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Hastings RNLI stalwart retires
Hastings RNLI lifeboat station said goodbye to a stalwart as she retired on Monday (17 August), with dozens of volunteers from across the station attending her leaving party.
Judith Collins had volunteered for the lifesaving charity for nine years, and was lifeboat visits officer, deputy shop manager and fundraising volunteer. Judith retired as she is moving to East Anglia to be near family. At her farewell party, immediately after her last shift and just hours before her move, Judith was presented with various gifts by Paul Freathy, Hastings Lifeboat Management Group chair, on behalf of her fellow volunteers at the lifeboat station. Community manager Megan Murphy also gave her a framed certificate of thanks signed by the RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes.
Paul said 'Judith has been one of the mainstays of the lifeboat station for many years, fulfilling several important roles at the same time. It is testament to her commitment that she worked her final shift just hours before leaving for her new home in East Anglia. We are so grateful for all that she has done to help the RNLI save lives at sea. We will miss her enormously.'
Judith added 'I wasn’t expecting to see so many friends and colleagues at my leaving do, and am so grateful for them attending, and for the gifts I was given. It left me speechless! I will miss everyone, I’ve enjoyed volunteering here so much. It was also a real honour to receive the framed certificate of thanks from the RNLI’s chief executive.'
RNLI Media Contacts
Kevin Boorman, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Hastings, [email protected]
Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]
Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.