High Sheriff Presents Lifeboat Awards at Cowes Station
The commitment of volunteers with the RNLI at Cowes was celebrated with the presentation of awards at the lifeboat station by the High Sheriff, Gioia Minghella-Giddens.
Mark Harker, whose six years involvement with the station eventually culminated in him becoming a helm and assessor/trainer, received an inscribed glass.
Fran and Brian, who run a Cowes restaurant, received a certificate marking their ‘unstinting support’ for the station over ten years and providing high quality food and fund-raising expertise. Fran also manages the local RNLI shop.
Other certificates were presented to: Nick Edwards, for providing high quality photographs for the station and his involvement in station management; Willoughby Matthews, for supporting all office functions from the age of 14, as well as being an ‘exemplar’ as shore crew/plant operator. Unable to be present for his certificate was Sandy Steen who until his retirement last month had provided professional management support, ensuring the station was fully integrated with RNLI standards.
Other boat and shore crew received certificates for achieving a Casualty Care standard, and two other crew had certificates for training in Emergency Procedures at the RNLI College, Poole.
High Sheriff, together with husband Richard, then joined crew members aboard the station’s Atlantic 85 ‘Sheena Louise’ in the boathouse.
Expressing delight over the High Sheriff’s visit, Mark said later: “She took so much interest in the volunteers’ roles. She was impressed in the high commitment of ordinary Island people make in the service of others, and she spoke very warmly of her admiration for the life-saving duties we undertake.”
End
Caption 1: The High Sheriff at the helm of the lifeboat with husband Richard taking a crew role.
Caption 2: The High Sheriff, with lifeboat crew and shore crew members in the lifeboat station.
RNLI media contact
- George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07530 254052/ [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer (London and South East) 0207 6207425/ 07785 296252/ [email protected]
- 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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