Richard Evans BEM: a legendary lifeboatman It is with great sadness that theLifeboat reports the death of Richard Evans, aged 96, coxswain of Moelfre lifeboat from 1954 to 1970 and holder of two RNLl Gold Medals.

As well as being only the fifth man in history to win two Gold Medals, he was also awarded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum in 1940, the Bronze Medal in 1943, HM The Queen's Silver Medal for gallantry at sea in 1960 and the British Empire Medal in 1969 In 1975 he was made Honorary Fellow at Manchester Polytechnic and in 1978. Honorary Bard, National Eisteddfod.

Dick was introduced to the sea by his grandfather, also a lifeboatman. In 1921, aged 16, he was taken on as a member of the Moelfre crew, whose lifeboat was powered by oar and sail. Dick took part in a number of rescues although he was away at sea as a merchant seaman for much of the time.

By the age of 23 he had become a ship's captain and was master of the MV Co/tin. However, when his uncle John Mathews became fulltime lifeboat coxswain, Dick left the sea to run the family's butcher's shop, which allowed him to become fully involved with the lifeboat.

With the outbreak of World War II, Dick hoped to command a flotilla of torpedo boats but he was needed in Moelfre as second coxswain and as signals sergeant in the Home Guard.

In 1940 he was awarded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum for his part in the rescue of the entire crew of 60 from the SS Geleden after she had run aground having been torpedoed.

In0cioberl943the lifeboat crew rescued three airmen from a crashed Whitley bomber who were in immediate danger of being smashed onto the rocks in their rubber dinghy. For this service, Dick received the Bronze Medal.

In 1954 John Mathews retired after 36 years as coxswain and Dick took over It was in 1959 that he was awarded his first Gold Medal. The steamer Hindlea had been sheltering from a storm when the wind veered and she was blown towards the shore. The need for action was so urgent that Dick launched with only five crew - one a shore helper who had never been out in the boat before.

In winds gusting up to 104 mph the lifeboat went alongside the wreck in full view of the cliffs above. The lifeboat was almost knocked over while manoeuvring alongside. It took ten perilous attempts for the crew of eight to be taken off. Dick was awarded the RNLI's highest award, the Gold Medal.

The second Gold Medal service occurred on 2 December 1966. The Moelfre lifeboat launched to go to the aid of the ( Greek motor vessel Nafsiporos, disabled and drifting out of control towards Point Lynas. The Holyhead lifeboat was also launched and was on the way to the scene.

At 3.30pm the Moelfre lifeboat reached the stranded vessel, having battled through terrible seas for hours. The lifeboat made a run in but had to sheer away because of a ship's lifeboat hanging near the boat's stern.

In the lifeboat went again, but none of the crew would jump. It took another run, holding the lifeboat alongside, for ten crewmen to be persuaded to abandon ship. Another five were taken off by the Holyhead lifeboat.

The Moelfre lifeboat had been at sea for over 12 hours by the time it reached Holyhead with the survivors and Dick had been at the wheel throughout. For this extremely difficult rescue he was awarded a second Gold Medal.

After his retirement, Dick worked tirelessly as a speaker for the RNLl and appeared often on television and radio, including as the subject of This is your Life and as a guest on Parkinson..