Cavell Burchell
Director for Governance and Compliance
Lifesaving is a passion for Cav. He is driven by a desire to minimise accidental & non-fatal drowning, be it through the development of community-based education programmes or by being an advocate for the adoption of drowning prevention strategies at governmental level.
His lifesaving journey began in 1970 as a 12-year-old learning water safety and resuscitation skills. He has worked as both a pool and beach lifeguard and has remained an active volunteer for over 50 years with RLSS UK.
Cav has held many voluntary appointments within RLSS UK, including that of RLSS UK Senior Tutor, and served at the highest level in developing and delivering qualification and trainer courses in lifesaving, pool and beach lifeguarding, and boat handling. Appointed in 1986 to the RLSS UK National Lifeguard Committee, he has been a member of other National Committees and Working Groups and Chair of both the former National Sports, Events and Marketing Committee and the National Education Committee. He was an elected RLSS UK Trustee from 1995 until 2002, and again between 2013 and 2022 when he served as Trustee with oversight of Governance. Between 2020 and 2024 he was the Deputy Chair of the ILSE Drowning Prevention Commission.
In recognition of volunteer services to the Society he is honoured to have received the HRH Prince Michael of Kent 125th Anniversary Certificate of Merit , the Commonwealth Honorary Life Member and UK Honorary Vice President awards.
Having completed two terms as an RLSS Trustee Cav has been appointed a Board member as Director of Governance and Compliance.
