RNLI mechanic, Jim Lock, starred in ITV segment in Penarth

Jim Lock, national mechanic at the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) in Penarth, featured in a recent ITV programme about the Penarth seafront and pier, which aired on Friday, August 16, at 12.46pm.

Speaking to The Penarth Times, Mr Lock, said: "There was one day of filming, which took about an hour.

Penarth RNLI mechanic, Jim Lock, features in ITV news segment on seaside rescues (Image: RNLI Penarth Lifeboat Station)

"I had an in-depth interview with them [ITV], speaking about lifeboats and rescues I have been involved in."

According to the ITV news segment, the "Penarth RNLI crew is busier than ever at this time of year."

Jim Lock has been involved with the RNLI for almost 50 years, and shared his expertise on the Atlantic 85-class lifeboat at the Penarth lifeboat station for the news segment

"We have the Atlantic 85, so-called because it's 8.5 metres in length."

Mr Lock said the Atlantic fleet was actually originally designed at Atlantic College, hence the name.

The ITV news programme delves deeper into the equipment used by the RNLI crews as well as the locations they cover.

When asked by the interviewer what it means to Mr Lock to have served with the RNLI crew for so long, he said: "It's an honour to be involved with the RNLI for the length of time I've been with them.

"I started with the RNLI at Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, round the corner, in 1974.

"My father was a founder member of the Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, which started in 1965."

Mr Lock then describes his journey to Penarth RNLI, washing boats as a youngster and eventually transferring to Penarth when he secured a job in Cardiff.

Many took to social media to praise Mr Lock's appearance, with one calling him a "true media star."

The news segment can be viewed on the ITV website, entitled 'Overlooking the Severn estuary Penarth is everything you'd want from a seaside postcard.'