Looe brothers awarded RNLI long service medals

During his recent visit to RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station on Sunday 6 April 2025, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho presented RNLI, 20 year, long service medals to brothers Clive and Del Palfrey.

Back in 2002 Looe brothers Clive and Del Palfrey were working as net riggers amongst the fishing community on East Looe Quay and both were acutely aware of how dangerous an occupation fishing is. Clive recalls being asked if he would like to join the lifeboat crew as the Albatross boathouse was being built for the arrival of an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat. Del takes up the story saying his brother mentioned the RNLI were looking for volunteers to drive the Talus launch tractor. This specialised equipment is used to launch the larger Atlantic B class inshore lifeboats and as he was local to the station and wanting to help the community he also volunteered. Clive and Del have remained volunteers with the station and in recognition of their 20+ year service to the community and RNLI, they have been awarded, 20 year, long service medals.

Today, Clive is one of the station’s senior helms and has recently taken on the role of the station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, he still works in the fishing industry as a safety advisor and back in April 2018 he received the Pirate FM Cornish Coastal Rescue award for his work as the project lead in the design and implementation of the #wearitforthem life jacket project. Led by Plymouth City Council, the project’s objectives are ‘to reduce the number of fishermen’s lives lost at sea, by providing lifesaving equipment with inbuilt locator beacons so fishing crews will be safer at sea’. Clive is delighted this initiative has continued through other councils and organisations, and they have now provided over 1,000 lifejackets to fishermen in the west country.

Del continues to drive the Talus launch tractor, which has been upgraded over the years and now launches the larger Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat. When not driving the launch tractors, Del can be found at the station in his Head Launcher or Shore crew roles, passing on his knowledge to new volunteers.

Both Clive and Del are proud that the Palfrey family’s involvement with the RNLI has passed down to the next generation, with Clive’s daughter, Del’s niece, Amber, volunteering as boat crew a couple of years ago.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Del and Clive Palfrey with the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho
Left to Right Del Palfrey, Councillor Pauline Giles Chaiman of Cornwall Council, David Haines BEM, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, Clive Palfrey
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· ( img 7700 ) Clive Palfrey receiving his 20 year medal from the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· ( img 7702 ) Del Palfrey receiving his 20 year medal from the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Del Palfrey, Amber Palfrey and Clive Palfrey standing next to the charity’s inshore lifeboats
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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, X, TikTok 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.