Joel Grunnill (r.) retired as second coxswain of Skegness lifeboat in October after 45 years of service with the station. Among other presentations, he received a statuette of the famous Skegness Jolly Fisherman, a local honour only accorded to a few. Since 1825, when a pulling lifeboat was first sent to Skegness by the RNLI, there has always been a member of the Grunnill family in the crew.

Joel is the last of the line.

photograph by courtesy of Ben Hardaker.