Sir Laurence New Kt, CB, CBE presented nineteen of Ramsey’s RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal at a private ceremony on Saturday 20th October. Four of the recipients have jointly contributed in excess of 100 years unbroken service to the life saving charity and will also receive RNLI long service awards at the event.

Sir Laurence, who will be accompanied by his wife Lady New, was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1985 to 1990. He has a long association with Ramsey lifeboat station and is patron and president of Ramsey RNLI.

The nineteen Ramsey RNLI volunteers who will receive the medal this evening are Pete Brady; Rob Brew; Carl Buck; Kevin Christian MBE; Ray Christian; Ali Clague; Jason Colley; Mike Cowell; Dawn Dickens; Gordon Dickens; Wayne Hargrave; Kim Holland; Mark Kenyon; Bob Killip; Malcom MacDonald; Martin Packard; Theresa Shammon; Michelle Stewardson; Andy Walton.

Sir Laurence will also present RNLI long service awards to Ali Clague, Station Mechanic with over 30 years service; Kim Holland, Deputy Launching Authority and retired crew member with over 30 years service; Bob Killip, Head Launcher with over 20 years service; Theresa Shammon, 2nd Head Launcher and lifeboat press officer with over 20 years service.

Kevin Christian, who was recently awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, has been an RNLI volunteer with Ramsey for 33 years. When he retired from the lifeboat crew he became volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager for the station. He said; “All of the volunteers at Ramsey Lifeboat Station are wholeheartedly dedicated to the lifeboat service and are immensely proud of both the Station’s and the RNLI’s history of saving lives at sea. It is terrific to see the commitment of my colleagues recognised. And perhaps we should also mention and say thank you to the families of our crew. Without their considerable understanding and support, the work of the RNLI would just not be possible.”