Obituary: Southbourne Coastguard member Andy Chittick, 49,

The father- of two- passed away on Burns Night, January 25, with Covid and an underlying health condition.

Andrew Charles Chittick, born in Radlett, Hertfordshire, in 1971 to Leonard and Sandra Chittick, had an elder brother Brett and younger sister Ruth , and grew up in South East London.

He had a successful career in IT management. Whilst working at Churchill Insurance he met his former wife Paula and had two children Jessica now 20 and Joshua, 17.

Paula said:”I could not have chosen a better man to have a family with. Although we separated after 10 years, we remained close, and 100% there for each other & our children.”

Andy moved to Christchurch whilst working for insurance companies in Bournemouth. Having been a member of the British Red Cross for 10 years, he joined the Coastguard here and trained as a first responder with the Ambulance Service.

Paula adds: “He had an impressive ability to soak up knowledge and keep a level head, in most circumstances”.

He was commended in 2013 by the Coastguard for a difficult recovery operation. He was also a Freemason, followed Harlequins RFC and England,and enjoyed living near the sea and walking when he could.

Southbourne Coastguard Rescue Team spoke of their “great sadness” as they paid this tribute to their friend and former colleague and said “Andy had been a steadfast and reliable member of the Southbourne Coastguard Rescue Team" since being recruited in June 2010. 

After eight years of service, Andy recognised he could no longer give the commitment required of a coastguard rescue officer and so regrettably stood himself down in March 2019. However, he had been due to return just before he passed away.

Before his involvement with HMCG he volunteered with The London Red Cross. He acquired skills with them that would lend themselves to the many difficult situations he would face.

They added: "With his larger-than-life character, meticulous attention to detail, ability to take control in any situation and his determination to see a job through he eventually acquired the nickname,  "Commander Chittick”, within the team", which made him chuckle.

He attained his competencies as a water and cliff rescue technician and was promoted to an Officer in Charge. He committed to many duties and during his time attended a staggering 270 call outs becoming involved in several technical and harrowing rescues.

One such rescue took place on the evening of 27 May 2013 just as dusk was falling. He was tasked to the recovery of someone who had died in the sea from a beached boat at Friars Cliff. For his part in this difficult and distressing recovery, he was awarded the letter of appreciation from the Chief Coastguard. This was presented by the then Chief Coastguard, Peter Dymond OBE, and the High Sheriff of Dorset, Catriona Payne.

Andy's colleagues describe him as "a very humble man" and although he regularly commented,” I did what any Coastguard Officer would have done”, he was always deeply proud to have received this recognition.

Other rescues followed - a noticeable tasking took place just a few hundred meters from the station in 2017 where he was tasked to assist Dorset Police in the recovery of a person in the sea off Southbourne beach. He quickly donned his water rescue equipment and alongside the team quickly found and recovered the person safe and well to the shore.

In February 2015 the Deputy Station Officer , Norman Feast, passed away. Norman had been one of the team that had originally interviewed Andy for his role within HMCG and Andy had a special bond with Norman from the start.

"It was at this sad time that he shone through with his professionalism and organisational skills assisting the team in the background and at the funeral. He also went on to provide a pillar of support during the next few difficult weeks."

Andy would always step up to assist with the day-to-day taskings like safety and watch patrols, where he would help to pass on his knowledge to new recruits. He attended many public relation visits to schools, attending the Mudeford Fun Day, The Emergency Services Fun Day in Kings Park and Bournemouth Air festival. He would spend many long hours before, during and after the show carrying out searches for missing people, providing first aid, cascading his local knowledge and providing excellent radio communications.

His colleagues added: "He had a fantastic attitude to life and his many witty sayings and quotes are still spoken by the team today, some clean, some not so. Anyone who met Andy would always come away with a feeling of having gained something, and you could be assured that if he said it, then it was normally correct."

Due to the Covid situation Andy’s availability at work changed and in late 2020 he applied for re-enrolment back to the Southbourne Team where after a successful interview he was accepted back pending paperwork. It was while he was waiting for the enrolment process to be completed that he was taken ill and in late January he sadly passed away with family members by his side.

"Andy will be greatly missed by all that knew him and those that knew of him. He had so much more to give to the team, the coastguard and to the world. It was an extremely sad and shocking day when we heard of his passing especially knowing how much he would have loved to have been back out helping the public and his teammates on the coast.

"He will be remembered on the several occasions to come where he would have played a pivotal role and when we return to a more normalised world, we will raise a glass and remember the passing of an exemplary man. It has been an absolute pleasure and an honour serving alongside Andy. He was a great asset to Her Majesty’s Coastguard and especially the team here at Southbourne. He was a gentleman and truly one of a kind."

Andy’s funeral service is March 19 in Chislehurst. Southbourne Coastguard will attend  in full uniform with a private internment of his ashes. The family will host a celebration of his life when restrictions are lifted.