TRAWLERMAN, fire chief and lifeboat boss Rob Fossett has retired after 43 years.

Fossett went to sea as lifeboat crew on his 16th birthday and rose to become one of the most senior officers in the nation’s fire and rescue service.

He retired from the helm of the RNLI lifeboat operation in Lyme Regis this Wednesday on his 59th birthday.

Fossett has completed 43 years with the emergency services, including 30 as a RNLI volunteer.

The former Woodroffe schoolboy joined the RNLI lifeboat crew at Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1967 serving for 25 years, 13 of them as senior helmsman.

During this time, the Southend lifeboats saved 589 lives.

He received 16 awards and commendations for his lifeboat and fire service work and was involved in 3,000 emergency calls with the RNLI in Essex and 30,000 incidents annually with the fire and rescue service, where his last role was as operations commander.

Fossett returned to Lyme Regis on retirement with partner Sue and joined the town’s RNLI team five years ago, becoming lifeboat operations manager.

He now hands over to the town’s harbourmaster Grahame Forshaw who recently joined the crew as a deputy launching authority.

Fossett said: “There have been some very proud moments with the RNLI and the fire and rescue service.

“There is nothing quite like the feeling of satisfaction when you are involved in the saving of a life.

“In the end, though, it is all down to teamwork, and that means everyone at the lifeboat station, the people who run the RNLI shop, members of the guild, in fact everyone who contributes in any way to this great charity.

“As for my successor, who better than our hugely experienced harbourmaster?”

Senior crew member Garry Gibbs added: “He brought a calming personality to the station and nothing is too much trouble with words of advice readily available.

“He brings out the best in most people and brought humour and organisational skills to the role.”