Tim Mock

Coxswain 1998 – 2013

Coxswain of two lifeboats:

Forward Birmingham

Margaret Jean

Tim served for 34 years, joining as a crew volunteer in April 1980 aged 21. Three years later he became the RNLI Mechanic, a post he excelled at.

The Mechanic is the only person at Exmouth RNLI Station who is employed by the RNLI. All other crew are volunteers, along with all the shop staff, tour guides, speakers and fund raisers.

The RNLI was such an important part of Tim’s life, that in May 1995, his son Henry was the first baby to be christened aboard a Lifeboat in Exmouth. Henry joined the crew at 17, became the country’s youngest Head Launcher, and is now Helm of the ILB.

From 1998 Tim became the town’s RNLI Coxswain a position he held with great distinction until Christmas Day 2013.

2003 marked the 200th Anniversary of Lifeboats in Exmouth. This was one of the original towns to have a Lifeboat before the RNLI was formed. During these 200 years, the Lifeboats had answered 1,608 shouts and saved 616 lives.

RNLI records show that in 2005, Exmouth was the busiest Lifeboat Station in Devon, launching 132 times and rescuing 110 people. However, they were operating in facilities which were spread out which wasn’t ideal. The ‘Forward Birmingham’ was moored in the Exe Estuary, with the boarding boat in the marina. The Inshore Lifeboat Boat (ILB) was in this boathouse on the seafront, and crew facilities were in portacabins in a car park.

Because of this, in 2006, the RNLI approached Exmouth Town Council with plans to build a much bigger Lifeboat Station, which would house both Lifeboats and have space for the crew. The new Station would be at Maer Rocks, where a Lifeboat could be launched from a carriage into the deep water channel at any state of the tide. Whilst moored in the Exe Estuary, launches had sometimes been impossible at low water. Coxswain Mock and the crew carried out trials from the proposed site, which were all successful.

A massive fund raising campaign began to raise money for the new Station, and on 6th May 2008, a ‘tarmac breaking’ ceremony with Henry Mock operating an excavator, marked the start of the work. Opening the following year, the Station has geothermal heating from deep boreholes made during construction, uses solar energy, and has a system to collect rainwater to wash salt off the boats after they have been at sea. You can learn more about this on a free tour of the Station, for times, see www.exmouthlifeboat.org.uk/visits

Tim was the last Coxswain to serve at the 106 year old Lifeboat Station which you’re standing in front of, overseeing the move to the new one. Ever vigilant, as the crew were moving the ILB, they diverted to rescue a kite-surfer in difficulty before continuing to their new Station.

This old boathouse became the base for Exmouth’s Lifeguards, and is now home to Exmouth Rowing Club.

During his service Tim experienced an impressive 14 different lifeboat classes, worked under 15 RNLI Inspectors, saving hundreds of lives in the course of a quite incredible career of dedication, bravery, leadership and astute seamanship.

As well as numerous RNLI awards during his career, including a prestigious RNLI Certificate of Service, his remarkable service to the local lifesaving charity was met with several community awards. Upon his retirement in 2013 he received an Honourary Membership of the Exe Sailing Club, and in 2014 the Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award as well as the Exmouth Town Council Town Shield marking “The Town Council’s gratitude for his many years of service on behalf of the town.”

Write the letter T from TIM in space 14 of your answer box.

Tap the link below to go to the Exmouth RNLI Welly Trail JustGiving page:

http://bit.ly/3xD6D4P

We have made every effort to ensure all the information about the Coxswains is accurate. However, we are always happy to be corrected or updated and, if you can add to our knowledge base, please email us at welly@exmouthlifeboat.org.uk

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