Retired firefighter Ken Gregg served as a plant driver at Hunstanton RNLI, on the Norfolk coast, for 10 years between 2009 and 2019.
He was part of the shore crew, who use the station's tractor to launch and recover its lifeboat
Spirit of West Norfolk.
Ken, now 69, retired from his RNLI duties in 2019. But the Covid pandemic and family events prevented him from collecting his award.
Hunstanton lifeboat operations manager Rigil Kent presented Ken's framed certificate at the boat house on Sunday, 19 November.
'Ken was a retired firefighter, so with his previous experience he fitted in well with the emergency environment,' he said.
'Ten years is a fantastic achievement, it's no mean feat.'
Plant operators are a key part of the team at Hunstanton, which is believed to be the first station in the country to use a tractor to launch its lifeboats after a century or so of using horses borrowed from local farmers during emergencies.
At low tide, the lifeboat needs to be towed across the sands on its rig to find sufficient depth to launch.
In rougher seas, the shore crew may use net recovery to return the vessel to its station afterwards.
Notes to editor
Hunstanton is one of the RNLI's busiest stations in Norfolk.
So far in 2023, its lifeboat and hovercraft have launched 27 times, with one life saved and 19 people aided.
RNLI media contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641.
RNLI/Chris Bishop
Plant drivers operate the tractor which launches and recovers the lifeboat at Hunstanton
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.