Donate now

Special award for Hunstanton lifeboat volunteer after 35 years of service

Lifeboats News Release

A long-serving lifeboat volunteer has been honoured by the charity that saves lives at sea. Brian Penty was presented with a framed certificate marking 35 years of service at Hunstanton RNLI on Sunday 1 September.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Brian Penty in front of the tractor at Hunstanton RNLI with his long-service award
Brian, now 63, joined the busy station in 1989. He went on to serve on both its inshore lifeboat and hovercraft, along with plant driving and being a casualty carer.

His certificate records the station saved 107 lives during his tenure.

Brian said: 'I enjoyed it, I really enjoyed it. I went on all the courses like tractor driving, I was on the hovercraft.

'It was the crew as well, they're all amazing people.'

He was first recruited by friend Victor Dade, a station stalwart who first signed up after Hunstanton was reopened in 1979 after a hiatus of almost 50 years and still drives its launch and recovery tractor.

'I've known Victor all my life, he's the one who got me into it in the first place,' he said.

'I saw him up the town one day and he said: You really ought to start coming down the lifeboat station Brian.'

Presenting Brian with his certificate before the crew gave him a round of applause, Launch Authority Paul Stewart said: 'Thank you for all you've done for the station over the years.

'Thirty-five years is a long time and a huge commitment to saving lives at sea.'

Notes to editors

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest lifeboat stations, operating both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

It covers The Wash, a tidal estuary fed by five main rivers of more than 100 square miles, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of those who give donations or leave legacies to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the RNLI and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.


RNLI/Chris Bishop

Brian Penty is presented with his long-service award by Paul Stewart, at Hunstanton lifeboat station

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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.

Categories