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Treasured Cromer RNLI volunteer Tony Webster passes away

Lifeboats News Release

The passing of Tony Webster is a sad loss to his family and all at Cromer RNLI.

Peggy Webster

Tony Webster, President and Past Chairman of Cromer RNLI

Tony Webster, President and Past Chairman of Cromer RNLI, sadly passed away peacefully on 24 October 2024. Tony had been Chairman of Cromer RNLI for 36 years and President for the past seven years.

Tony was a well known figure in the local community. He was born in Norwich and together with his wife of 58 years Peggy they raised three sons in Cromer. He was involved with the Town Council for many years and enjoyed two impressive careers.

He was in the Royal Corps of Transport for 20 years, enjoying postings in the Far East, America and Germany before leaving in 1978 as a Lieutenant-Colonel, and returning to Cromer. Tony's second career was as a teacher at Beeston Hall School. Within a year, he was appointed Deputy Headmaster, serving the school for 20 years.

During his time at Cromer RNLI Tony oversaw two naming ceremonies of the all-weather lifeboats Arthur and Ruby Reed II attended by the Duke of Kent in 1986, and in 2008 the naming of the current lifeboat - Lester. Tony presided over numerous inshore lifeboat ceremonies, and many other Cromer RNLI events during his time as a volunteer.

Tony also, alongside his wife Peggy, of the Cromer RNLI Ladies Guild, emptied the collection boxes at the two lifeboat stations and Henry Blogg Museum, counted and banked over £600,000 over 36 years.

Tony liaised with the late Peter Cadbury to achieve the return of the H.F. Bailey which was Henry Blogg’s lifeboat in Cromer during the war years. This for many years was the key attraction in the Henry Blogg museum, where it will return in 2025 once the museum reopens.

During Tony’s presidential role he had continued to promote the work of the Charity that saves lives at sea and in particular the work of the volunteers at Cromer RNLI.

Derek Hinds, past chairman Cromer RNLI said ‘Tony was an outstanding Chairman and President; he was an excellent volunteer and was held in high esteem by all at Cromer RNLI station for his dedication and commitment over 43 years. It was a privilege to have known him and worked with him. Our thoughts are very much with Peggy his wife and his family at this very sad time.’

John Redmond, volunteer lifeboat operations manager at Cromer RNLI said: ‘ It was a privilege to have known Tony and his hard work and support of Cromer RNLI for the last 43 years will never be forgotten.’

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please contact Clare Stagg, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]

Key facts about Cromer RNLI

The Cromer Lifeboat Station was established in 1804 and was not taken over by the Institution from the Norfolk Shipwreck Association until 1857. Since 1923 there have been two lifeboats at Cromer, and currently there is a D Class inshore boat and Tamar all-weather lifeboat. The outstanding figure in the history of Cromer is Henry George Blogg who became a member of the Cromer crew in 1894 at the age of 18. He was coxswain from 1909-1947. During his 53 years as a lifeboat crew member, the Cromer lifeboats had been on service 387 times and rescued 873 lives. His record is without equal in the history of the Institution. No lifeboat crew member has received so many decorations for gallantry.


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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.

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