30 years’ service with Fleetwood RNLI

30 years later, his colleagues gathered at Farmer Parr’s Tractor Shed Bistro to celebrate and present him with his long service award.

Steve, originally from Manchester, moved with his family to Fleetwood in 1968. He joined the voluntary rescue organisation on the 26 June 1988 and recently celebrated 30 years as both volunteer and full time Mechanic, a role he’s enjoyed for the past 18 years.

There have been many memorable rescues for Steve over the years but one he remembers well.

He was awarded an RSPCA Bronze Gallantry Medal for his part in rescuing a large Japanese Akita, which had been swept out to sea. The volunteers were already on service rescuing a yacht in distress and spotted the dog being carried along by the tide and current. The crew were unable to pull the dog into the larger all-weather Tyne class lifeboat, so requested the lower in-shore lifeboat be launched. Steve then put on a dry suit, jumped into the sea and kept the dog above the water until help arrived.

Steve has worked under five different Coxswains over the 30 years and despite plans to retire from the full-time job next year, plans to continue as a volunteer, along with his son, Stuart, also on the Fleetwood lifeboat crew.

On the same evening, Paul Ashworth and Andy Marham were also on hand to receive awards for 20 years’ service. Paul was Coxswain at Fleetwood RNLI between 2007 and 2014.

There are eight members of the current lifeboat crew at Fleetwood who now have long service awards and they have 170 years of experience with the RNLI.

Captain David Eccles, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Fleetwood RNLI said ‘It’s a tremendous achievement by Steve, to not only work full-time here at the station, but also be on call, for 30 years. He has given the best part of his life to Fleetwood RNLI and we are all very proud and honoured to have him as a trusted colleague. This was a remarkable occasion and to be part of this voluntary team, with such commitment and dedication, makes you very proud.’

Notes to Editor

• First photograph shows Ian Ellarby and Captain Dave Eccles presenting the 30-year service award to Steve Carroll.

• Second photograph shows the long serving members of Fleetwood RNLI. (L-R) Captain Dave Eccles, Steve Carroll, Andy Marham, Neil Atkinson, Ian Ellerby, ‘Skip’ Frith, Gary Randles, Paul Ashworth

• Credit: Fleetwood RNLI

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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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