Dedicated RNLI volunteer of 32 years awarded MBE

​Tom joined Scarborough RNLI 32 years ago and for the last 14 years has been the Coxswain. He has trained in all aspects of search-and-rescue work from navigation to boat handling, search-and-rescue patterns.

Tom said: 'You’re trained up over a long period and you gather your experience over the years so you can make the right decision on the day.

'I’ve worked with some really nice, wonderful characters,' he says. 'Over 32 years of working with these people it rubs off on you, it moulds you into what you are today.'I’ve worked with some really nice, wonderful characters,' he says. 'Over 32 years of working with these people it rubs off on you, it moulds you into what you are today.'

Tom was notified by post that he had been nominated for an honour. 'When I read the letter, I got a bit emotional. People like me don’t get things like this. It absolutely knocked me for six, I was flabbergasted. It was the last thing I ever expected to be getting in the post.

'It’s an honour and a privilege but my job is an honour and a privilege. I feel like it’s recognition of the hard work and dedication of the whole station including the crew and the wider team of people who give up their time for Scarborough RNLI.It’s an honour and a privilege but my job is an honour and a privilege. I feel like it’s recognition of the hard work and dedication of the whole station including the crew and the wider team of people who give up their time for Scarborough RNLI.

'I’m very patriotic and a real royalist,' says Tom, who is one of 10 members of Scarborough RNLI heading to London this weekend for the Queen’s official birthday party in the Mall.

John Senior, lifeboat operations manager, said: 'This honour is very well deserved. Tom is a remarkable coxswain who has dedicated 32 years of his life to the lifeboat service.

'On behalf of the crew and everyone else in the Scarborough lifeboat team, I would like to sincerely congratulate Tom. We are all very proud and delighted that he has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.'

Notes to editors

• Photo credit: RNLI David Barry  
•  The RNLI will be joining celebrations for our Patron’s birthday at the iconic Patron’s Lunch to publicly thank her for 64 years of support and to show that we are proud of the lifesaving service our charity has provided to the nation. Ten of our volunteers from Scarborough Lifeboat Station will be attending including Rudi Barman, our most recent crew member to receive a Gallantry Medal. 

For more information please contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

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