Donate now

Geoff Parry deliverer of over 400 talks for Whitstable RNLI passes away

Lifeboats News Release

The crew and volunteers at Whitstable Lifeboat Station have been further saddened to hear of the passing of Geoffrey Parry a former station visits officer on 14th November a few days short of his 92nd birthday.

Geoff Parry former Whitstable Lifeboat Education and Visits Officer who passed away on 14th November.

RNLI/Chris Davey

Geoff Parry former Whitstable Lifeboat Education and Visits Officer who passed away on 14th November
Geoff was born in South London in 1929, and spent most of his working life in the banking sector.

On his retirement, he moved to Whitstable with his second wife Mary. He had always been a keen supporter of the RNLI, and as his son Dave was a member of the lifeboat crew, Geoff took the opportunity to volunteer for the fundraising branch, initially helping in the souvenir shop, then as a speaker.

Over his years of volunteering, he gave over 400 talks, both to adult groups, and to school and youth groups. For many years he was the station's Visits Officer a role to which he was appointed by Larry Lamberton who himself passed away two days later.

He was awarded the RNLI Silver Badge in 2011 in recognition of his service.

Outside the RNLI, he was a regular worshipper at All Saints’ Church, and a past president of Whitstable Rotary and Probus Clubs.

Mary died in 2016, and Geoff is survived by his two sons, five grandaughters and two great-grandsons.

Whitstable Lifeboat Education and Visits Officer David Hayward said "Whitstable was already well established as a good and busy school and group visits Lifeboat Station in 1995 under Geoff's reign as the Lifeboat Visits Officer - a period which lasted until 2009, when the 'baton' was passed on to me. As his successor in that role he ensured that I was well briefed by observing some of his last visits and, since then, the Visits Team and I have just tried to build even further on the great work he'd previously been carrying out."

His Funeral will be held on Monday 6th December at 12 noon at All Saints'Church, Whitstable.



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