Donate now

Certificate of service for former volunteer crew member

Lifeboats News Release

This year's AGM of Weymouth RNLI lifeboat station, which was held at Weymouth Sailing Club on Tuesday 21st May, was used to present former volunteer crew member Matt Keates with a RNLI Certificate of Service.

LOM Malcolm Wright with Matt Keates and his son Toby Keates

RNLI/Ken Francis

Matt Keates recieves Certificate of Service

Lifeboat Operations Manager for Weymouth lifeboat station Malcolm Wright praised Matt for his service at Weymouth over the last 16 years and presented Matt with the Certificate of Service on behalf of the RNLI.

Matt who joined the crew in 2002 as a trainee crew went on to be a qualified crew on both the Inshore and all-weather lifeboat. He went on to become an Inshore lifeboat helm in 2011 and an all-weather lifeboat navigator in 2017. During Matt's service at Weymouth he is credited with being involved in the saving of 48 lives.

Matt recently left the crew at Weymouth as he now works for the RNLI full time as a trainer and travels all over the country in this roll.

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.

Categories