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And the winner is! In-house award for Margate lifeboatmen

Lifeboats News Release

Two volunteer crewmembers at Margate RNLI lifeboat station have won an in-house challenge involving five of the station’s newest recruits aimed at identifying who has made greatest progress in the previous 12 months.

L-R David Pike, Derek Amas (LOM), Morgan Dickerson (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

L-R David Pike, Derek Amas (LOM), Morgan Dickerson (RNLI Margate)

A donor who has supported the lifeboat station for some time hit on an idea to contribute in a slightly different way in memory of his wife Pauline Innocent. Recognising the commitment and effort lifeboat crews put into training, the donor offered to provide shopping vouchers for the volunteer from the latest batch of new recruits training as seagoing crewmembers who had made best progress, judged by their peers at the lifeboat station.

Experienced crewmembers were appointed mentors for the latest such recruits: Casey Buckenham, Morgan Dickerson, Jordon Newport, Greg Nocentini and David Pike. The five were helped with their training throughout the year and at the end of the period the mentors submitted reports to a panel of four station honorary officials who had the unenviable task of choosing the winner.

The candidates all received positive reports, their progress including being appointed to retained roles; particular efforts in fundraising and experiencing a particularly challenging service call where a life was saved. Despite much deliberation the panel was unable to separate two of the crew and it was agreed that Morgan Dickerson and David Pike should share the prize and they were presented with the vouchers on behalf of the donor recently by Lifeboat Operations Manager, Derek Amas. Following the presentation Morgan and David agreed that the vouchers should be spent on something to benefit the station as a whole.

Among David’s achievements was along with his partner Claire, raising funds taking part in the London Marathon and along with fellow crewmember Keith Patrick cycling 124 miles from Gravesend to Dungeness, visiting Kent’s nine lifeboat stations as part of the charity’s annual Reindeer Run fundraising event. His efforts also included practising rope work knots while on his daily rail commute to work in London, watched with interest by fellow commuters.

Eighteen-year-old Morgan is youngest of the five and his mentor’s comments included “Morgan has been eminently inquisitive about all aspects of his crew role” with his progress “at times unexpectedly impressive.” Morgan was thrown in at the deep end when (still 17 and a probationary crewmember) was involved in a particularly challenging service call involving resuscitation and evacuation by Coastguard helicopter of a rescued swimmer.

Derek Amas said: “There was very little between the five and it was difficult to choose the winner so sharing it seemed the fairest decision. An important consequence was where it encouraged those involved to achieve the high standards required and ultimately enhance the service we provide to help save lives at sea. We congratulate all involved including the mentors who contributed their own extra time helping the five, most of all of course we thank the donor who hit on the idea and made the challenge possible.”

Picture: L-R David Pike, Derek Amas (LOM), Morgan Dickerson (RNLI Margate)


Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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