RNLI Helm collects MBE from Her Majesty the Queen
It was a very proud day for Tower Lifeboat Station today as Stan Todd, longtime volunteer at Brighton RNLI Station and Helm at Tower, received his MBE.
Stan received notification earlier this summer that he’d received the recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his considerable services to Maritime Safety since he joined the RNLI in 1980. In that time, he has attended more than 1,000 shouts and saved countless lives, receiving awards for his bravery,
When he was notified of the award, Stan said of his RNLI colleagues:
'I’m absolutely astonished to receive this honour. None of us on lifeboats do what we do for an award like that. I feel so privileged to be recognised for doing something I love this much. Being lifeboat crew gets in your blood – we socialise together when we’re off the boat and we’re family to each other. I think my wife and daughters are looking forward to this ceremony even more than I am! I’m hugely proud to have been part of the RNLI for this long and I want to continue saving lives for as long as I can!'
He attended the ceremony along with his wife, Helena and daughters, Natasha and Bryony. Afterwards he said,
'I was so humbled to receive this award today in the company of such outstanding recipients. Hearing about their achievements – and, of course, meeting The Queen - was a huge honour. Her Majesty said she followed Tower station and recognised how busy the crew is there saving lives on the Thames. My family and I have had a real once-in-a-lifetime day.'
Notes to Editors
Link to original News Release following the OBE announcement in June is here:
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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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