RNLI volunteer honoured by Burnham-on-Sea town Council
Volunteer Scott Rundle has been a helmsman at Burnham-on-Sea since December 2003, and previously at local rescue organisation Burnham Area Rescue Boat (Now BARB search and Rescue) for ten years. Last year he was presented with his 30 year long service medal. Scott also serves as Launch Authority
On Tuesday 18 March, at a special civic awards ceremony, in the Princess theatre and arts centre, Scott was presented with his award, by Mayor Cllr Sharon Perry and Somerset High Sheriff Rob Beckley, for dedication in saving lives at sea. Scott is well liked and respected by his fellow crew members, and always available to help and assist when required. Other community minded local residents were also presented with civic awards at the same ceremony. Scott’s citation is detailed in Notes for Editors below.
Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Operations Matt Davies comments; ‘It was a great honour to attend the council’s annual Civic Awards presentation evening to see Scott receive his award. Scott has been a member of the lifeboat team in Burnham for over 30 years now, and as a Helmsman and launch authority is now helping to pass his years of experience on to other crew
Notes for Editors – Council citation
“Scott has been helping to save lives at sea since 1994 when he started with BARB, moving over to the RNLI when the station first opened in 2003. In 2023 he received his 30 year service medal from the RNLI, a celebration of outstanding service.”
“Scott currently holds roles as both a helmsman and as Launch Authority. Launch Authority means he is responsible for contacting the Coastguard to understand the task the crew have been called to, and for getting the boats and crew launched and away, quite a responsibility when lives are at stake.”
“For over half of his service, Scott has been a valuable member of the Lifeboats Operational Management Team. In this role he is helping to support the Operations Manager, ensuring the smooth overall running of the station, the building and its contents, as well as the training of the crew and the operational readiness of both the towns inshore Lifeboats.”
“Scott has been, and continues to be, an outstanding member of the RNLI and local community, selflessly training and launching boats whenever needed to save lives at sea. Over the past 20 years of RNLI service Scott has achieved the following: Hours at sea on exercise: 1,130, Launched on exercise: 415 times, Hours at sea on service: 176 including 73 launches, People aided: 62 and Lives saved: 7.”
“During his time at the RNLI he has also acted as a mentor to both trainee crew and existing crew, always offering support. As Scott trains crew under his command they gain valuable experience from his hours spent at sea, and his knowledge of the local area, the unpredictable tides and the weather.”
“For this reason I would like to present Scott with the individual award for ‘Help and Support within the Community’.”
RNLI Lifeboats at Burnham-on-Sea
A 8.5m Atlantic 85 named Doris Day and Brian plus a smaller 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable named Burnham Reach The station was opened officially on 15th May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mike Lang, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station on 07889 815860 or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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