Port Talbot RNLI volunteers receive Jubilee medals and long service awards

The volunteer crew at Port Talbot were awarded the medals in honour of the RNLI’s Patron Her Majesty the Queen. Together the crew have amassed 174,955 days of service between them.

In a special event at RNLI Port Talbot Lifeboat Station on Thursday 30 June, Mrs Louise Fleet CStJ JP, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, presented 12 medals and 5 Long service awards including a special award to John Lewis for 61 years of service.

John was an original Lifeboat Crew member who continued volunteering in the capacity of Fundraiser and Secretary of the RNLI boat collection boxes.

Port Talbot RNLI volunteers to receive the Platinum Jubilee Medal are:

Barry Ceri Jeffreys, Ronald Jones, Rachel Ann Thomas, Paul Skinner, James Jennings, Spencer Davies, Rebecca Owen, Dean Fyfield, Robert Owen, Haydn Gardner, Gary Owen, Carl Matthews, Leon Murphy, Kyle James, Nerys Lloyd and David Jones.

Port Talbot RNLI volunteers to receive Long Service awards are:

Pamela Spender, Sharon Thomas, Julie Morley, William Cooper, Susan Uren, Christine Dyer,John Lewis, Leigh Worth and Philip Jones (Posthumously)

Ceri Jeffreys Deputy Launch Authority said; ‘We do what we do for the good of the community, saving lives at sea is the only reward we seek, so the medal is a reward for the entire team of volunteers at Port Talbot RNLI that give up their time 24/7’

As part of the Jubilee celebrations nearly 4500 Platinum Jubilee awards have been conferred to the RNLI and other emergency service volunteers.

Other awards given on the night went to Steve Summefield for 30 years service with the CoastGuard, Sea Cadets and the RNLI and two 18 year certificates for fundraisers Robert and Susan Collier.

On this special night celebrating achievement a special plaque was dedicated to the Spender Family in recognition of over 10 years active service of the D Class inshore lifeboat- D-713 Nigel Martin Spender.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Kirstee David, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07947747531 or Claire Elshaw, Regional Media Officer on 07468353082 or [email protected] or contact the 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.

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.