as well as maintain existing fleet.
Before we got into the factory itself we took a look at the new Lifeguard Modular unit, an example of which was located on the forecourt of the ALC. This unit is designed as a complete support module to be delivered and placed on beaches around the country.
We made our way into Building A of the ALC and started on the top floor. Here we were shown the huge moulding bays used to create the hulls and wheelhouses of the Shannon lifeboats – the first stage of build. It was fascinating to see the months of work and the layers of composite materials that are used to construct the familiar hulls of the boats. Each of the stages of build take approximately 12 weeks and there were 5 stages in total. The aim of the centre is to build 6 boats per year.
The hull and wheelhouse are moulded separately and then brought together later in the process. Whilst in Building A we were very lucky to watch a wheelhouse being lifted onto its hull for the first time to ensure a tight fit. On the lower floor of the building we could see some of the components also being moulded. At the rear of the building was the paint area which we didn’t visit.
Moving over to the other side of the complex we entered Building B and this was where the boats started to really take shape. In the first stage in this building the hull was fitted out with all of its wiring, engines and hardware. Next to the hull was the wheelhouse where the same wiring process was carried out as well as fit out of the vast array of equipment. At the time of our visit we saw the two halves of boat number 13-62 which is to be allocated to Ballycotton Lifeboat Station in Ireland.
Moving along to the next stage we saw a boat with its wheelhouse attached to its hull and the external fit out taking place. This was now starting to look like an almost complete Shannon Class. The one we saw was number 13-61 to be allocated to Wick Lifeboat Station in Scotland. After this stage the boat is taken from Building B and, in a ceremonial manner, placed in the water for the first time. Following this it will undergo extensive sea trials and crew familiarisation and training.
Further along Building B we saw two Severn Class lifeboat undergoing a complete refit. The first was the boat belonging to Ballyglass Lifeboat Station and the second to St. Mary’s Lifeboat Station in the Scilly Isles. The Ballyglass boat is due for acceptance in October 2026, whilst the St. Mary’s boat will be completed in September. This was being completely overhauled to extend its life for another 10-15 years.
The next Severn class was undergoing a more extensive refit to include the latest technology as used in Shannon Classes. Due to the extent of this refit, allowing an extension to life of up to 25 years. This is just one of two Severn Class lifeboats that are undergoing this extent of refit. These two boats will assume new boat numbers. The first was delivered to Dover Lifeboat Station in April. This started life in in 1995 as 17-02 and is now called 17-51 Ettrick Shepherd Hogg Hardie. The boat in the ALC was built in 1999 as 17-20 based in Tynemouth and this will be renumbered as 17-52 and due to be placed on service in Ramsgate Lifeboat Station later in the year. Moving along to the final two bays and we saw two Shannon Class lifeboats undergoing to general maintenance and repairs.
We were very fortunate to be amongst some of the first visitors to see a new modular lifeboat station being constructed at the back of the ALC as a trial and training facility. This modular design will be a more cost effective and standardised way of providing modern crew facilities to stations who’s existing buildings are in need of major repair or replacement.
Back on ground level we were able to see all of these boats from below including the new engines awaiting fitting in the Shannon’s. We were also able to see the next Shannon Class which is to be allocated to Fenit Lifeboat Station 13-60 Roy Barker VII. This boat has undergone extensive sea trials and crew from the lifeboat station have spent a week of intensive training on the boat ready for its delivery in the summer.
Back at the College reception we thanked Jon, our tour guide, and headed to the Slipway Bar for some lunch.
RNLI Support Centre Part 2
During lunch we made contact with Selina again to see if we could pick up the tour of the Support Centre from where we left off. We were met at reception by one of Selina’s team, Zac.
He took us to the second floor where we were introduced to the Fundraising, Marketing and Media team. They are responsible for community engagement, online shop, fundraising teams, major donors and legacy donations. They also look after the marketing strategies and media, including social media and broadcast media.
Next door we were introduced to the volunteer support team who look after the thousands of volunteers from shop, fundraising, crew and operational.
We had really good discussions with both teams which took us right up to the time of our next tour. We thanked Zac for his time and headed back to reception to join the tour of the RNLI College.
RNLI College
There are two main buildings forming the RNLI College facility. The first, which also includes the accommodation and restaurant, consists of multiple state of the art training rooms. During our visit, there were teams of crew from many lifeboat stations undergoing training in everything from Casualty Care, Helm and Coxswain training, Lifeguard training and Crew Emergency Procedures. This training space and conference rooms are also available to external organisations to hire, offering a source of income for the charity.
After a good discussion about the training centre we then headed over a footbridge to the adjoining building – the Sea Survival Centre. The 4 metre deep pool can simulate waves, thunder, lightning, rain and gale force winds. It also allow crews to train on life rafts, D and B class Inshore lifeboats and, for lifeguards, rescue scenarios on boards.
When we arrived we were able to watch some of the inshore lifeboats being lifted in and out of the pool in preparation for some training. We were told by one of the team that they would be carrying out a capsize exercise in 30 minutes or so. This gave us the opportunity to head down to the ground floor to look at the engine and outboard training area. Here there were a range of different outboard motors used on inshore lifeboats and a room full of various type of diesel engines used in all classes of All Weather Lifeboats. It was a fantastic facility for training lifeboat mechanics.
Back at the pool we arrived just as they were capsizing an Atlantic 85 lifeboat and impressive sight in itself. We then watched as crew members from various stations were trained on the procedures on dealing with a capsize. The crew experienced what it was like under the boat during darkness after the centre was plunged into darkness and with large waves. It was all very impressive.
The final part of the training was the righting of the boat. The B-Class has a very unique righting system in the form of an inflatable cushion on the rear frame. This is activated by pulling a cord which inflates the cushion just like a lifejacket. The boat then flips back over and the crew can get back on board. It was an incredible sight.
The final part of our tour of the College was to a wheelhouse simulator in which we were able to experience a little of what it is like inside the wheelhouse of an all weather lifeboat in various seas condition and faced with a burning cargo ship just outside of Dover harbour. This simulator is used for training new crew and it was nice to be able to experience what they do. Unfortunately, Helen was the Coxswain during the execise and we all came out feeling a little bit green!
After the tour we headed back to reception and on to our room to relax before popping into town for a lovely italian meal. We also got to see the Poole Lifeboat being washed down after a shout.
The following morning we took breakfast and before checking out we took the opportunity to take some more photos with the bears in various locations. We then sadly had to depart and head home. However, we took the opportunity to stop by some of the lifeboat stations along the Hampshire coast to get some further evidence photos with us wearing our proper challenge polo-shirts which we did not have in the early days of our visits.
The RNLI College tours and stay was such a lovely way to finish off our challenge.
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