RNLI Rhyl celebrate and remember station volunteers at annual Crew Dinner
The volunteer crew at RNLI Rhyl Lifeboat Station held their annual dinner last week (21st October).
The annual event hosted by the volunteer crew, was held at the 1891 Restaurant on the promenade not far from the lifeboat station. The event, which was attended by the lifeboat crew, their partners, station officials, local dignitaries as well as guest who have helped and supported the station, is to look back at the past year.
During this year’s event, past Coxswain Peter Robinson was presented with a lifeboat man statuette as a gift from the crew, thanking him for his 32 years of service to the RNLI. Peter continues to volunteer around the station, looking after the lifeboat memorial and helping to organise local RNLI fundraising events as well as giving talks on the history of RNLI and other maritime history subjects.
Usually, the David Benjamin Jones Memorial Award is presented during the Crew Dinner. However, this year the award was presented early to crew member Bob Baines at St Kentigern’s Hospice. The David Benjamin Jones Memorial Award is presented to a person or group who has made the greatest contribution to the Rhyl Lifeboat Station over the last year. The RNLI Rhyl Operations Committee felt that Bob had displayed great spirit and courage over the past year and had more than demonstrated the qualities to win this year’s award.
Sadly, Bob passed away on the 5 October, 2023.
During the Crew Dinner a few moments were taken to remember Bob as well as past Rhyl Lifeboat Coxswain Bruce Herbert BEM, and Cllr Pete Prendergast who was RNLI Rhyl’s Vice Chair. A collection was also undertaken for St Kentigern’s Hospice in Bob’s memory.
Martin Jones, RNLI Rhyl Lifeboat Coxswain said: ‘This year’s Annual Crew Dinner was a bittersweet event, allowing us to remember those we have lost very recently, but also celebrate the accomplishments of all our volunteers and supporters over the last year. We would also like to thank all the staff at 1891 for their service during the evening’.
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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