Douglas RNLI Branch President and Management Committee Chairman, Peter Cain, recently received a Silver Medal from the RNLI. The Silver Medal is presented to volunteers for service to the RNLI.
 
Peter’s first encounter with Douglas lifeboat was when he was rescued, along with friends Dessie Collins and the late Vernon Moon, in May 1962 when their GP14 dingy 'Bluebell' foundered in Douglas Bay.
 
Peter followed his father, the late Lewin Cain, into the RNLI. Lewin was also a recipient of a Silver Medal, being involved with Douglas station for over 70 years until his death in 1997.
 
Peter said: ‘I am honoured and flattered to receive this medal. I owe my life to Douglas lifeboat and volunteering allows me to go some way in repaying my debt to the RNLI. Everybody involved with Douglas station are a great bunch of people to work with. The boat crew, shore crew, committee, fundraisers, not forgetting wives and girlfriends, and of course, the Douglas Ladies Lifeboat Guild, without all of whom it would be difficult to put the Sir William Hillary in the water.
 
We are currently in the middle or organising the annual Sir William Hillary Church Service, to be held at St Georges Church on the 6 January 2013, and look forward to seeing as many of our supporters there as possible, and afterwards for tea and biscuits at South Douglas Old Friends Association in Finch Road.’
 
As the RNLI is a totally voluntary organisation relying entirely on public donations these awards are the only recognition volunteers receive for their work.