POOLE Lifeboats have bid farewell to a much-loved colleague as he starts his next chapter.

All members of the RNLI team at Poole Lifeboat centre have wished their Coastguard colleague, Danny Hawkes, well after joining the team in 1997.

Danny’s father, grandfather and great grandfather were also involved at the station back in their day, as DLA’s and on the boat committee.

Whilst on the crew at Poole, Danny attended many ‘shouts’, one of his most memorable was when a speed boat got trapped alongside the Sandbanks Chain ferry, with the tide trying to pull the boat under.

Danny recalled the Helm that day, Paul Savage, skilfully manoeuvred and wrestled to pull the boat free from the strong roaring tide.

After a change in personal circumstances and with a heavy heart Danny stepped down from his role in the RNLI and a few years later joined Poole Coastguard Rescue Team as a volunteer.

Similarly to the Lifeboat crew, the Coastguards are extremely busy volunteers and are on call 24/7.

After 10 years as a ‘coastie’, Danny is leaving his boiler suit and stepping down as he is relocating to a new home inshore and too far out to respond.

The Coastguard works closely with the RNLI and Danny once said: “I'm always proud when we work alongside the Poole Lifeboat, they'll always be family.”

The RNLI sends its love and good wishes to Danny in his new home and sends their deep thanks for all his dedicated years of service, keeping people safe at sea and on the coast.