Excellence In Volunteering - Jonathan Clark - Poole Lifeboat Station
The word ‘Life-boat’ is synonymous to Jonathan, as for over 35 years (official years) and long before that his life has been arranged around an RNLI boat.
He is from a long briny line of master mariners and lifeboat men; A great great grandfather was saving lives at Mudeford long before the RNLI was established there and his brave grandfather, a Grimsby trawler man served in the Merchant Navy on the dangerous decoy runs, during the 2nd World War.
Jonathan followed and served alongside his dad, cousin and godfather on the Poole Lifeboat crew, it truly is his calling and DNA.
The first thing you notice about Jonathan is his big smile, this radiates with his huge motivation to help others.
Jonathan was the 12th and last Poole Coxswain from 1998 till the ‘City of Sheffield’ left the station in 2016, he still had the will and desire to stay on and felt that he had plenty more to give so worked alongside the younger crew, trained and became reacquainted, with the D class and Atlantic 85, Jonathan had served on a D Class many years before at Poole and was a busy Helm before he became Coxswain, he just wanted to do what he does best, saving lives at sea, sharing his wealth of knowledge and years of experience with the younger crew and boats officers, helping the station to move smoothly into its next phase as an Inshore lifeboat station.
Our LOM Paul Glatzel presented Jonathan with his Excellence in Volunteering award on behalf of the RNLI Chairman and Council for his invaluable contribution to Poole Lifeboat, for constantly providing a professional service and for being an ambassador and a well-respected leader to his fellow crew. It also recognised Jonathan for fully embodying the RNLI values of being selfless, courageous, trustworthy and dependable quite fitting as in 1999 Jonathan accepted the Freedom of the Borough of Poole on behalf of the whole of the RNLI for the 175th anniversary.
Congratulations Jonathan, this acknowledgement is much deserved
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.