Newquay lifeboat volunteers thanked for more than two decades’ service to RNLI
On the first day of 2019, Newquay RNLI thanked two dedicated volunteers who have recently retired from the lifeboat crew after serving the station since 1994 and 1995 respectively.
Former police officer, Ian Pengelly and custom fabricator, Garry Griffiths have both held a variety of positions during their 20-years'-plus service with the RNLI, including lifeboat crew, helm on the station’s D class inshore lifeboat and shore crew.
'Pengers' and 'Skunk' as they are known by the team, were thanked for their commitment to saving lives at sea and presented with RNLI certificates of service by Lifeboat Operations Manager, Gareth Horner at an informal gathering with friends and former colleagues at Newquay Rowing Club on Tuesday (1 January).
As well as being on-call 24-hours-a-day and undertaking regular training to operate the RNLI’s two inshore lifeboats at Newquay, both men also devoted considerable time to supporting the station’s fundraising efforts, helping to raise thousands of pounds during Lifeboat Week and other events. Ian organised the popular local RNLI versus police rugby matches for 15-years and completed the London Marathon for the charity, while Garry collected raffle prizes from local businesses in aid of the RNLI and organised various children’s parties for the lifeboat crew’s families.
Both men said what a privilege it had been to be part of Newquay lifeboat crew, which RNLI records show have saved more than 100 lives since the mid-1990s when Ian and Garry joined the station. Ian said: ‘I've enjoyed every minute of my involvement with the RNLI, In addition to all the shouts, training and fund-raising, the greatest honour was attending Her Majesty’s garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2010. The RNLI will always be my charity, so I’ll continue to support the station and will never be able to walk away completely!’
Garry said: ‘Representing such a close-knit, respected team as the lifeboat crew, as RNLI standard bearer at Newquay’s Remembrance Parade has always been a big honour. The knowledge, experience and friendship I’ve gained over the years from the lifeboat crew and their families is something money could never buy, and for that I would like to say thank you’.
Notes to editors
- Please find attached, picture of Ian (left) and Garry (right) being presented with their RNLI certificates of service by Lifeboat Operations Manager, Gareth Horner. Credit: Brian Adamson.
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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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