RNLI volunteers and staff in the Vale of Glamorgan have been awarded the ceremonial titles of Honorary Freeman and Freewoman in recognition of their commitment to saving lives at sea.
The awards were presented at Barry Dock RNLI’s Festival of the Sea by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, honouring the vital work they do across the region.
The accolade arrives during a significant year for the charity, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary.
The honour encompasses the whole of the RNLI’s crew across the Vale of Glamorgan, including Penarth and Barry Dock Lifeboat Stations, the lifeguard teams, fundraising, engagement and water safety volunteers and staff members.
Stuart McMillan, chair of Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat management group, was presented with a Vale of Glamorgan Freedom of Vale Certificate on behalf of all the volunteers and staff.
He said: "It was a great honour to represent the RNLI and receive the plaque.
"Everyone who volunteers and works for the RNLI shares our charity’s values and we all come together as one crew in our mission to save lives at sea.
"We’d like to thank the Vale of Glamorgan Council for recognising us with these honorary titles and the impact our work has had on keeping our communities across the vale a safe place for locals and visitors to enjoy our coastline."
Vale of Glamorgan Council chief executive, Rob Thomas, added: "The RNLI is a charity that relies on the commitment and generosity of volunteers to help keep people safe along our country’s coastline.
"As the vale is a coastal county, we benefit from that dedication more than most, with members of the RNLI helping to keep people safe at our resorts, beaches and the waters further offshore.
"These courageous individuals carry out this work not for personal gain, but for the benefit and protection of others.
"The council wanted to recognise this contribution with a gesture that reflects our appreciation and admiration for the people who give up their time in this way.
"This award is made to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to our communities and is richly deserved.
"It serves to illustrate the power of volunteering, which in this case - quite literally saves lives."
RNLI area lifesaving manager, Matt Childs, said: "We’re all very proud to receive this recognition for the collective efforts of our lifesaving work here in the Vale of Glamorgan.
"We often talk about ‘one crew’ at the RNLI and this honour truly encompasses all that our one crew represents.
"It’s not just our incredible volunteers that crew our lifeboats who make it possible to save lives at sea, but it’s the collective effort of everyone involved.
"From our fundraisers and water safety volunteers, to lifeguard teams and everyone else in between."
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