Silloth RNLI crew pay their respects for former crew member
On Tuesday 31 October 2023, Silloth RNLI crew members gathered at Carlisle Crematorium to pay their respects to the late Frederick Garry Ware, who sadly passed away on Saturday 21 October 2023.
Frederick, known as Garry to those around him, volunteered at Silloth Lifeboat Station for many years. Members of the volunteer lifeboat crew stood together to pay their respects to Garry, they assembled themselves at the entrance of crematorium to give a guard of honour as the coffin entered the building.
Garry’s grandsons Mark Ware, a Helm for Silloth RNLI, Daniel Ware a former volunteer crew member and Nathan Ware gathered with three other members of the family to carry the coffin dressed with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution flag into the building.
During the service the funeral officiant spoke about Garry’s life, talking in depth about his love for the RNLI and the dedication and hard work he gave to Silloth Lifeboat Station in the many years he volunteered there as crew. They spoke about his passion for lifeboats and volunteering when he took part in station visits, talking to the public about the important roles within the station and reminiscing about past events.
On Saturday 4 November 2023, the volunteer lifeboat crew gathered at the station to scatter Garry’s ashes at sea. Garry was always down at the sea front or in the lifeboat station talking to everyone around him about the memories he had of the station. Family, friends and other lifeboat crew members gathered on the sea front to pay respects once more, and to watch the scattering of the ashes which was one of Garry’s wishes.
With the help of the RNLI’s Launch a Memory campaign, Mark Garry's grandson, has ensured that his memory will live on by inscribing his name on to a Shannon lifeboat.
Those who attended the funeral and the wake donated £246.22 to Silloth RNLI Lifeboat Station.
Silloth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, Rebecca Clark said: 'From everyone at Silloth RNLI we want to say a big thank you for the generous donation received. That money will go on to save lives at sea just as Gary did through his dedication to our charity.
'Garry’s presence will be hugely missed here at the station. Rest in peace Gary, you will be missed by many and will always be in our thoughts.'
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.