RNLI Long Service Medal awarded to lifelong friends
Richard Pearce and David Saunders of Brighton Lifeboat Station were recently awarded a long service medal for over 30 years of service to the RNLI.
Richard and David first joined Brighton Lifeboat in the late eighties and have been part of the volunteer family ever since and still play valuable roles at the station. Richard is a Deputy Launching Authority and David the Boathouse Manager.
Richard and David completed many call outs together for Brighton lifeboat and one of their most notable ones was when the lifeboat was tasked to a large yacht that had lost its rudder in gale force winds and was slowly being pushed closer into shore. The lifeboat managed to hold the yacht off from shore whilst Shoreham lifeboat secured a tow and pulled it to safety.
The lifeboat is not the only thing Richard and David share- they grew up together in Brighton and both attended St Luke’s Primary School where their friendship began. If they are not down the lifeboat station you will find them cycling old railway tracks together or fishing!
Roger Cohen, Lifeboat Operations Manager of Brighton said, “Both David and Richard are part of the heartbeat of the station. I am proud that their long service of volunteering at Brighton to save lives at sea has been recognised by the charity.”
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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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.