Celebrating the RNLI family, past and present

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Honours for Hugh

On Friday 6 March, Her Majesty the Queen handed Captain Hugh Fogarty his MBE at Windsor Castle following his retirement from the charity after almost 3 decades.

Hugh, who joined the RNLI in 1984, pioneered the charity’s Flood Rescue Team, which has aided and rescued hundreds of people. Hugh’s 30-year career has also seen him undertake lifeboat trials in all sea conditions, testing them to and beyond their endurance to ensure the safest possible craft for saving lives at sea. Hugh held the post of Chairman for the RNLI Staff Association for over 13 years, offering his wisdom and warmth to help those in need of guidance and support.

In later years Hugh worked as Head of Operations (Operational Support) for the RNLI. And those outside of the RNLI might recognise him as the character Walter Only, the mascot of the charity’s 2014 H2Only campaign where participants were challenged to drink only water for 2 weeks.

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Au revoir Colin!

Former Regional Operations Manager Colin Williams has also retired after a career with the charity that has spanned 30 years

Colin joined in September 1985. He was appointed as an Assistant Inspector. In 1985, he was appointed as a Deputy Divisional Inspector for the south east of England and relocated with his wife Rhian to west Kent. While living there, daughters Nia and Sian were born.

In Autumn 1992, the family moved to the Poole area and, in 1993, Colin was appointed Deputy Divisional Inspector (South). It was a temporary appointment and, a few months later, he was offered the role of Staff Officer Operations (General Duties) at Poole. Soon after, Colin was made Deputy Training Officer (Operations).

In 1995 Colin transferred once more and became Divisional Inspector (DI) for Ireland; a big move for the family to undertake to the east coast of Ireland. It was expected to be a 5-year appointment, which soon became 13. The whole family were sad to leave Ireland in May 2008 for Colin to take up the role of DI (West). But, they kept their home in Ireland and created a ‘home from home’ in north Wales, from where Rhian and Colin had both originated.

Colin’s last position as Regional Operations Manager West was made redundant and he decided it was time to retire. Colin says: ‘My interest in the RNLI won’t end after almost 30 years working with so many fantastic people in so many parts of the British Isles.’

Colin and Rhian are returning to live in the Republic of Ireland and Colin plans to enjoy his hobbies of gardening, walking, sailing and travelling.

Colin had a great send-off from his colleagues and friends in Wales at the end of March and we wish him well.

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Celebrating life and remembering our friends

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‘A much respected stalwart’
NEIL WORKMAN MBE

The President of Red Bay Lifeboat Station passed away on 27 March. Neil had served at Red Bay for over 40 years and right until his death.

The station was established at Cushendall in 1974. Together with his wife Bee, Neil set up the Glens Lifeboat Guild, which over the years raised many thousands of pounds for the RNLI. Neil served as a volunteer Deputy Launching Authority, then Station Honorary Secretary. He later became Chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group and from 2013, President, despite failing health.

Neil was a much respected stalwart of the station. He was certainly a character with a dry sense of humour. His first priority was always the lifeboat after his wife and family. All the crew, station officials, volunteers and staff would like to pass on their deepest sympathies to Neil’s wife Bee and his sons Paul and Scott.

MEMOIR RELEASED AS AN EBOOK
RNLI family members may be interested to know that former RNLI Deputy Director Ray Kipling has written a memoir, Call the Lifeboat, relating to his early time with the charity. It’s not the first lifeboat book Ray has written, but this one is the most personal. Names of characters and lifeboat stations have been changed to preserve anonymity, and it alludes to an RNLI that few would recognise today.

Ray includes his early years as an RNLI trainee and then travelling the coast as an inspector. He later joined the PR department before taking the Deputy Director position, a post he held for 14 years. The book has been published electronically and is available for Kindle on Amazon. Ray is also planning a printed version to be available at a later date from his website: www.callthelifeboat.com.

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Ray Barton – April 2015
Former Lifeboat Press Officer, Sea Safety Officer and Shore Crew at Arbroath Lifeboat Station

Douglas Brown – March 2015
Former Trading Manager at RNLI Headquarters

Arnold Broxup – April 2015
Former Tractor Driver, Head Launcher and Fundraiser at Lytham St Annes

Cmdr James ‘Nick’ Carter – January 2015
Branch Chairman, JaC Lifeboat Branch

Con Crowley – March 2015
Helm at Crosshaven Lifeboat Station

Peter John Clark – February 2015
Vice-Chairman of Crieff RNLI Branch and supporter of Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Station

John Gittings – March 2015
Former Trustee, Treasurer and Chairman at Portishead

Rita Graves – November 2014
Committee Member at Gloucester Fundraising Branch

Col Peter Howells – February 2015
President at Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station

Dr Paul Kettle – March 2015
Deputy Lifeboat Medical Adviser at Longhope Lifeboat Station

Steve Laker – February 2015
Fundraiser and volunteer at Chatham Dockyard’s RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection

Audrey Leonard mbe – December 2014
Former Chairman of Whaley Bridge Fundraising Branch

Barbara MacLellan – February 2015
Member of Mallaig Ladies’ Fundraising Committee

William Male – October 2014
Former Handyman in Fundraising Stores at RNLI Headquarters

Billy Shearer – February 2015
Former Helm, Deputy Launching Authority and Lifeboat Training Coordinator at Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboat Station

George Stewart – March 2015
Former Mechanic at Buckie

Trevor Walker – March 2015
Committee Member, Wroxham and District Branch

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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 interestedin joining the association, please contact Helen McHugh, the Familyassociation Secretary at: [email protected] or write to hercare of RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.