Dungeness RNLI mourns loss of beloved volunteer, Judith Richardson BEM
The lifeboat station flag was lowered to half-staff on Thursday 20 February 2025, following the passing of Judith Richardson BEM - a dedicated, long-serving volunteer at Dungeness RNLI lifeboat station.
Judith leaves two sons, both long-serving coxswains at Dungeness Lifeboat Station, and a large loving family. As well as this, her family extends to all volunteers at RNLI Dungeness, where Judith dedicated her life to helping the cause of saving lives at sea and where she was a matriarch of the station.
In 2023, Judith was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of 56 years of service to charity. She began her volunteer role at the age of 20 as a ‘Lady Launcher’.
The ‘Lady Launchers’ were predominantly the wives and female family members of the lifeboat crew and were responsible for launching and recovering the lifeboat in all weathers while their husbands went to sea. Judith featured in a BBC documentary in the 1970s which can be viewed here:
https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/2454290197918710/
Judith’s husband William was crew and then coxswain until he retired in 1998. On William’s retirement, both Judith and William began volunteer sea safety roles and spent their weekends and summer holidays taking out the RNLI Sea Safety Road Show.
They would visit marinas, fishing ports and harbours to talk about safety and facilitate boat checks, lifejacket clinics and flare demonstrations. Their travels took them all over the country as popular ambassadors for the RNLI, engaging with thousands of adults and school groups.
In 2006, Judith took on the role of Lifeboat Press Officer. This was a new role for the RNLI and having never been one to shy away from embracing new technology, she was one of the first LPOs to undertake training. She was always keen and willing to pass on her wealth of experience to others in the region and she took great pride in teaching younger volunteers, always looking ahead for the children of the future.
Regional Communications Lead, Julie Rainey said:
‘Judith was one of the first volunteers I worked with when I joined the RNLI, and I will always be grateful for her generosity with her knowledge, her calm steer and her warm welcome at the station. We owe her a great debt for her work in developing the volunteer press officer role and I will miss my conversations with her very much.’
In 2014, Dungeness was the first lifeboat station to receive the new Shannon class lifeboat, and it was under Judith’s leadership that the build, crew training and naming ceremony of The Morrell by HRH The Princess Royal, was publicised to the media.
At a time when social media channels were relatively new, she captivated the station’s followers with photos and progress reports of the journey from factory to Dungeness. She was wholly committed and always on hand, no matter the time of day or night, to answer media-related calls.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Vicky Morgan, says:
‘From day one, 56 years ago, Judith immersed herself in RNLI life with complete dedication to the charity’s cause and to each individual she met along the way. She had a passion for the camaraderie of station life and the importance of the extended family of Dungeness RNLI and that never faltered.
She will be so sadly missed by all of us. The station will not be the same but what a fantastic life she led, and her legacy is something to be admired by the next generation of lifesavers.’
Details of the funeral to be confirmed.
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.