St Davids RNLI Coxswain Dai John, who has been involved in over 420 rescues since joining the RNLI at the age of 18, hands over the reigns today to Will Chant, a volunteer with St Davids RNLI for over 25 years.

Retiring Coxswain Dai John has a long family tradition with the charity as his grandfather David John was with the RNLI as well as his father, former Coxswain and Mechanic Fred John, along with other family members.

Dai joined the charity in August 1986 at just 18 years old. Since then, he has been involved in over 420 rescues. One of these was the Yves Marie Amil rescue in December 2004 whereby three fishermen were rescued from a burning trawler at night, in near gale force winds and a rough sea which he received a RNLI Letter of Thanks.

Dai became a full time Coxswain in October 2006 up until his retirement. He recounts one of his most notable rescues:

“In March 2008 I was Coxswain for the rescue of the 111-ton trawler Western Belle and her five crew in a 14-hour rescue. The vessel had suffered power failure 32 miles out to sea at night and in gale force winds and a very rough sea. The trawler was towed to Milford Haven and during the rescue the tow line parted three times and had to be reconnected.”

For this rescue Dai received the RNLI’s Thanks on Vellum for courage, leadership and seamanship.

Also following a long family tradition with the charity, Will Chant becomes the 16th RNLI Coxswain of St Davids.

He will be following in his father’s footsteps who was the 13th Coxswain of St Davids, as well as those of his great-great uncle, Henry Rowlands, who was also involved with the charity. Henry tragically lost his life on the lifeboat in the 1910 Gem disaster.

RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager Roger Smith said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of William Chant as Coxswain of RNLI St Davids Lifeboat. He brings a wealth of operational command experience to the role from his time as a volunteer Coxswain and Helm, and commands wide respect amongst his peers.”

One of Will’s notable rescues as a crewman took place in August 2019, when there was a climber in difficulty in the water near Porth Clais harbour he jumped in untethered to prevent her drowning, saving a life. 

Will is looking forward to working alongside his brother who is the mechanic at St Davids.

The change at the helm happens today (June 7) and the charity’s St Davids lifeboat station looks forward to welcoming a new Coxswain to the crew.