Once upon a time they would have called it 'no job for a lady'.

Rachel Rickett has just become Sheringham Lifeboat Station's first-ever female tractor driver - responsible for driving a 10-tonne beast across the shingle with a lifeboat in its wake. 

Ms Rickett, who joined the crew in 2021, said: “I’ve always admired the volunteers of the RNLI and when I finally moved to the coast from Essex I decided to join up at Sheringham. 

North Norfolk News: Rachel Rickett, who has just become the first-ever female tractor driver at Sheringham Lifeboat StationRachel Rickett, who has just become the first-ever female tractor driver at Sheringham Lifeboat Station (Image: christaylorphoto.co.uk)

“I love being part of the team and being able to give something back to the community is so rewarding”.

RNLI lifeboat crews have historically been heavily male-dominated, and until fairly recently stations such as Sheringham and Cromer were almost entirely crewed by fishermen. 

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But now Sheringham’s crew is made up of men and women from all walks of life from police officers to artists, carpenters to photographers.

North Norfolk News: Sheringham Lifeboat Station's Talus MB-4H MKII launching tractor in actionSheringham Lifeboat Station's Talus MB-4H MKII launching tractor in action (Image: christaylorphoto.co.uk)

The crew includes four female members. The longest-serving is artist Kate Munro, who joined the boat crew in 2015.

She said: “I became interested in the RNLI when I lived on the south coast and had a workshop on the beach in Newhaven.

"I used to hear the maroons go off and watch the lifeboat head out to sea.

"I’ve enjoyed getting to know this fantastic bunch of people, the training is very thorough and so good for stretching my mind.”

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The station’s other female members are Leanne McColm, a professional photographer who joined in June last year after raising three daughters, and Emma Beaugeard, who started in October.

North Norfolk News: Sheringham Lifeboat Stations' female members, from left, Emma Beaugeard, Leanne McColm, Rachel Rickett and Kate MunroSheringham Lifeboat Stations' female members, from left, Emma Beaugeard, Leanne McColm, Rachel Rickett and Kate Munro (Image: christaylorphoto.co.uk)

Ms McColm said: “Spending so much time on the beach I felt safer in the knowledge that the lifeboat was there should we have ever needed it. 

“Giving back to the community is important to me. I love being part of the team and learning the new skills required to crew the lifeboat.”

Anyone interested in joining can email sheringham@rnli.org.uk or visit the lifeboat station on Sundays from 9.30am-11.30am.