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Margate RNLI lifeboat crew members receive the King’s Coronation Medal

Lifeboats News Release

Fourteen members of Margate RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew have been presented with the King’s Coronation Medal by the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain.

Margate RNLI lifeboat crew Coronation Medal presentation 06.11.24

RNLI Margate

Margate RNLI lifeboat crew Coronation Medal presentation

It was a special evening for the crew of Margate’s two RNLI lifeboats on Wednesday (6 November) when in place of their usual twice-weekly training session, The Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenant of Kent was welcomed to the station by Lifeboat Operations Manager Derek Amas to formally present the medals to those who were members of the lifeboat crew with five years of service at the time of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023.

The UK has issued over 400,000 coronation medals to individuals including frontline emergency workers and as the county’s official representative of His Majesty The King it was an honour for the station to welcome The Lady Colgrain to present the medals.

Fifteen members in total were in receipt of the commemorative medal (one recipient was on life-saving duties at Gravesend lifeboat station) and for those who were able to attend it was a memorable occasion. The families, who support them carrying out their voluntary life-saving work along with members of the fundraising and shop teams were also present to witness what was very much a ‘One Crew’ lifeboat community and family occasion.

Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Margate RNLI said: “This really was a special occasion for the station and it was an honour that The Lady Colgrain, the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent agreed to present the medals. King Charles is the RNLI’s patron and we are proud of our royal connections having previously welcomed Queen Elizabeth II on an official visit to the station in 2011.”

Photo: L-R: Phil Gore, Andy Welch, Stuart Cattell, Christian Wright (Launch Authority), Andy Buck, Sam Peterkin, The Lady Colgrain (Lord-Lieutenant of Kent), Derek Amas (Lifeboat Operations Manager), Guy Addington, Chris Andrews, Joel Goodwin, Keith Patrick, Rob Stringer, Linda Cox, Chris Snelson, (not present Connor Edwards).

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

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For more information please contact:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

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· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

The Lady Colgrain, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent signs the station's visitor book (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

The Lady Colgrain, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent signs the station's visitor book (RNLI Margate)
The King's Coronation Medals (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

The King's Coronation Medals (RNLI Margate)

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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