Long serving deputy launching authority honoured
Sheerness RNLI lifeboat crew members paid tribute to one of their DLA’s who has recently retired from the role after many years of service.
At the Sheerness lifeboat crew annual dinner on Saturday 14 December crew members past and present paid tribute to retiring DLA Andy Wilmore who has finally decided to hang up his pager after nearly 25 years of service to the RNLI and in particular the Sheerness lifeboat station.
Sheerness Lifeboat Coxswain Robin Castle presented Andy with a signed certificate from the RNLI in recognition of his long-time volunteering role with the charity, he also received vouchers from the crew and all others involved with the Sheerness lifeboats. Flowers were given to Dee, Andy’s wife, who as with all ‘crew wives’ has had to tolerate being woken by the pager at silly o’clock on many, many, occasions.
The role of Deputy Launching Authority is extremely fundamental in the operation of all RNLI Lifeboat stations as it is the DLA who makes the decision to launch the lifeboat when his/her pager is activated by the UK Coastguard, and in the case of stations with more than one craft which one to send out. The initial call from the Coastguard is to request permission from the DLA to launch the lifeboat. Once the decision is made, the crew pagers are activated and the volunteer crew members on call are on their way to the boathouse irrespective of the time of day or weather conditions.
Ends
Media contacts:
Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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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