Celebrating the RNLI family, past and present

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Beaumaris RNLI hears bells
When Beaumaris lifeboat volunteers heard bells at the wedding of Crew Member Leighton Jones to his fiancée Kerry, it wasn’t just church bells they heard – the pagers went off just before the wedding was due to start!

Crew members were about to welcome the bride to the church with a guard of honour when they had to drop everything and rush to launch their Atlantic 85 lifeboat. A 5m motorboat was in trouble in the Menai Straits. Luckily it didn’t take long to free a rope from the boat’s fouled propeller and the crew soon returned to their post by the church for their wedding duties.

Putting the record straight

Those of our readers who formerly received Compass South East magazine might recall a story relating to the history of Newhaven Lifeboat Station. Unfortunately there was an error, and we are very happy to put the record straight following an email from Mrs Janis Loose.

From its inception in 1803, the station was awarded 19 medals for gallantry and among these was a Silver Medal awarded in 1944 to Coxswain Leonard Peddlesden, and Bronze Medals to his crew for a service to the trawler Avanturine. In the crew pictured was Mrs Loose’s father, Harold Charles Moore (below second from left).

Another Silver Medal was awarded in 1954 to Coxswain William Harvey whose crew rescued eight men from the Danish schooner Vega. The rest of the crew received the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.

We offer our sincere apologies for the confusion between these two courageous and difficult rescues.

Departed but not forgotten

Tom and Maureen King both received Bronze supporter badges this year for their loyal service to the RNLI through the Horwich Fundraising Branch. The couple were keen supporters and often visited their local lifeboat stations. Sadly Tom (below, left) passed away earlier this year. After his funeral his family made a donation to the RNLI in his memory.

Friends, family and fellow fundraisers have also said a sad farewell to former Treasurer and Committee Member Mike Egan of Wroxham Branch (pictured above, right). Mike helped raise a tremendous amount of money and goodwill through his business contacts.

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Penlee Lifeboat Station sent us this message in October: ‘It is with a deep sadness that we share that our friend and former colleague, Edwin Madron, has passed away. Edwin was a very well-respected lifeboatman, fisherman and Harbour Master at Mousehole.

He joined the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne at the age of 15, following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, grandfather, father, uncles and brother, Stephen Madron. He became Mechanic on the Mabel Alice and gave 33 years of loyal service to the RNLI.

Edwin was a real character who always had the ability to make you laugh and smile. He will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved him.’

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Celebrating life

Surgeon Rear Admiral Ian Colley – July 2014
Former Chairman of the Medical and Survival Committee

Harry Jones MBE – June 2014
Former Coxswain at Hoylake Lifeboat Station

Edwin Madron – October 2014
Former Mechanic at Penlee Lifeboat Station

John McDermott – June 2014
Former Coxswain at Hoylake Lifeboat Station

John McWhirter – August 2014
Former Station Honorary Secretary at Campbeltown Lifeboat Station

Richard Metcalfe – September 2014
Former Electronics Repair Centre Manager at Poole Headquarters

John Milbourne – October 2014
Former Shoreworks Supervisor in Ireland

Peter Sheriff – June 2014
Former Handyman at Poole Headquarters

Donald Sweetland – September 2014
Senior Clerk at Poole Headquarters

Peter White – June 2014
Former Mobile Training Unit Instructor

Commander Ken Wollan – September 2014
Former Staff Officer (Communications)

The RNLI Family association
Former lifeboat volunteers, and RNLI staff, have their own association. If you have 5 or more years’ service with the charity and are interested in joining the association, please contact Helen McHugh, the Family association Secretary at: [email protected] or write to her care of RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.