Penlee RNLI’s Eric Taylor honoured for 40 years behind the scenes

Forty years is a long time to keep saying yes. For Eric Taylor, it has meant four decades of volunteering for the lifeboats, and last Saturday (19 September) that commitment was marked with a medal handed over in front of a giant yellow welly.

Eric, who chairs fundraising for Penlee RNLI, was one of the volunteers invited to the charity’s South West Region Volunteer Recognition Event at Dartmouth Naval College. The invitation followed his award of the British Empire Medal in His Majesty’s Birthday Honours.

📷RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes presents Eric Taylor with his 40-year Long Service Medal

A medal for 40 years of service

The presentation was made by the chief executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes, who handed Eric his 40-year Long Service Medal.

Peter also gave the room an update on events across the charity and thanked every volunteer for their work. One of those in the audience has volunteered for 60 years. He also paid tribute to volunteers who had earned awards but are sadly no longer here to receive them.

📷Eric Taylor (second left) on the volunteer question-and-answer panel

From the medal line to the panel

Eric was not only there to collect. He also took a seat on a question-and-answer panel alongside three other volunteers, each representing a different side of the RNLI’s work: a lifeguard, a shop volunteer, and a crew member who also serves as relief coxswain.

Between them, the four covered the beach, the shop counter, the boat and the fundraising that keeps all three going.

📷L-R Peter Sparkes, Eric Taylor, Carole Taylor and Dave Nicol