Dart RNLI volunteer honoured by special award
RNLI volunteer Rich Eggleton has relived the moment he was given a surprise award during the opening of Dart’s new lifeboat station.
Helm Rich was one of the crew selected to meet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who were touring the new station after the official ceremony on April 16.
It was at that point that Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, a Vice President of the RNLI, presented Rich with a long-service award to mark his 20 years with the charity, something that had been planned in secret.
‘It’s such an honour to be part of the Dart RNLI team and it was a very proud moment for me and my family,’ said Rich.
‘I thought something might be going on but the award came out of the blue, and was such a great surprise.
‘I have loved being a volunteer from the outset. A special day for all of us and a real milestone.’
Rich joined the RNLI in 2006, initially volunteering at the Tower Lifeboat Station in London, before relocating and joining Dart in 2011.
A marine pilot in Dartmouth and Plymouth, and managing director of Marine Plant Hire UK, Rich is a helm at Dart, and also a crew volunteer at Plymouth RNLI.
In those two decades, he has been involved in 240 shouts, saved seven lives, and aided 309 people.
‘It has never been dull and I’ve loved being involved, added Rich.
‘There have been some standouts – rescuing some kayakers from really rough seas in 2022 when we were right at the limit was one.
‘And volunteering at Weymouth during the 2012 Olympic Games was another high point.
‘But generally, like the rest of the crew on and off the boats, it feels a privilege to be part of the RNLI and all the good work it does helping to save lives at sea.’
The opening of the new lifeboat station at Ferry View House was where the original station was built in the 1800s.
The building has undergone extensive renovation and now includes a purpose-built boat hall to house the station’s D class lifeboat.
The building is a significant upgrade from the previous station at Coronation Park, where space was very limited for the 33-strong volunteer seagoing crew, shore crew and other volunteers to operate from.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Dominic Hart, Dart RNLI press officer, on 07767 764 144 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or at [email protected].
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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
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.