Diana John with Mark Dowie

On a recent visit to Porthcawl lifeboat, RNLI CEO, Mark Dowie, was delighted to be able to present four stalwarts of the fundraising team with long service medals. During the presentation he stressed the importance of fund raising in providing the charity with the means to be able to save lives.

The four recipients of the RNLI awards were, David Shillaw, Diana John and John and Marj Abraham. Each had given in excess of 20 years’ service to Porthcawl Lifeboat Station.

David is chair of fundraising as well as lifeboat treasurer and was accompanied by wife Pat. Diana is vice chair of fundraising having held many other posts over the years. John and Marj have been a great support to the RNLI, John is retired chair of the station committee and Marj raffled handmade quilts for many years resulting in excess of £70,000 being raised personally.

John and Marj Abraham with Mark Dowie

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Philip Missen said, ‘Delivery of the medals coincided with the visit of our CEO so we took the opportunity to surprise each of the awardees with their presentation. Each merited their medals after giving our station so many years of dedication and it was right that we and the charity could thank them in this way’.