Triple Retirement at Withernsea RNLI Lifeboat Station
On Sunday (31 July) the Withernsea Lifeboat crew said goodbye to three of their former crew at their annual Family, Friends and Supporters hog roast.
Colin Fisk, David Hart and Steve Medcalf all retired earlier this year and were presented with their certificates of service to recognise their years of lifesaving for the charity.
Colin served for the RNLI for a total of 22 years, 16 years on the Humber Lifeboat and 6 years in total at Withernsea Lifeboat Station. Colin was part of the original crew at Withernsea when the Lifeboat was re-established in the town in 1974.
David became a volunteer at Withernsea Lifeboat in 2004, where he spent four years as crewman before becoming a helmsman in 2008. Retiring at the start of the year, David spent 12 years volunteering for the RNLI in Withernsea.
Steve had an 18 year association with the RNLI. Joining the Withernsea Lifeboat crew in 1998, Steve also served on the Humber Lifeboat between 2000 and 2003 and was also part of the RNLI’s flood rescue team.
Withernsea RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager Martin Woodhouse paid tribute to the three men: ‘The RNLI relies on volunteers like Col, David and Steve to ensure we are ready to save lives at sea when we’re needed. Together, they have given 52 years of service to the RNLI and I’d like to thank them for their hard work, commitment and dedication.’
RNLI Picture caption
Picture: (Left to Right) RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager; Martin Woodhouse, Steve Medcalf. Colin Fisk, David Hart.
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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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