THANKS have been given to Lyme Regis RNLI's harbourmaster, who is standing down from the role.

Grahame Forshaw said he is resigning from his voluntary role as the charity's lifeboat operations manager because of work commitments.

Mr Forshaw, 56, has been harbourmaster for six years and joined the lifeboat crew five years ago as deputy launching authority.

He told crew members at a training session last week that because of his busy work schedule he felt he had to give up his lifeboat duties.

Mr Forshaw retired from military service after 33 years with the Royal Marines, and he served in the Falklands, Iran, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Bosnia.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with the lifeboat and it was a difficult decision to make.

“My harbourmaster’s office is next door to the lifeboat station so I shall still be available when members of the crew need to chat.”

Coastguard Peter Pritchard, who served alongside Mr Forshaw in the Marines and also liaised with him in his RNLI role, said: "I will be sad to see him go.

"We worked quite closely and he has done an excellent job during the the coastguard transition, as well as dealing with the politics of the volunteer lifeboat crew."

Richard Horobin, volunteer press officer for the Lyme Regis RNLI, said: "All the crew wish Grahame well and thank him for his involvement during the past five years.

"As his harbourmaster's office is literally next door I have no doubt we will continue to be in touch with him."

Nick Marks, deputy launching authority at the lifeboat station, will become acting lifeboat operations manager.

He is a retired Royal Navy captain and served in a number of ships including HMS Bulwark and Ark Royal during a 29-year career.

Mr Marks is a yacht master, dinghy sailor and owner of a narrowboat.