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Penarth lifeboat veteran bows out

Friday, 11 April 2025 11:09

By Gareth Joy X @lookoutwales2

RNLI Penarth

One of Penarth's longest-serving RNLI volunteers has stepped down after 44 years.

Mike Kingston first joined the lifeboat station in November 1980, initially as a volunteer crew member before quickly progressing to become lifeboat helm.

He retired as a sea-going crew member over 20 years ago, but stayed with the station as part of the shore crew and one of the lifeboat launch authorities in Penarth, responding to the Coastguard's requests for help.

His departure was marked with a certificate commenorating his service presented by the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan, Janey Howell.

Asked about what changes he had seen through his decades of service with the RNLI, Mike said: "I’m sure some of the people of Penarth will remember the handheld maroons that were fired off by a lifeboat crew member to call the rest of us to the station for a launch."

"But even before that, I remember when the pier master would fire two maroons out of a small cannon."

"Technology has changed the RNLI but it’s still the same feeling and commitment when your pager or mobile alert goes and you are called out of bed in the early hours of a freezing cold January morning."

In 2000, Mike joined an eight-strong crew of lifeboat volunteers from across the UK to aid the relief effort during the devastating floods in Mozambique - the worst in over 50 years.

"We had five small D class inflatable lifeboats and had to ferry doctors and medical supplies to areas that had been written off as impossible, as helicopters couldn’t land there and they were inaccessible by road", said Mike.

Away from the RNLI, Mike has also had a long career with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, including a role as chair of their water safety group, which helped to form a UK-wide partnership between a national fire service and the RNLI.

Phil Lay, lifeboat operations manager at RNLI Penarth, said: "Mike has been a very valuable member of the lifeboat family and we will miss his experience. Like all the members of Penarth’s team, he has voluntarily given so much time and commitment to help the wider community."

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