Cromer RNLI Coxswain retires after 36 years of service.
June 2018 marked the end of an era at Cromer Royal National Lifeboat Institution Lifeboat Station as our long-serving coxswain John Davies has retired.
John has always been proud of his Cromer heritage and always had a passionate interest in the RNLI being the eighth generation of the Davies family to have served on the lifeboats. Johns distinguished family history not only includes Henry Blogg but also his father Richard William Davies
During his 36 years of dedicated service John has crewed and skippered several RNLI lifeboats – most recently the state-of-the-art Tamar class Lester. John’s skill, courage and knowledge of the local waters are well known as demonstrated by the many rescues in which he has been involved over the years. Along with his skill and dedication as a coxswain, John has long been recognised as a great ambassador for the work of the RNLI and has often supported local fundraising events. He has always made a point of highlighting the many attractions of Cromer and North Norfolk to national audiences.
John is to be celebrated as a man of many parts but in particular we recognise his leadership of the charity's volunteer Cromer crew. He has been a sound example and mentor to many young recruits to the lifeboat service.
John remarked, ‘The crew have been my family for the last thirty years. I've seen these lads grow up and flourish and I will enjoy watching them take over the reins. The lifeboat has been in Cromer for over 200 years and we are merely custodians of it at a certain time, it will carry on for years long after we've all gone’
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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