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Large turnout at funeral of serving Lytham St Annes RNLI lifeboat crew member

Lifeboats News Release

Family, friends and RNLI colleagues celebrate the life of Josh Willder.

A crew member in RNLI yellow jacket looks at the camera

RNLI/Nigel Millard

The late Josh Willard

Over 250 people assembled at the Lytham St Annes All-weather Lifeboat House on South Promenade on the Friday 11 October 2024 to remember Josh, who died far too early aged just 26. A procession formed on St Annes Road East, outside the Lord Derby. It proceeded along South Promenade to the Lifeboat House led by an RNLI Colour Party, the station’s Land Rover towing the Inshore Lifeboat containing the flag draped coffin, followed by family and friends and the volunteer lifeboat Crew.

At the back came the local Fire Engine and crew. The Lytham St Annes Coastguard helped close the road while the procession passed and Fylde Council provided staff to assist with this as well as free car parking for attendees. This all showed the high esteem Josh was held with in the community.

The service at the Boathouse was conducted by the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Chaplain, Reverend Ric Oldland, a former crew member of the all-weather lifeboat. The ceremony included a eulogy by Staff Coxswain / Mechanic Martin Jaggs MBE, and was attended by staff and volunteers from other stations and members of the RNLI Regional Team.

A service was then held for the family and close friends at the Lytham Hall Park Cemetery Chapel.

Josh joined the Crew in 2019 and was a valued and highly respected member. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was always willing to lend a hand when needed and was a friend to all his colleagues in the RNLI. He had been expected to pass-out shortly as a mechanic for the all-weather lifeboat Barbara Anne, and had been training hard to achieve this.

The RNLI have been very supportive throughout this sad time for all at the Lytham St Annes Station and to Josh’s family, which includes his five year-old daughter. The Lytham St Annes Station’s condolences go to his family and friends.

The RNLI ensign is carried by a crewmember flanked by two others

David Forshaw/RNLI

The RNLI Colour Party lead the funeral procession
A funeral procession of an RNLI Land Rover and ILB with many people following

David Forshaw/RNLI

The funeral procession
A group of RNLI Crew Members walk past in procession

David Forshaw/RNLI

Lifeboat Crew Members from Lytham St Annes and other stations

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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