108 By the Dart • Mark Strudwick


work and their commitment to us. Some have young children and still manage to work around our tight on- call restrictions.” Mark says they can be called to pretty much any


incident on the water and when he looks down at his pager there isn’t much that surprises him now. Their usual shouts are to missing people or boats in distress. “Two call outs will always stick in my memory,” he says. The first is the fire on the African Queen, “no one enjoyed that one.” A happy one was when the crew assisted wildlife divers who were trying to free the Slapton whale caught in fishing pot ropes. “Getting close to an animal like that is a once in a lifetime experience.” Then there are the sheep


who’ve fallen off cliffs. “We usually throw a dumpy bag in and scoop them up. But the state of the boat when we return is not pleasant – no one volunteers for that clean up job!”


When not at the station Mark is the


“I really do love being part of the RNLI, it is challenging at times... But the job is very rewarding. ”


owner operator of one of the Castle Ferries. He loves pootling up and down the river chatting to locals and tourists. He’s a local lad, moving here when he was just four. He attended Dartmouth Primary and Secondary and then went on to work for various local companies


using his skills as a mechanic. At home he leaves the cooking to wife Claire, but admits he does sometimes knock up a mean chilli or spag bol.


When he isn’t at home, on the Great Summer Offers - Call us now!


ferry or at the lifeboat station Mark can be found out rowing on the river. He says he gets his buzz from working hard to help people in the town whether that’s spending 26 years on the Regatta Committee or saving lives on the water. “I really do love being part of the RNLI, it is challenging at times and there are certainly easier organisations to be part of in the town!


But the job is very rewarding.


I know it sounds silly but we are like a family. We look out for each other. Before every shout I wish them all luck as they put on their gear and rush out the door and, like a protective dad, I’m on edge until I’ve counted everyone back in.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148