MBE Award Ceremony for Porthcawl RNLI Volunteer
The Queen’s Birthday Honours recipient Aileen Jones, a volunteer at Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station, was presented with her MBE this week by Prince William at Buckingham Palace.
Aileen, who has been a volunteer at Porthcawl RNLI since 1995, was accompanied at the Palace by her family - husband Steve, daughter Frances and son Dan - all who have also been volunteers for the RNLI at Porthcawl. Both Aileen and Steve are retired Helms and now hold the office of Deputy Launch Authority. Daughter Frances was a volunteer crew member until university took her away from the town and son Dan is currently a crew member.
‘It was a complete surprise and honour when I was awarded the MBE for service to the RNLI’, said Aileen. ‘To have my family with me at Buckingham Palace made it really special day for me. Being a RNLI volunteer has been a huge part of our family life, both children from their younger years, were familiar with lifeboat crew and the commitment of volunteers. Steve and I were so proud that both Frances and Dan joined the crew as soon as they were old enough’.
Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl RNLI, Philip Missen MBE said, ‘We are all so proud of Aileen who has been a stalwart at our lifeboat station.
'She was one of our first female crew members and then qualified as one of the first RNLI female Helms. During a rescue of two casualties on a commercial fishing boat in difficulty out in the Bristol Channel, Aileen demonstrated her seamanship and courage when, as Helm, she was recognised for these skills and became the RNLI’s first female crew member in the history of the Charity to receive a Bronze Medal for Gallantry.
'Her award of the MBE is recognition of the commitment Aileen has shown to the RNLI and to our lifeboat station here in Porthcawl’.
RNLI media contacts:
For further information contact Ian Stroud, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, Porthcawl, on 07590 777875.
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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