MoD civilian rows 'English Channel' to help search, rescue

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A Ministry of Defence civilian with the 727th Air Mobility Squadron recently rowed across the English Channel ... sort of.

Andrew Noakes rowed 21 miles on a rowing machine - the equivalent of crossing the English Channel - to raise money for Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue.

NorLSAR has about 20 volunteers, who are on call 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, answering calls from the police when people go missing.

Noakes, who has worked at RAF Mildenhall for 23 years and understands the importance of the search and rescue team.

"About two years ago, an elderly gentleman went missing when he walked out of a [retirement] home and disappeared. The police were called, and I got a call at 2 a.m. to go out and search for him," Noakes said. "Luckily, he was found fairly close to the old people's home, and got back safely."

When someone goes missing and it's reported to the police, the police then decide how high of a priority it is.

For instance, if a young child or an elderly person goes missing, and it's getting dark, then the priority is high. If it's a teenager or adult and the evening and hasn't come home yet, then it's usually a lower priority, depending on the circumstances, said Noakes.

The 727th AMS worker decided to do the long-distance row to raise money to help buy vital equipment they need to perform search and rescues. His squadron commander gave him permission to use the unit's rowing machine, and he pushed himself to the limit, achieving his goal in 3:08:37.

Noakes decided on the equivalent distance of the English Channel, because he said, "it seemed like a good idea at the time!"

However, he really had to struggle to finish.

"I got cramps in my legs, and at one point I thought I might not be able to finish the distance," he said. "I felt really tired, but elated that I'd done it, and was very glad when it was over! I was just happy I didn't have to crawl out of the gym, and that I could actually walk out."