Eyemouth RNLI volunteer at Buckingham Palace after 30 year long service award
Eyemouth boat crew Christopher ‘Jeeky’ Norris has received his medal for 30 years of service to the RNLI
Jeeky and wife Lillian represented Eyemouth station at the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party held at Buckingham Palace on 23rd May 2024.
The garden party was hosted by the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and the Duke of Kent, who is President of the RNLI. Almost 2,500 of the charity’s long serving volunteers, staff and their families as well as Gallantry award recipients were invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI.
RNLI chief executive Mark Dowie said: "We are incredibly honoured that His Majesty The King has granted permission for the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party to take place at Buckingham Palace in celebration of 200 years of saving lives at sea.”
‘Our hosts, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Kent and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, have been hugely supportive of our charity over many decades and it was a huge honour and privilege for many of our volunteers and staff to meet them.
‘Volunteers are the lifeblood of the RNLI and I took the opportunity to thank them personally, along with their equally dedicated families and our long-serving staff members, for their courage and commitment to saving lives.’
King Charles has followed in the footsteps of previous monarchs by becoming Patron of the RNLI this month, May 2024.
The RNLI's crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,000 lives since its formation in 1824, and its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and Ireland.
Notes to editors:
Interviews available on request.
Eyemouth lifeboat station has been operating since 1876. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/eyemouth-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Wendy Lorimer, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07946650114, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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.