A POLICE officer has been named as the new helm of a search and rescue crew at Llandudno Lifeboat Station.

North Wales Police officer and RNLI volunteer Robert Williams has taken on the senior role of Llandudno’s inshore lifeboat, which operates in shallow water and confined locations close to the cliffs.

Mr Williams, known as Bert, has been volunteering at the Llandudno station for seven years, having served as a crew member on both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats.

Before being promoted to the new role, which can include steering and guiding, Mr Williams was assessed on numerous different challenges of overseeing a D class inshore lifeboat.

Bert Williams after passing out of his assessment on the D-Class inshore lifeboat. Picture: RNLI/Nigel Millard

Bert Williams after "passing out" of his assessment on the D-Class inshore lifeboat. Picture: RNLI/Nigel Millard

Bert, who is an officer in the Roads Policing Unit, said: “I am enormously proud to be part of the volunteer crew at Llandudno.

“I am also really pleased and proud to have completed my helm training, and now look forward to joining the compliment of other helm crew members at Llandudno Lifeboat Station.”

The Llandudno inshore lifeboat Dr Barbara Saunderson is regularly tasked to complete numerous rescues around our local shores. The boat is highly manoeuvrable and is particularly useful for searches and rescues in the surf, shallow water and confined locations that are often close to cliffs, among rocks and inside caves. These are often challenging operations, which demand an extremely high level of competence and experience from the volunteer crews involved.

Graham Heritage, Llandudno lifeboat coxswain, said: “Bert is a great asset to the team, a thoroughly skilled and reliable crew member on both boats. In particular, he has exceptional observational skills which have proved to be essential on a number of search and rescues.

“I have no doubt he will continue to be a fantastic Helm for many years to come.”

Mr Williams's colleagues at North Wales Police also offered their praiseafter his new appointment.

A tweet on the NWP Roads Policing Unit page said: "Huge congrats to PC Williams who has become the latest new helm on Llandudno’s inshore lifeboat He's been a volunteer with the Llandudno RNLI crew for seven years, and combines his volunteering with his duties as a North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit officer."