Former Lyme Regis lifeboatman celebrates 89th birthday with surprise award
THERE were double celebrations for a former Lyme Regis lifeboatman on Sunday.
Members of the RNLI crew joined John (Mac) Sewell to toast his 89th birthday at The Cobb Arms.
And they took him a very special gift - the RNLI’s vellum certificate of service.
Mac joined the lifeboat crew in 1967 and became shore crew in 1971 until 1991. His final role as Boathouse Superintendent – opening up and closing the lifeboat station every day of the week – lasted until earlier this year, bringing his volunteer RNLI service to a total of 43 years.
The certificate – presented by long serving crew member Andrew Rice - records that during Mac’s service the lifeboat rescued no fewer than 281 people.
Mac, accompanied by his niece Sue Lynall, said: “The award was a lovely surprise on my birthday. It is so nice to be remembered by all my lifeboat friends.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here