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.”