Lifeguards Nick Dowrick, Gareth Howarth, Tom Burgess and Emma Williams are to be presented with the inaugural Alison Saunders’ Lifeguarding Award this Summer.

The new annual award is for the most meritorious rescue by RNLI lifeguards in the previous season. It consists of a glass trophy, certificates for each lifeguard and for the appropriate lifeguard area support centre, and a sum of money to be shared among the lifeguards to be used to further their lifesaving skills.

The eponymous sponsor of the award, Alison Saunders, recently retired as Deputy Chairman of the RNLI after 27 years’ service. She has generously pledged the award’s continued funding until 25 years after her death.

The Langland Beach Team saved the lives of two injured men at risk of drowning on rocks below a cliff. See the Spring 2010 issue of the Lifeboat for the full story.