Tributes have been paid to the backbone of the RNLI in West Cumbria Bob McLaughlin, who has died aged 89.
Bob, of Whitehaven, spent over six decades volunteering with the charity – following in his grandfather’s footsteps who was a member of Whitehaven RNLI in 1925.
Bob helped found St Bees RNLI and was a senior helmsman for a number of years and was a leading member of Whitehaven Coastguard for many years.
A major supporter of Whitehaven RNLI fundraisers since 1985, he was appointed life president in recognition of his work.
He was operations manager at Workington from 1995 until 2006 when he retired and in 2016, was given one of the highest awards from the RNLI when he was named an honorary life governor of the RNLI – given to only a handful of people each year nationally.
This followed a British Empire Medal in 1988, plus numerous other honours and titles, including, in 2022, recognition for 60 years of volunteering for the RNLI.
Tim Chittenden, operations manager at Workington today, said: “Bob was deeply engrained in the body and soul of the Cumbrian lifeboats, we owe him a great debt of gratitude. His memory will become a legend.”
John Stobbart, of Workington RNLI, said: “I have had the privilege of being around Bob for many years and seen most sides of this unique gentleman – from a caring family man to the roughness of an old sea dog.
“But with that roughness came a passion for people and knowing what was right and wrong then trying to get the best outcome from what you have to work with.
“He will be a great miss to many of those who knew the man.”
Workington RNLI fundraisers said: “Bob was a great friend and supporter of the fundraisers. He regularly came to see us on the Wednesday weekly market stall. The last time we saw him there he was picking up mugs for his family and asking about the fish supper as he was hoping to be well enough to come. He liked his fish and chip suppers! He will be sadly missed by us all. Loved and respected by all of us.”
The crew of Workington RNLI said: “A legend to us all, his knowledge of the charity was unsurpassed and his passion boundless.
“He had so many stories about the RNLI and so much knowledge, he will be deeply missed by us all. It truly is the end of an era and we all deeply saddened. Fair winds and following seas, Bob.”
One of Bob’s favourite anecdotes was a visit from royalty that almost went wrong.
He said: “We were tasked with picking up the Duke of Kent from Kirkcudbrightshire. In those days, we wore oilskins and his oilskins were delivered to us, with a full police escort a few days before and had to be guarded in the station.
“We were on our way to pick him up – and it was a very tight schedule – when we realised we hadn’t brought the oilskins. We had to do a quick dress inspection on board and put together the best we had for him. I don’t think anyone noticed.”
He was Workington RNLI’s unofficial archivist and over the years, took thousands of photos of all the vessels he had volunteered on – from the first Watson class, retired in 1991 after 110 years in service to today’s Shannons; the most technological of the crafts.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the RNLI and during a Blue Light Day, organised by the charity at Whitehaven Harbour earlier this year, he curated an exhibition at the Beacon of the RNLI’s history in the area.
The last event he attended was the Coasts to Cobbles relay last month at Whitehaven.
He leaves his daughter Louise and son-in-law Tiziano and two grandchildren Francesco and Valerio.
His funeral will be held on Friday, October 25, at St Begh’s Church, Whitehaven, at 11am.
