Workington RNLI volunteers who dedicate their spare time to help save lives at sea have been recognised for their service.
Twenty-two members who have served longer than five years in the RNLI were among 4,500 nationally to be awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals.
They were presented to crew at a ceremony in Workington at the weekend by Cumbria’s Lord Lieutentant Claire Hensman.
Mrs Hensman is a representative of the Queen.
She said: “It is an honour to present these medals to these wonderful volunteers. I thank you all for being on the frontline.
“It’s a major commitment that you give and you put your lives on the line when you go out to sea. Thank you all so much for everything you do for strangers – you don’t know who you are going to pick up at sea.”
Those receiving medals were deputy launching authorities William McQuire, Garry Lawson and John Thompson; Coxswain John Stobbart; Stephen McAllister, deputy second coxswain; Richard Glynn, station mechanic; Michael Cowling, second mechanic; Alun James, shore crew plant operator; Peter Hall, plant operator; Steven Wood, deputy second coxswain and mechanic; Ian Cormac and Graeme Lawson, deputy second coxswain and inshore lifeboat helms; Stephen Howard, Josh Reid and Stuart Fawcett, inshore lifeboat helms and navigators; Tim Chittenden, lifeboat operations manager and crew members Joseph Birkett, Tom Ditchburn, Michael Shepherd, Martin Gilmore, Lee Moore, Pat Carr and Lee Hallam.
Long service awards were also presented to Mr Thompson, for 30 years’ service and Mr Ditchburn and Mr Birkett for 20 years’ service.
Mr Chittenden said: “The RNLI as a whole has saved 69,212 lives during the Queen’s reign.
“Our volunteers and staff work tirelessly to deliver the RNLI’s essential life-saving services and this was a lovely and fitting way to acknowledge their commitment.”
The RNLI is a charity and relies on donations to run.
Mr Chittenden added: “Although the medals were for our serving crew, we wouldn’t be able to carry on saving lives at sea without the support of our fundraisers – who are as much as part of the crew as our volunteers who are called out.
“Without their unflinching work – and the support of the communities across West Cumbria, we could not offer the service we do. We are truly grateful.”
Workington’s first lifeboat station opened in 1886 at the request of townsfolk following the sinking of the Margaret the year before. It closed in 1905.
The present station, on the Port of Workington, opened in 1948.
