Sad Farewell to Lifeboat Coxwain Stewart Adams

Tomorrow, 26th July 2023, witnesses the funeral of Stuart Adams, who passed away recently following a short illness.

Photo Dungeness RNLI

Below is a copy of my post from one year ago (July 2022), celebrating Stuarts 25th year of service with our local lifeboat.

STUART ADAMS celebrates 25 years as a coxwain (of the Dungeness lifeboat). He joined the crew in 1977 (45 years ago) at the age of 17, when a fishermen at Dungeness.

In 1997 he was voted coxwain – as was the procedure in those days – and then took the lead with crew training and management.

Stuart has never seen his coxwainship as a job but a way of life. He is passionate and protective about his volunteers and loves to see them succeed in their endeavours.

In recent times Stuart’s two children have joined the crew. Natalie, who works as an Assessor Trainer on the (River) Thames and a volunteer navigator at Dungeness – and Jason, who has newly qualitied as a coxwain himself – treading in his father’s footsteps.

As children of the coxwain, you might expect that they had an easy ride to the top, but Stewart enjoyed nothing more than watching his children start at the bottom and literally ‘learn the ropes’.

Vicky Morgan, lifeboat operations manager, says ‘Stuart is the pillar of our station, providing strong leadership to our volunteers and is the epitome of professionalism. The commitment he has shown over the past 25 years is extraordinary and we couldn’t ask for a better coxwain.

Stuart has huge respect from the volunteers at the station and a respect that is truly deserved

Commiserations to Lisa, childhood sweetheart and lifelong support of Stuart and the lifeboat community, and son Jason, who has taken over as Coxwain, and daughter Natalie

Photo Dungeness RNLI

RIP STUART

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About the Author: Mike Golding

Born in Ashford a long time ago I have had a lifelong relationship with Dungeness having spent every year here for a fortnights holiday up to the age of 15. In those good old days there was no electricity and hence no radio, no running water and no adequate sewage solutions. Nothing to do other than enjoy the vast expanse of the Ness and all it offered for the young children of that era. Out after breakfast and back before nightfall. There were lakes to swim in. Same lakes to boat on (well old railway sleepers). A derelict school and long disused railway station in and on which to play. Gun emplacements, underground shelters. Sheer bliss. That all ended at 16 when I joined the RAF, finally purchasing a shack – as indeed it was then – in 1971 for the princely sum of £750.00. Only 15 years prior to that we could not afford the £150.00 asking price for what was then known as ‘Windwhistle’, reported to be one of Queen Victoria’s entourages carriages. Still there today, sold last year (2022) and still awaiting planning permission to re construct, but the original structure still concealed behind painted shiplap. Leaving the mob I travelled, retuning ‘home’ as oft I could, and realistically, only becoming a permanent fixture since 1977. In those days there was a vibrant community here with annual gatherings for the Mayday festival – spit roast and all and open days at the Lifeboat station – with bosuns chairs, zip wires to keep the kids happy. I think Health and Safety put paid to that and other activities, as did the moving away of many locals. The result of which , today there are probably less than 20 families residing here permanently, (I have been told not to use the word ‘shacks’ as now, at £650,000.00 plus they are 'desirable bungalows in a well sought after locale'. So ‘Shacks’ they are! End. P.S A few originals left to rent from £500 per week.