Padstow RNLI Lifeboat Mechanic Mike England received his long service badge for completing 20 years service with the RNLI.
Mike started at the Padstow Lifeboat station as a shore helper, then as a crewmember before becoming the Lifeboat mechanic. He joins a long list of fellow crewmembers at the station who have been recipients of this award.
In the photo left to right are Trevor Platt (Lifeboat Operations Manager), Mike England (Station Mechanic), Michael Vlasto (RNLI Operations Director) and Coxswain Alan Tarby.
Mike says
‘There have been lots of highs and some lows over the years. I suppose the high point for me was being able to serve in the boat with my Dad (the late Trevor England BEM) while he was Coxswain. It has also been good to have been able to keep up the family tradition which goes back for 4 generations, and to put something back into the community that I get so much out of being part of.
Padstow has a rich and important Lifeboat history and it is humbling to be a small part of it. Dad served for 38 years and it would be wonderful if I could think about getting someway towards that. It was also an amazing feeling when we brought our new Lifeboat the 'Spirit of Padstow' into the Harbour for the first time.
There have been call-outs to numerous to mention over the years, but I suppose that the services to the ‘Charisma’ and to the ‘Corusande’ stand out for me. There is no feeling in the world like pulling someone alive out of the water and bringing then ashore safe and well.
The low points are when you lose fellow crewmembers that you have worked alongside of for many years and the few frustrating fruitless searches for missing persons.
If I could sum it all up the RNLI is one big family and over the years I have made many friends at RNLI Lifeboat Stations all around the country.
There have been many changes in my time with the RNLI but I look forward to my continuing service and all that it brings to Padstow and its Lifeboat.’