Steve Harris joined the RNLI in 2016 as he wanted to take on a new hobby after giving up football.

"I saw an advert on Facebook for a recruitment day that the lifeboat station was holding," Steve said. "I went down there to have a look around and find out a bit more information.

"After going to the lifeboat station for a few weeks to meet the crew, I went out on the boat for an acquaintance trip.

"I was hooked and signed up."

It took Steve around three years to complete and pass the training units at crew level while also attending the RNLI college in Poole for courses including seamanship, emergency procedures, navigation and radar.

He is now celebrating his most recent achievement with the crew, after he passed out as an Atlantic Class helm last week, which means he can take command of the Atlantic Class lifeboat on callouts.

He said: "It's taken two and a half more years of intensive training and assessments, including more courses at the RNLI College on boat handling and command, to pass out as a D class helm and shortly after an Atlantic 85 helm."

Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI has two lifeboats - a B Class Atlantic lifeboat, the 'Tony & Robert Britt', and the D Class 'David & Barbara Chapman' lifeboat.

The Atlantic lifeboat is among the fastest in the RNLI fleet.

Steve's success in becoming a helm of the lifeboat is the latest skill he has learned amongst many since joining the RNLI, as he is not from a maritime background and had not been out on a boat many times before joining the crew.

Discussing what he enjoys about volunteering with the team, Steve said: " There is a fantastic bond between the crew, at the end of the day if you are at sea and things go bad, our lives are in each other's hands."

He added: "I've found a love for being out on the water that I never knew existed, the sense of achievement and the feeling of knowing you are doing some good and helping people that need your help.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI, contact Peter Harris, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, by email: [email protected].