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Troon RNLI celebrates long service awards

Lifeboats News Release

RNLI Long Service Awards recognise the commitment and service of volunteers who have been helping to save lives at sea over many decades. Throughout the year, we present medals and clasps to those who have reached significant milestones within the RNLI.

RNLI/TroonLifeboat

Retired Troon RNLI Coxswain Ian Johnson
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During our recent naming ceremony, and at events earlier in the year, we were honoured to present representatives of the station for their dedication to the RNLI.

Reaching a very noteworthy milestone of 60 years’ service with the RNLI was retired Troon lifeboat Coxswain Ian Johnson who was presented with a clasp for his long service medal by Head of Region Jill Hepburn.

Ian started his RNLI service in Troon in 1965 on the 42’ Watson class James and Barbara Aitken. As assistant mechanic he brought the 44’ Waveney class Connel Elizabeth Cargill to Troon before joining the RNLI as full time engineer joining the trails evaluation team taking lifeboats on extended trials from the Channel Islands to Shetland.

In 1978 he was appointed as Coxswain / Mechanic at Portpatrick and later held this position in Troon from 1979 to 2002 overseeing the operational running of the station and the arrival of the Arun class lifeboat City of Glasgow III.

After this until 2007, he became Assessor / Trainer for the RNLI in Scotland before taking on the role of Deputy Launching Authority at Troon until 2017.

Standing down from operational duties in 2017, Ian then took on the role of Troon Lifeboat Community Curator preserving the history of the station for futures generations. He held this role until his retirement earlier this year and in doing so completing his 60 years with the RNLI.

During Ian’s RNLI Career at Troon and Portpatrick lifeboat stations, in 1980 he was presented with the RNLI Silver Medal for his courage, leadership and fine seamanship and involved in saving 312 lives along with a further 12 lives when on lifeboat trials or station relief duties.

Also, during the naming ceremony, volunteer crewmember Lorne McCallum received his badge for 30 years’ service to the RNLI in Troon from retired Coxswain Joe Millar. Lorne has been a valued crewmember on now 3 all-weather lifeboats from the Arun class, to the Trent RNLB Jim Moffat and the current Shannon class lifeboat RNLB Roy Barker VI.

Earlier in the year after retiring from the RNLI, Gary Pringle received an award for 35 years’ service to both Troon and Tower lifeboat stations, former crewmember and current Troon lifeboat chairman Walter Barr received his 30-year award while Vince McWhirter was awarded for his 20 years as a volunteer on the lifeboat crew and RNLI Water Safety Officer.

Troon RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Jim Redmond said, ‘Throughout the year, we have presented current and retired crewmembers with awards for their dedicated volunteering.

‘To reach any of these milestones is particularly impressive but Ian’s 60 years with the RNLI is a fantastic achievement, and it has been a privilege for all of us to have volunteered alongside him.

'The RNLI long service awards are a tribute to the dedication of our long standing volunteers and their families. We are grateful for their time and effort as we are with all of our volunteers.'

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.

About the author

Andrew Limond
Lifeboat Press Officer, Troon Lifeboat Station

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