Article: published on 4 March 2024

RNLI volunteers in Cornwall have spoken of their passion for the charity as it celebrates its 200th anniversary.

Formed on 4 March, 1824, the charity has saved more than 144,000 lives across the UK and Ireland.

Those who volunteer at Newquay lifeboat station said it was an "absolute privilege" to be part of the organisation.

Agnes Clemens, 99, a shop volunteer at the station who has received a medal for 40 years of service, said she would keep supporting the charity as long as she could.

Ms Clemens volunteers alongside her daughter Elizabeth Carne and grandson Richard, who is a boathouse guide.

She said "you meet a lot of very nice people" volunteering in the shop.

"I hope to keep coming here - once a week," she said.

Newquay lifeboat station is run entirely by volunteers and operated an all-weather lifeboat for nearly 80 years until it closed in 1945, re-opening again in 1965.

Gareth Horton, Newquay's operations manager, has received an MBE for 50 years of service, and has done most jobs at the station in that time.

"They're all fantastic roles, very different," he said.

"Being in the boat takes a bit of beating, but my responsibility now is to ensure the safety and welfare of all the crew members and that is an absolute privilege."

There are five female shore crew volunteering in Newquay.

Zoey Cotton, who drives the launch tractor, said the volunteers were like a big family.

She said: "Down here there's a really good community of women wanting to get involved, which I think is really nice because we all muck in and do jobs just the same as everybody else."

Kevin Walsh, boat crew and tractor driver, said he got involved when he was 40.

"When I started, the limit was 45, so I was going to do five years," he said.

"Now I've been in 20 years because they've upped the limit to 65 and I love it. I'll stay as long as I possibly can."

Mark Morris, boat crew and station trainer, said the station was always keen to welcome new recruits.

"We face a big ocean, massive waves, steep cliffs and it's not an easy place to work in boats," he said.

"But all the training we do is the very best. We get the very best crew, the very best people.

"And if you get through everything you're part of a very special operation."