Nigel Manley, Ros Whiteley-Jones, Dave Bates, Dave Noble, and Huw Aldersey-Williams were presented with their awards on Thursday 27 August and Tuesday 1 September by Richard Martindale, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager. Fellow volunteer crew members had gathered at the lifeboat station to celebrate each of these achievements.

Nigel was presented with the RNLI Long Service Medal with a 40-year bar in recognition of his outstanding commitment to saving lives at sea.

Nigel joined Hoylake RNLI in 1981 at the age of 16 and is one of the station’s longest-serving volunteers, first serving under Coxswain Harry Jones. Over more than four decades of service, Nigel has served under seven coxswains and been part of the evolution of Hoylake RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats, from the station’s Rother class lifeboat Mary Gabriel to the Mersey class Lady of Hilbre and today’s Shannon class lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood.

Ros, Dave, Dave, and Huw were the first-ever Hoylake RNLI volunteers to be presented with the RNLI’s brand new 10-year service badge in recognition of a decade of lifesaving.

Ros joined Hoylake RNLI in 2016 and volunteers at the station alongside her two brothers on the station’s Shannon class lifeboat and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft Hurley Spirit. She has launched on many shouts and exercises, playing a key part in keeping people safe on our coast.

(L-R) Huw Aldersey-Williams, Dave Noble and Dave Bates receive the RNLI’s 10-year badge to celebrate a decade of saving lives together | Credit: RNLI/Daniel Whiteley

Dave Noble joined Hoylake RNLI in 2016 and volunteers as a crew member on the all-weather lifeboat and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft. He is currently training to become an ALB navigator and will be a familiar face to fans of BBC Two’s Saving Lives at Sea, appearing in two episodes featuring Hoylake RNLI rescues.

Dave Bates joined Hoylake RNLI in 2016 and also volunteers as a crew member on the lifeboat and hovercraft, as well as being a qualified hovercraft pilot. Passionate about drowning prevention, he has served as the station’s Water Safety Advisor and has had an important role engaging with young people locally about lifesaving skills.

Huw’s service with Hoylake RNLI also began in 2016 and he has volunteered as a shore crew member for over a decade. His role has been critical to ensuring the safe launch and recovery of the station’s lifeboat and hovercraft.

Following the presentation of the awards, Richard Martindale said, “These five crew members have all made an outstanding contribution to Hoylake RNLI over many years. It is a privilege to present these awards to Nigel, Ros, Dave, Dave and Huw in recognition of their dedication and commitment to saving lives at sea. On behalf of everyone at the station, I would like to congratulate them all and thank them for their exceptional service.”

Lead image: (L-R) Nigel Manley and Ros Whiteley-Jones were presented respectively with the RNLI Long Service Medal with 40-year bar and the 10-year service badge | Credit: RNLI/Abbie Sanders

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