As families celebrate Mother’s Day, one expectant mother will be marking the occasion with her lifesaving Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) family. Emily Craven, 27, has volunteered alongside her fiancé, Tom, for seven years, with their son, aged 2, very much being a part of the crew.
Her two-year-old son, Harry, spends plenty of time at the lifeboat station with his parents, having visited first when he was under three-weeks-old.
Emily and Tom’s fellow crew have seen the couple’s story unfold over the years. From watching them get engaged on a lifeboat, to learning of Emily’s first pregnancy by a RNLI-themed announcement on her Instagram blog. Only a few months ago, Harry announced to the crew that he was going to be a big brother by bringing in an ultrasound scan to show everyone.
Emily said: ‘Harry absolutely loves being at the station, and he’s always around the boat and the tractor. He’s probably going to be future crew, and he is a key member of New Brighton RNLI.’
During her time volunteering, Emily has been involved in many rescues. One call she recalls is that of a challenging rescue in 2020, where she and her crew were awarded a Certificate of Commendation in 2023.
Emily's story shows the importance of women in helping to achieve the RNLI's mission of saving lives at sea, and the raising of the next generation of crew.
Photo credit: RNLI/Nigel Millard
