Clacton RNLI say ‘goodbye and thank you’ to two of their volunteer crew
In the last crew meeting of the year Clacton RNLI said 'goodbye, thank you and best wishes' for the future to two of their volunteer crew.
In a simple ceremony Darren Simper was presented with a framed certificate of thanks from the RNLI by Dave Wells (Clacton’s Lifeboat operations manager) for his 11 years of service.
In those 11 years Darren has held numerous roles within the station; starting as a member of the shore crew, then as tractor mechanic as well as becoming a member of the lifeboat crew. Mr Simper went on to reach the role of helmsman by the time of leaving, and participated in saving 18 lives.
The second of the lifeboat station’s leavers is Tony McEwen who has been a member of the shore crew for four years. As a member of the shore crew Tony would help to safely launch and recover the lifeboats, as well as prepare them for their next service.
Tony has proved to himself and the team, despite the loss of a leg in a motorbike accident, he could be an active member of the team. Tony hopes this will show others in the community in a similar situation, that disability is no barrier to saving lives at sea.
All the team at the lifeboat station wishes them well in their new endeavours.
RNLI media contacts
- Richard Wigley, Lifeboat Press Officer, Clacton RNLI: 07903 424698
- Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Media Officer, North East and East: 07824 518641
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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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