Plymouth RNLI lifeboat volunteers receive Kings Coronation Medals
On Monday 4th November, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth attended Plymouth Lifeboat Station to present the King Charles III Coronation Medal to operational volunteers.
The commemorative medals were created to honour the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, that took place on 6 May 2023. As well as the Armed Forces, the medal was awarded to emergency service personnel, such as the RNLI, who had completed five years continuous service and were in service at the time of the coronation.
Coronation medals were presented to 4,500 frontline RNLI volunteers and staff, with Plymouth RNLI volunteers receiving nine for volunteers which had five years continuous service. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth Cllr Tina Tuohy presented medals to eight of the volunteers at the station.
The double portrait of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the front of the newly unveiled Coronation Medal was designed by Martin Jennings who also designed the official effigy of The King for the new coins issued by the Royal Mint. The tradition of Coronation Medals dates to the reign of King James I when the first Medal was awarded in 1603.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Westall said: “We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor to our station to present our proud volunteers with their well-deserved Kings Medals for continuous service."
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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