Skegness RNLI crew member made an Honorary Citizen by Skegness Town Council

Since the 1970s Skegness Town Council has recognised residents for dedication to the town. There have only been 16 Honorary Citizens throughout the years, volunteer Launch Authority Trevor Holland will be the third Skegness RNLI crew member to receive the award.

Trevor’s commitment to Skegness Lifeboat Station is a story that spans decades, a multigenerational family legacy, as Trevor’s father Ken Holland RNLI Coxswain was also made an Honorary Citizen.

Trevor will be presented the award within the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary year.

Councillor Danny Brooks, says: ‘The honours committee and full council agreed to put forward Trevor Holland for the award to celebrate the inspirational efforts he has achieved. Trevor will be presented with his award at the Tower Garden Pavilion at 7pm, everyone is welcome to attend, and his name will be put on the honoured citizen board in the Pavilion for generations to see.’

Trevor Holland says: ‘I would like to thank the Mayor and Town Council for granting me this honour. As a person born and bred in Skegness this means a tremendous amount to me. I join the list of esteemed names of those who have gone before, most of whom I know or knew. The recognition of service to Skegness Lifeboat Station is quite apt, this year being the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

'Skegness Lifeboat Station has always operated with the support of the town's people and council. Indeed over the years several councillors have served as crew, names such as Ken Holland; Michael Clarke; Billy Brookes; to name a few.

'I would quickly like to thank my wife Paula who has put up with me disappearing for hours on end at the most inopportune of moments. All my colleagues and friends at Skegness Lifeboat Station, both past and present, who have supported me over the years, in our ongoing TEAM efforts of saving lives at sea.'

Trevor also recalls his father Ken Holland’s advice ‘Never turn your back on the sea.’ This advice wasn’t merely practical but metaphorical, reminding him to respect the sea’s power and unpredictability, which now has become synonymous with the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign.

Notes to editors

· Skegness RNLI is based on Tower Esplanade, Skegness. The lifeboat Station was founded in 1825 and the volunteer crew use an inshore D class lifeboat The Holland Family and as well as an all-weather Shannon class lifeboat the Joel and April Grunnill.

· Related press release about Trevor Holland: A lifelong commitment to Skegness RNLI Lifeboat Station | RNLI

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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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