Last year was the Year of the Volunteer and involved a clutch of associated awards in celebration of volunteering. Four awardees were recognised for their commitment to the RNLI: Leesa Espley, Norfolk; John Roberts, East Riding of Yorkshire; Richard Martin, Northumberland; Barbara Martin, Northumberland.

Primary school teacher Leesa is Hunstanton's only female lifeboat crew member and Heacham Fire Station's first female retained firefighter. Joining both services wasn't easy - part of selection involved passing a medical test and Leesa knew she would struggle unless she had laser eye surgery. This she did. At the time of going to press Leesa was due to hear who is the overall category champion.William Johnson, a dock worker and volunteer helmsman for Berwick-upon-Tweed lifeboat was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Testimonial on Parchment for saving the life of a man who was seen floating face down in the local docks. William had entered the water, placed a life ring around the man and swam back with him to safety.

Stephen Richie of Peterhead lifeboat station carried out a remarkably similar rescue in his locality and was also honoured by the Royal Humane Society. Just four months into his RNLI training, he saw two men drowning in a harbour. It was 2am, pitch dark and the waters were freezing cold. The 19-year-old dived into the icywaters and plucked Tom Robertson, 16, to safety. He went back into the water for Ivan Ward, 32, but tragically, the seaman had slipped too far under the water. Stephen said: 'I did what anyone else in my situation would do. I can't imagine anyone would stand around and watch someone drowning. I had to help.' The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society gives grants to the dependants of those lost at sea and to sick, disabled and retired seafarers struggling to make ends meet.

The Society says:'It's not just the wrecked ship which is a disaster ... it's the wrecked lives.' It has a long tradition of presentingawards for skill and gallantry and 2005 was no exception. In October, HRHThe Princess Royal presented Coxswain Duncan (Dougie) Munro of Thurso lifeboat with the Society's The Lady Swaythling Trophy. His'outstanding feat of seamanship, leadership and courage in appalling weather' on 27 August 2004 involved towing the fishing vessel Arnmytrans through some of the worst conditions encountered in the Pentland Firth. (See the Lifeboat winter 2004/05 for more details and for a stunning picture taken by the Master of the Arn0ytrans during the rescue.) The Society's second award, the Emile Robin, went to Porthcawl Helmsman Aileen Jones for an outstanding rescue by a British ship.Her'leadership, skill, teamwork and courage' saved the fishing vessel Cower Pride and crew on 24 August 2004 and made her the first woman to receive the award. (For the full story see the Lifeboat spring 2005.) Aileen also received the RNLI's Walter and Elizabeth Croombridge Award for the most meritorious service by the crew of a B class (Atlantic) lifeboat. This accompanies her RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry - the first to a female crew member. Aileen's family are all involved with Porthcawl lifeboat.

Her husband, Steve, is a former helmsman and now deputy launching authority while their daughter, Frances, has begun her crew training. Son Dan 'can't wait' to join and helps on shore.On 3 June 2005 another notable rescue occurred at Porthcawl for which Crew Member Chris Missen became regional winner of the 2005 Vodafone Life Savers Award. The lifeboat launched to a man threatening suicide and, in pounding surf, Chris swam to the man, grabbed him and pulled him to safety. The Life Savers Awards, now in their fourth year, epitomise the spirit of all those who work in the emergency services and are a national celebration of compassion and achievement.

The RNLI honours its own crews at the Annual Presentation of Awards. See the centre pull-out section for more details on how to attend..