Looe RNLI honours Paul Sedgbeer’s 20 years welcoming visitors

When John Cuttell first asked him to join the boathouse team, Paul Sedgbeer said no. Work got in the way. But he told John he would keep it in mind, and John did not forget. Twenty years on, that quiet yes has earned Paul a long service award, handed to him as a surprise once the carnival crowds had gone.

A surprise after the carnival parade

On Saturday 1 August 2026, Looe RNLI’s volunteers had just taken part in the town’s carnival parade. Before they left the lifeboat station, Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey stopped boathouse visits team volunteer Paul Sedgbeer and presented him with his 20 year long service award for his dedication to the RNLI in Looe.

📷Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey presenting Paul Sedgbeer with his 20 year long service medal - Photo credits RNLI / Ian Foster

Twenty years of open doors

Presenting the medal, Clive Palfrey explained that the current lifeboat station, known as the Albatross Boathouse, opened in October 2003. Over the next few years, the late John Cuttell assembled a team of boathouse guides to open the station to the public during the summer months.

Clive said he believes Paul is the first of Looe’s boathouse visits team members to receive a long service award. He thanked Paul for his commitment and contributions, saying his 20 years of service is an inspiration to the entire RNLI community.

‘Within two days I found myself welcoming visitors’

Paul, who also volunteers for the National Trust and is an active member of Looe Sailing Club, takes up the story. “I was first approached by John to join the newly established visits team but at the time I felt I could not commit enough time to the role due to work commitments, but I said to John I would keep the role in mind,” he said. “On the day I retired back in 2006, John reminded me of that conversation and within two days I found myself welcoming visitors to the boathouse and have enjoyed working with colleagues in the visits team meeting visitors, showing them the charity’s inshore lifeboats and launch tractors whilst offering appropriate safety advice.”

Congratulations, Paul, from all of us at RNLI Looe lifeboat station.

📷Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey congratulating Paul Sedgbeer on his 20 year long service with RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station. - Photo credits RNLI / Ian Foster