Abersoch RNLI bid a fond farewell by Zoom to long serving RNLI volunteer.

Steve, more fondly known as Foxy, first joined the volunteer crew at Abersoch RNILI in 1988 following his move to the area from the Wirral. He started as a crew member and after completing his training in Cowes he became a helmsman on the station’s Atlantic 21 lifeboat ‘Wolverhampton’ and later the ‘Borough of Solihull’, also an Atlantic 21.

At that time the RNLI retirement age was just 45 and Steve soon realised retirement wasn’t for him!

After a chat over coffee with Abersoch RNLI volunteer Phill Brown, who is now Chairman, Steve decided to put the time on his hands to good use and he continued with his volunteering as shore crew and then Deputy Launch Authority until retiring gracefully at the tender age of 70.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andy Vowell, commenting on Steve’s retirement said ‘Steve has always been a valuable member of the team here at Abersoch RNLI and he was always the person who would lift everyone’s spirits even after a difficult shout. He was a real character and will be missed by us all. We wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.’

Steve said of his many years with the RNLI, that he ‘has never enjoyed anything so much in his life’. When asked about any memorable moments he said, ‘there has been so many but my claim to fame is being upside in a boat with George Rawlinson’. Steve completed his training in Cowes with George who is now head of Lifeboat Operations at the RNLI.

Steve and his wife Chris have three sons and their youngest son, Ioan, is following in his dad’s footsteps and now serves on the crew at Abersoch.

Steve was presented with a framed photograph of the crew with the lifeboat.

Notes to editors

· Abersoch Lifeboat Station has been operating for just over 150 years. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/abersoch-lifeboat-station

· The current B Class Atlantic 85 Lifeboat launches to a variety of both commercial and leisure craft call-outs

RNLI Picture Caption

Steve proudly showing his retirement gift from all the crew.

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