Dunbar RNLI mourns sad loss of dedicated volunteer Wendy
Dunbar’s lifeboat volunteers were saddened by the loss of their much respected colleague Wendy Badger who passed away this week, aged 71.
Before that, Wendy was well known for many years as practice manager in her husband Dr Tom Badger’s GP surgeries in the town. Wendy was also a devoted mum to her six children, Sam, 45, Jen, 44, Matt, 42, Becky, 38, and 36-year-old twins Andy and Olly, and her eleven grandchildren.
Born in London, Wendy originally trained as a nurse and midwife and met Dr Badger in 1978 in the army, while he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a captain in Germany and Northern Ireland.
They married in 1979 and in the same year moved to Dunbar when Tom answered a call for more doctors at a time when Torness Power Station was being constructed and there was a need for more medical provision due to the rise in town’s population. At first, they opened up a small practice in a basement in the High Street and lived above the surgery for many years.
Over the years, they were instrumental in developing more modern medical centres, first on Abbey Road, where the practice moved in 1985, then when the surgery moved to what would become the current Dunbar Medical Centre on Queen's Road in 2001.
Dr Badger had been the much valued lifeboat station doctor for Dunbar RNLI for 25 years and, after his sad passing in 2010 aged 59, Wendy also began volunteering for the charity that saves at sea.
Her daughter Jen said: ‘The RNLI was important to Mum and Dad. Even before Dad was the lifeboat doctor, we would attend every “Lifeboat Day” growing up, so it was always something Mum was very passionate about and supported. Mum’s main focus, however, was always her children and her grandchildren, who she adored and were a big part of her life.’
Dunbar RNLI shop managers Ken and Marie Headley said: ‘Wendy was a shop volunteer for 12 years, working in both the harbour and High Street shops. She was a great support to both of us and will be greatly missed by us and all her friends and colleagues.’
Dunbar RNLI Fundraising Committee chair Veronica Davies said: ‘The fundraising committee is saddened to hear that Wendy has passed away. We send our sincere condolences to all of Wendy’s family and friends. As box secretary, Wendy was responsible for coordinating the emptying and counting of the many collection boxes in and around Dunbar, which is a vital role bringing in much needed funds for Dunbar RNLI.’
A private burial will be followed by a Celebration of Life at Belhaven Church, Dunbar, on Tuesday 21 April at 11.30am to which all friends are invited. Family flowers only please, however if desired donations in aid of RNLI Dunbar may be given on retiral from church. No dark colours to be worn please.
Notes to editors
· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.
· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.
· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.
· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.
RNLI media contacts
Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Alexander Williams, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office (available 24 hours) 01202 336789 [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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