A WELL-RESPECTED coxswain has stood down after five years in a lifesaving role.

Harwich RNLI’s full-time coxswain Neal Sandquest stepped back from his role on Wednesday ahead of a new challenge across the water at the Port of Felixstowe.

Over the past five years the station has been in good hands under Mr Sandquest’s guidance, owing to his cool head, energy and determination.

He will be returning in a slightly different role in the new year, however, as a volunteer deputy second coxswain.

Mr Sandquest started out as a deck boy working on boats in the North Sea aged 17, and has travelled as far south as the Falkland Islands during his career.

He reached the position of navigating officer for Trinity House Lighthouse Service before, in 2016, jumping ship to take up the role of Harwich RNLI full-time Coxswain when Paul Smith stood down after 13 years, and having volunteered there since 2013.

RNLI area lifesaving manager Graeme Richardson, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Neal during his five years as full-time Coxswain, during which he has led the station through a significant time of change.

“His leadership and integrity, both ashore and at sea, have been pivotal to the development of the team. He will be sorely missed in the role, but I am glad he will be returning in the new year as a volunteer.”

Harwich RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager Peter Bull said Mr Sandquest has been a “pleasure” to work with.

“I would like to thank Neal for his five years of service and wish him good luck in his new role,” he added.

“Even though I have only returned to the station as a volunteer in the past 20 months, Neal has been a pleasure to work alongside, and the knowledge and information he has passed onto me and other new station members will, I’m sure, be put to good use.

“He will be sorely missed both by myself and the rest of the station, but we also look forward to the future with the next appointment of a full-time coxswain, and celebrating 25 years since the first of the operational Severn class lifeboats - Albert Brown - was stationed at Harwich.”