Following an absence of two years, members of The Lizard Lifeboat crew, their families and lifeboat personnel were finally able to come together for a celebratory and medal presentation evening
With a full crew on standby should the pagers have sounded, Platinum Jubilee Medals and a long service award were presented by Adrian Carey, Head of South West Region and strategic leader at the RNLI to members of the crew and shore crew.
To mark her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, those operational RNLI station members who have given at least 5 or more years continuous RNLI service, received a commemorative medal. The medals were presented to Coxswain Dan Atkinson, Mechanic Ed Leckie, Second Coxswain Darren Thirlaway, Second Mechanic Johnny Bray, Third Mechanic Steve Tattersall, Third Mechanic Nick Tattersall, Navigator Adam Weston, Navigator Sam James, Crew Member Ed Bray, Crew Member Tom Mason, Crew Member Jacqui Dunmall, Lifeboat Operations Manager Ned Nuzum, Boathouse Manager Jeff Ashby, Head Launcher Derek Chapman, Assistant Head Launcher Mike Painton, Shore Crew Geoff Negus, and Shore Crew Steven Legge.
Congratulations also were paid to our former Head Launcher Jeff Ashby who in January 2022 achieved 40 years long and loyal service to The Lizard Lifeboat Station. Since joining The Lizard RNLI in 1982 Jeff has been in the roles of Shore Crew, Crew, Deputy Head Launcher and Head Launcher, a position he had held for 23 years until stepping aside and in to the role of Boathouse Manager at the end of last year. Jeff has worked alongside 5 Lizard Lifeboat Coxswains, Peter “Pan” Mitchell, Phil Burgess, Andrew Putt, Russ Craig and currently Dan Atkinson and he has no intention of stepping away from the station any time soon! Jeff was presented with his 40 Year Long Service medal and plans are in the offing for further long service personnel awards to be presented in the near future.
Having recently stepped down as Fundraising Chair, Jan Waring also received recognition of thanks for her time involved with the station. Huge thanks go to Nick Tattersall and his team for arranging such an enjoyable evening.
RNLI/Geoff Squibb
Jeff Ashby being presented with his 40 Year Long Service Medal by Adrian Carey
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.
