Rhyl RNLI volunteer receives prestigious award

The Mayor, Councillor Sarah Roberts made the formal presentation to Peter in recognition of his community involvement and volunteer work.

Peter was born and raised in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, and has lived in Rhyl for 31 years. He started his journey as Diving Officer at Rhyl Sub Aqua Club for 14 years, becoming a 1st class diver in the BSAC and is currently the president of the Rhyl Diving Club.

In 1989 Peter joined the RNLI and became second Coxswain in 1993. Peter then took the helm of Rhyl Lifeboat Station becoming Coxswain from 1996 to 2010.

At the age of 60 Peter retired from the Coxswain position and began training the volunteer crew at Rhyl.

This year, Peter fully retired from all sea going activities and has become a Deputy Launching Authority, authorising the launch of Rhyl RNLI's lifeboats, as well as undertaking talks in the community about the history of the station.

During his time as Coxswain, Rhyl Lifeboat Station was the busiest station in Wales for seven consecutive years, and was the busiest coastal lifeboat station in the UK & Ireland for one of those years.

As well as keeping busy for the RNLI, Peter has always been one to keep the community spirit in Rhyl high by organising events and keeping the town’s clock in St Thomas’s church wound up weekly.

Rhyl Lifeboat Coxswain, Martin Jones said: ‘On behalf of all the crew and volunteers at Rhyl lifeboat station, I’d like to pass on our sincere congratulations to Peter, this significant award is well deserved and we thank him for his continuing hard work at the lifeboat station.'

Media contacts:

For more information please contact Colin Jones, Rhyl RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07813 688654 or Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected].

Key facts about the RNLI

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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