Recognition of 40 years of volunteering for local lifeboatman

The RNLI presents Long Service Awards to volunteers who have completed 20 years’ service with the charity which saves lives at sea, and thereafter every 10 additional years. Having joined the crew in 1983, Chris has recently been presented with his third Long Service Award, recognising his 40 years' service.

Chris started as a crew member at St Catherine's and passed out as a Helm of the C class lifeboat in 1988. The lifeboat station was then at the top of the slip at St Catherine's breakwater, where the canoe club is now located. Some two years after that, in 1990, Chris took on the role of helm on the then new and larger B class 'Atlantic 21' lifeboat which was housed in the new boathouse at the current location in St Catherine's Bay.

Chris retired from the boat crew in 1996, having reached the then mandatory retirement age for the B Class lifeboat, and took on a shore support role. He took over as Lifeboat Press Officer in 2002, a post which he held for some 6 years. In 2004, Chris was appointed as Training Co-ordinator for St Catherine's Lifeboat Station and has been Deputy Launching Authority since 2007, a role which takes responsibility for the decisions on launching the lifeboats and helps ensure that all operational activities are carried out to maintain the RNLI lifeboats and all associated equipment in a constant state of readiness for launching on service.

It could be said that this is a Lifeboating Family; His wife Caryll was Secretary secretary of the fundraising Guild for about 34 years and received a gold badge and clasp for that role. His son Edward joined the crew at 17 and is a helmsman on the B Class Atantic Lifeboat. Two years ago, Edward received his 20 year Long Service Award. The family has now almost exactly 100 years of combined service with the RNLI in Jersey.

Nigel Sweeny, Lifeboat Operations Manager for RNLI Jersey, commented:

"I am delighted that Chris has been recognised for his long-standing voluntary service to the RNLI.

Chris' unwavering enthusiasm and pragmatic approach to everything he tackles has meant that he has been a key figure in the RNLI Jersey community for the last 4 decades. Most recently, his roles as Deputy Launching Authority and member of the Operations Management Team allow him to share his considerable and valuable experience with the amazing team and local crew we have within RNLI Jersey.

Chris’ Long Service Award was presented at a recent crew dinner for the St Catherine’s Lifeboat Crew. He is pictured here with his 20 year Long Service Award with the two clasps which are awarded at subsequent 10 year intervals.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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