Alan Clarke passed away in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn on 10 December with his family at his side after a short illness.
He joined the crew at Hunstanton when the station reopened in 1979 and became its first helm.
During a 14-year career, Alan took part in some of the most courageous rescues carried out by its newly-fledged crew and was honoured three times for his bravery by the RNLI.
In 1985, he was awarded the charity that saves lives as sea's Bronze Medal and a Silk Cut Nautical Award in recognition of his courage, skill and determination at the helm when the crews rescued a man, together with his sailboard, who was in difficulties close to a wreck off Brancaster in a westerly gale and rough seas.
In 1988, he was awarded a Second-Service Clasp to his Bronze Medal for the courage and seamanship he showed when landing an injured man from a fishing vessel in The Wash, in a strong southerly gale, short steep seas and total darkness.
In 1989 he was given the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for the seamanship he displayed in rescuing a crew member from a yacht which had run aground at Thornham in rough seas.
He was also awarded a Royal Humane Society certificate of merit by the RSPCA in 1981, along with the crew for the rescue of a dog from a speedboat whose owner had fallen overboard and had been taken to hospital, leaving the speedboat circling at full power.
Another notable service came when the crew rescued three men who had gone to sea in a motorised bathtub for charity in September 1982.
Alan never lost his love for the sea or the RNLI, and in his later years he would often call in at the station to hear about the latest shouts, and spin yarns over a brew with the crew.
He was incredibly proud of how the station has evolved and adapted over the years to protect the coastline and his grandson is now following in his foot steps as a helm at the station.
Alan’s courage and determination inspired generations to go to sea to save lives, as he did on many occasions.
The flag is at half mast at Hunstanton RNLI, where volunteers observed a minute's silence before going to sea on exercise on Sunday, 14 December.
'He would always press on, even through the worst of conditions to reach those in danger,' the crew said in a statement.
'His picture still looks down on us in the boathouse, while the rescues he carried out are painted on the walls.
'We know his spirit will always be with us, whenever we go to sea.'
Alan's funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Docking on Friday, 2 January 2026 (11am) followed by burial.
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
