Portsmouth RNLI's first female helm gets ready for her first Christmas in charge

Kim Dugan, 25, took on the role six months ago having been part of the volunteer crew for the past six years. And like all RNLI lifesavers who are prepared to launch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Kim will have to drop everything over the festive season if the call comes in to help save lives at sea.

Since qualifying as a helm, Kim has taken the driving seat on the station's D class inshore lifeboat – the Dennis Faro – several times. Although the extra responsibilities that come with the role have kept Kim busy, she says she is loving her new role. Kim said: 'Since I joined Portsmouth's lifeboat crew in 2016, I've chosen to be on duty during Christmas or New Year's Eve because my family lives locally, and I can visit them anytime. Also, many of our crew have children and being off duty allows them to enjoy Christmas together, so I've always felt it's the right thing to do. This year I'll be on duty call from Boxing Day to January 2.’

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Her first shout to launch as a new helm was memorable as it happened in the middle of a special ceremony at the station when the Portsmouth crew were being presented with commemorative medals to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

'I was under more pressure than normal because friends and families of the crew, including my own, were present,' she said. 'We launched to assist a couple of paddle boarders in difficulty in Hayling Bay, but fortunately, the call proved to be a false alarm. When we returned to the station, everyone was outside the boathouse watching us recover the lifeboat. I was very thankful I got the D class back on the trailer properly in front of that audience.'

One of Kim’s favourite festive traditions is bracing a chilly sea dip on Christmas morning, which she does as part of her membership with a local lifeguard club.

'It’s super fun and my friends and family normally come to watch us, so I look forward to it. A hot bath normally follows it, then off to my mum's for the most amazing roast.

'If you take a winter dip like me, make sure you go with someone and have access to a mobile phone. Chilly water dips can be amazing, but because the water is so cold at this time of year, you need to make sure you have a means of calling for help if things go wrong. It’s also a good idea to take a float and where a colourful bathing hat so you can be seen’.

To help the RNLI to continue its vital work, Kim is calling on the public to support the charity this Christmas. In the past five years, RNLI lifeboats in the South East have launched 188 times during the festive period.

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit RNLI.org/Xmas.