Happisburgh RNLI One Crew held their Christmas dinner and awards presentation

The Service Award was given to the whole crew and everyone involved for a rescue last summer.

The rescue occurred on 5 July 2025, when HM Coastguard informed the launch authority that they had received reports of a kayak drifting out to sea with one person on board off Walcott Sea front. The person onboard was believed to suffer from diabetes.

The crew arrived at the station and the Russell Pickering, our D-Class lifeboat, was made ready for action. At 12.25pm she was in the water with Chris Risby as helm and Peter Walker and Ellis Speirs as crew; they made their way to Walcott at best speed and soon spotted the kayak in the distance.

When they came alongside the kayak it was over half a mile off the coast ,they found the person on board unresponsive and started to assess the casualty and carried out treatment. They called for an ambulance to meet them at Walcott ramp and the crew made best speed again to return to the beach. The Coastguard team from Bacton were there, ready to assist with treatment until the ambulance arrived, then they helped to transfer the casualty into the care of the ambulance service.

Once the casualty was handed over, the crew returned to station to clean and refuel the lifeboat ready for service again.

The crew and all involved in this rescue were presented with certificate and presented with the Station Service award. Chris Risby said ’I was very pleased with how my crew worked so well together on this callout. The casualty had done all the right things by wearing a personal floatation device, had means of calling for help plus someone was aware of where she was and they called for help.’

The Kelvin Baker Achievement award, went to Simon Tibble who is the station’s visits officer. Simon took on this role in July 2024 with the opening of our visits centre at the station. He and his team have organised open days as well as visits to the station by groups and having the centre open throughout the year for visitors to pop in and get the history of the station and the RNLI.

The station also joined the National Trust’s heritage open day festival programme. Our station offered 7 events over the 10-day festival. The stand out event during that week was the “Audience with the Crew” evening.

Simon said ‘I will never forget the buzz of excitement just before the event started, and the feeling of well-being right across the station after the evening wrapped up. We managed to get local TV personality David Whiteley to come and host the evening for us, and I enjoyed the experience.’

On the 13 December the station held a festive celebration, with over 100 people attending the night of singing.

Two RNLI Volunteer Excellence awards were also given out. One for all the crew in the shop for all their hard work throughout the year, keeping the shop open most days.

The second went to Rachael Kirkham, the station's operations manager for her help and support in fundraising at the station.

The Operation Achievement award went to Alix Symonds, one of the station’s head launchers, for her hard work in helping the station run so smoothly. Alix passed out as head launcher earlier in the year, overseeing the launch and recovery of the lifeboat.

The Unsung Hero award, went to Joy Fuller, one of the shop Volunteers, who is also into crafting and makes so many gifts to be sold for the RNLI. Joy said “Getting this award was a huge surprise. I feel lucky that I can join my love of crafting with raising much needed funds.’

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the event.

RNLI media contacts

· Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer PHILIP SMITH

Mobile 07766007936 E-mail [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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