Burry Port RNLI Operations Manager receives a Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the recent South Wales Evening Post Community Awards presentation ceremony, held at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, Roger Bowen, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Burry Port was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was presented by Behnaz Akhgar, the BBC Wales weather presenter, in front of a large audience. Roger was up against some very stiff competition, the other nominees being composer/conductor Sir Karl Jenkins, and comedian Colin Price.
Roger joined the Burry Port team in 1982, as a 17 year old, and became a helmsman in 1988.
Moving up to Deputy Launching authority in 2009, and in 2012 took on the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager at a difficult time in the Station's history. He was awarded the RNLI Silver Badge for his service to the Institution in 2015
Alun Wells, Deputy Launching Authority and Press Officer said, ''Roger is the driving force at the station, he has seen through some difficult times, but has fought through to see the station with a highly competent and capable crew, and through to the eve of a new chapter at Burry Port RNLI, with the New Lifeboat Station due for completion at the end of 2018.''
Crew Chairman Lee Fox, who originally nominated Roger for the award, said ''The Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute for all his hard work and dedication, which is well known in the local community, and throughout the RNLI.''
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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