I was very lucky to learn a lot about the sea being brought up in North Somerset on the Bristol Channel with the second highest tidal rise in the world. On leaving school I left my fishing boat behind and ran away to join the Royal Marines, serving 24 years on boats, ships and Landing Craft. I finished here in Poole and was fortunate to spend 20 years in the RNLI as a training Coxswain and volunteer on the Flood rescue team. It is now an honour and pleasure to take people afloat and share my love and respect for the sea with them.