A Peel RNLI volunteer has been presented with a long-service medal in recognition of three decades of dedicated service.
Mick Hewer, a healthcare professional and full-time union official with Prospect, settled in Peel in the early 1990s.
His journey with the RNLI began after hearing maroon flares alerting the crew to a launch. He went down to the boathouse for a chat with the shore crew about volunteering and has been a dedicated member ever since.
Service
During his 30 years, Mick has witnessed a significant evolution in Peel’s lifesaving capabilities.
He initially served as shore crew for the All-Weather Mersey-class lifeboat ‘Ruby Clery’ and recalls the physical demands of earlier operations, noting the team manually rotated the heavy lifeboat on a turntable to prepare it for launch.
Today, he continues his role as crew, both ashore and afloat, with the station’s modern Shannon-class lifeboat, ‘Frank and Brenda Winter’, which is launched and recovered by a sophisticated vehicle with a hydraulic system.
Mick now also chairs the crew members’ committee, sharing his extensive experience to support fellow volunteers.
The RNLI medal was presented by Peel Lifeboat Operations Manager, Allen Corlett, who expressed the institution’s gratitude.
He said: “It was a great pleasure to be able to recognise Mick for his service to the RNLI and more specifically to Peel Lifeboat. Thirty years represents a meaningful and much appreciated commitment.”