The lifeboatmen and support staff were honoured during a ceremony at Government House and were accompanied by their families and members of the charity’s management team.
Jono Cornic, who received an award, first began volunteering for the organisation at the St Helier station in 1997 – serving as a lifeboat mechanic, helmsman and deputy 2nd coxswain. Chris McFayden, who first joined the charity as a crew member in 1983, also later served as a training co-ordinator, press officer and deputy launch authority. Helier de Veulle, the RNLI’s Jersey press officer, was honoured after joining the St Catherine station crew in 2007.
And Lloyd Banks received an award, having joined the St Catherine crew in 1998, and going on to take on the roles of mentor, shore crew, launcher and assistant medic over the years.
Nigel Sweeny, lifeboat operations manager for RNLI Jersey, said that he was proud to have attended the ceremony, which he said reflected the ethos of volunteering and long-standing service of the organisation in the Island.
‘Every shout to someone in trouble means that our crews may be risking their lives. And the dedication of those crew members – and all our volunteers who play their part on the shore – has allowed us to save lives in Jersey for 134 years,’ he said.
‘I would like to make a special mention of the families of our volunteers. Their support allows those crews to go to sea. Their understanding and patience with the commitment involved is right at the heart of the RNLI. I am grateful to them every single day.’
