Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguard Corps. Est 1952

Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguard Corps. Est 1952 Voluntary Beach Lifeguard Service at Lowestoft South Beach since 1952 These were sea bathing clubs who had their ‘chalets’ on the Esplanade at Lowestoft.

The Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguards were registered in 1953, having been formed the previous year by members of the Lowestoft Swimming Club and Eastern Coach works Swimming Club. The former Lowestoft Borough Council provided an old beach hut, which was placed on the beach in ‘Children’s Corner’, a popular bathing area in the 1950’s and the scene of drowning fatalities. The Club members provided vol

untary duties at weekends and evenings during the summer months and successfully carried out several rescues. With training and recruitment the Corps grew and obtained a second hut, which was initially to be used by female
members. These huts were later placed on a raised platform, using materials
provided by the Corps and wooden foundations provided by the local authority. By 1963 the Corps had obtained a rowing boat and a small engine, which enabled
the Corps to extend their patrol area. Meetings with the town council officials and officers in the winter of 1966 resulted in the council providing the first full-time
lifeguard in summer, together with a fully equipped high speed ‘Dory’ in 1967. The Corps lifeguard station was later dismantled and temporary accommodation
was provided in a beach hut North of the Claremont Pier, prior to the Corps moving to the Royal Plain headquarters. Since 1986, changes in the tide pattern have altered the beaches, and the area south of the Claremont pier has proven to be a more popular bathing beach. Negotiations with Waveney District Council enabled the Corps to establish a lookout point in a disused beach chalet. In 1989 Waveney District Council extended the provision of lifeguards to the equivalent of two, then four full-time Lifeguards. In 2013, after years of fundraising and generous donations from the public the Corps gained permission from Waveney District Council to convert an old shelter that are part of a group of buildings that were built to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. The corps self-funded the conversion and building of this HQ This is the current headquarters of the Lowestoft Volunteer Lifeguard Corps and is situated down the steps from Kensington Gardens. The Corps continues to assist in providing training courses and facilities for the RNLI beach lifeguard service, as well as providing voluntary lifeguard duties supporting local events and safeguarding users of
Lowestoft’s South Beach.

30/05/2026
Some pictures from beach lifeguard requalifications yesterday involving fellow RLSS lifeguards from Ipswich Lifesaving C...
30/05/2026

Some pictures from beach lifeguard requalifications yesterday involving fellow RLSS lifeguards from Ipswich Lifesaving Club. Thanks Dan for assessing & Hass for safety cover.

29/05/2026

Air temp isn’t water temp. Stay safe.

Entering cold water makes you GASP.
Cold water increases your breathing and heart rate, causing PANIC.
Your muscles will get too cold, making you uncoordinated and WEAK.

RLSS UK’s advice is:
• Choose lifeguarded spots
• Never swim alone
• Wear bright colours
• Enter the water slowly
• Get out before you get cold

If you get into trouble, Find Your Float.

It may feel warm outside, but the water isn’t.
Share this vital water safety advice to help keep others safe.

27/05/2026

🛟Supporters of Drowning Prevention Week 2026.🛟

For over a decade, Drowning Prevention Week has helped raise awareness of water safety across the UK and Ireland, and in 2026 we hope to reach more people than ever before!

From clubs and branches to schools, charities, and emergency services, our incredible supporters bring the campaign to life through education, events, and sharing vital safety messages.

👉Find out who’s involved: www.rlss.org.uk/supporters-of-drowning-prevention-week-2026

And if you’re planning your own activities, there’s still time to get involved. Simply complete the form on the website and be featured as a supporter.

23/05/2026

With warm weather forecast this weekend and into next week, more of us will enjoy spending time in, on, or around water, so it’s important to stay safe.

Almost half (47%) of UK accidental drownings happen between May and August, with higher risks during warmer weather.

Keep yourself and your family safe:
• Check for hazards, including depth, currents, tides, and hidden underwater objects.
• Stay together and swim in lifeguarded areas.

In an emergency:
• Call 999 immediately
• If you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back, and call for help

Take a few minutes to read our essential water safety advice:
👉 www.rlss.org.uk/water-safety-advice

What a great day for a training paddle 🌞
23/05/2026

What a great day for a training paddle 🌞

19/05/2026

Why become a beach lifeguard?

If you’re looking for a rewarding, active role by the coast, beach lifeguarding could be the perfect fit. To get started, you can complete the RLSS UK National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ), your gateway to becoming qualified.

What makes it so great?
🌊 Work by the sea
🚑 Learn to save lives and gain vital First Aid skills
👥 Join an amazing team and work alongside supportive, like-minded people
💪 Stay fit and active in an outdoor, physical role

Follow the link to find out more about beach lifeguarding and how to find an NVBLQ course near you: https://www.rlss.org.uk/Blog/reasons-why-being-a-beach-lifeguard-is-the-best-summer-job


Already qualified? Spring and early summer are the primary time of the year to recruit beach lifeguards in preparation for the summer season.

Visit our webpage to explore external job roles: https://www.rlss.org.uk/Pages/Category/external-jobs

Or search the RNLI website for more opportunities: https://lifesavingjobs.rnli.org/become-a-lifeguard/find-a-job

14/05/2026

There’s one month to go until Drowning Prevention Week 2026! 🛟

Download the NEW Drowning Prevention Week resources and use them to educate your children, customers, and community about the Water Safety Code and water safety.

At RLSS UK, we’re working to help everyone enjoy water safely, and with your support, we can save lives. 💙

Get prepared for (13–20 June 2026) by downloading your resources today.

👉 Get your FREE resources here: https://www.rlss.org.uk/forms/dpw-2026-resources

14/05/2026

Whether your venue’s safety equipment needs a refresh, or you are trying open water swimming for the first time, RLSS UK Shop has everything you need to ensure everyone enjoys water safely this summer.

You can view our whole range of open water safety equipment here:
➡️ https://shop.rlss.org.uk/collections/open-water-location

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Lowestoft Beach
Lowestoft
NR330HY

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