Dover RNLI crew awarded 23 Platinum Jubilee medals to mark 307 volunteer years
Dover RNLI crew awarded 23 Platinum Jubilee medals to mark 307 volunteer years
Lifeboats News Release
With 307 years of cumulative lifesaving experience, the Dover RNLI volunteer crew were delighted to have their actions recognised with 23 Platinum Jubilee medals in honour of the RNLI’s Patron, HM the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
RNLI/Nic Cobb
Some of the volunteers at Dover Lifeboat Station with their Platinum Jubilee Medals
Covering the busiest shipping lane in the world, the Dover RNLI crew undertake scores of shouts a year to vessels in distress in the English Channel and as one of the busiest stations in the country, the crew were delighted to have their efforts recognised as part of the once in a lifetime celebrations with the commemorative Jubilee medal.
Simon Moore, Dover RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager said:
‘With 307 years of cumulative lifesaving experience here at Dover, we are delighted to commemorate the hard work of our volunteer crew. It is a great honour to receive such a recognition on this scale and is testimony to the hard work, grit and determination of our crew who venture out in all weathers and times to help save lives at sea’.
As one of only eight lifeboat stations in the country to do so, the Dover RNLI crew were also selected to kick off the Jubilee celebrations with the lighting of an official jubilee beacon. The lighting was undertaken by the veteran coxswain & boathouse manager, Tony Hawkins MBE at 9.45pm on the first day of the Jubilee celebrations. In addition to the awarding of multiple medals and the lighting of the beacon, Dover’s Severn Class City of London II also took part in the Dover Harbour Jubilee maritime pageant.
As part of the Jubilee celebrations nearly 4500 Platinum Jubilee awards have been conferred to RNLI and other emergency service volunteers, retained and paid staff in recognition of their service with those with five years or more service eligible. A formal awards ceremony will take place in the very near future.
RNLI Media contacts
• Nic Cobb, Dover Lifeboat Station volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (07541) 350439 [email protected]
• Andy Milton Dover Lifeboat Station volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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.
