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Relatives visit Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station to hand over bequest

Lifeboats News Release

Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station is set to benefit from a generous bequest.

John and Susan Robertson

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John and Susan Robertson.
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John Struan Robertson, who lived with his late wife Susan in the Cardigan area for 20 years, left a five-figure sum to the RNLI in his will. Originally from the Home Counties, Mr Robertson was born in 1926. He served in the army in the Middle East before opening a clothes shop in Cambridgeshire.

It was there that he met Susan, a home economics teacher who would often ride to school on her horse.
A very private couple, Mr Robertson was an accomplished organist while Mrs Robertson was a keen dog breeder, first with Irish wolf hounds and later dachshunds. She bred a mascot for the Irish Guards.

Relatives of the couple recently visited Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station to hand over the bequest and to see the work the volunteers at the station carry out. Frances and Graham Kipping, who had travelled from Watford, were shown around the station and met members of the crew.

Frances said: ‘We have no idea how John and Susan came to live in Cardigan. They were fiercely independent and a very private couple but also very generous. It was lovely to come to the station to see the work being carried out here.

'And as well as the RNLI, donations have also been made to the British Heart Foundation, Welsh Air Ambulance, Age Cymru and two small local charities dealing with mental health and families going through hard times.’

Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Pete Austin said: ‘We were honoured to welcome Mr and Mrs Robertson’s family to the station and to accept the generous donation.’

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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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.

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