Awards ceremony for long-serving RNLI volunteers on Jersey

With 87 years of exemplary lifesaving between them, Jonathan Cornic, Chris McFadyen, Lloyd Banks and Helier de Veulle received awards from the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, Air Chief Marshall, Sir Stephen Dalton – the Queen’s representative on Jersey. They were supported by their families and core members of the organisation’s management team in the island.

• Jonathan Cornic began his volunteering at St Helier in 1997, serving as Lifeboat Mechanic and in several crew roles including Helm and Deputy 2^nd Coxswain.
• Chris McFadyen joined the institution at St Catherines station as crew and has taken on many roles as Training Co-ordinator, Press Officer and Deputy Launching Authority over the years.
• Lloyd Banks joined St Catherine’s crew and has also played a vital part at the station as mentor, shore crew, Launcher and Assistant Mechanic.
• Helier de Veulle joined St Catherine’s in 2007 as a crew member on the inshore crew and also took on the role of Lifeboat Press Officer two years later, broadening his role last year to cover both RNLI stations in Jersey.

Nigel Sweeny, Lifeboat Operations Manager for RNLI Jersey, said:

'I was so proud to attend this ceremony which in every way reflected the volunteering ethos and longstanding service of the RNLI in the island. Every shout they attend to someone in trouble means that our crews may be risking their lives, and the dedication of those crew members and all our volunteers who play their part on the shore, has allowed us to save lives in Jersey for 134 years'.

'I would like to make a special mention of the families of our volunteers. Their support allows those crews to go to sea, and their understanding and patience with the commitment involved is right at the heart of the RNLI. I am grateful to them every single day'.

Ends

RNLI Contacts:

Helier de Veulle, Lifeboat Press Officer, St Catherines and St Helier Lifeboat Stations 07797 847926 hdeveulle@gmail.com

Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer, London and South East 07785 296252 paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland