One of Wales’ longest serving female RNLI crew members marks 30th anniversary

Having been out on over 150 call outs, Vivienne is credited directly for saving the lives of eight people. She joined Little & Broad Haven lifeboat crew in 1990 and to this day is still an active crew member aboard the station’s RNLI inshore lifeboat.

Since 2008, Vivienne has also held the voluntary role of Lifeboat Training Co-ordinator at the lifeboat station. She coaches and mentors her fellow crew members, ensuring that the high standards of training are maintained.

In 1999, she was awarded a chief operations letter for gallantry followed by her Silver award for 20 years’ service which was presented to her by HRH Duke of Kent.

In 2017 Vivienne was awarded with an MBE.

A highlight during her time with the RNLI was the rescue of a small boy from the foot of cliffs in 2004. In very rough seas, the lifeboat was placed close to the cliff base and she, with the aid of her crew, managed to get the boy on board.

More recently her skills were needed to rescue two young children spotted clinging to an open kayak in St Brides Bay in the summer of 2015. Her knowledge of the coastline and seamanship ensured that they were found moments before drowning, recovered and returned safely to shore.

Vivienne says:

‘From a young age growing up and living in the community where the lifeboat is such an integral part, I always wanted to join the crew. Knowing when the pager goes off you could potentially save a life is what keeps me wanting to be a part of the volunteer crew I have been fortunate to be a past of for the past 30 years.’

Vivienne’s proudest moments have been receiving her MBE award in 2017 and most recently her youngest son Byron who just completed his first-year probation on the crew at Little & Broad Haven.

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For more information please call Matthew Ford 07478 637237 [email protected] or Danielle Rush, Divisional Media Relations Manager (Wales and West) on 07786 668829 or 01745 585162. Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

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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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