Two RNLI volunteers from Douglas have been honoured this week at the charity’s annual presentation of awards which was held in Northern Ireland.

Clare Bettison and Jeanette Williford were recognised for their hard work and dedication to Douglas RNLI Guild as they were presented with the charity’s Certificate of Thanks.

The event which was staged at the Titanic Museum in Belfast on Wednesday night (24th June) honoured 38 awardees recognising their dedication and commitment to raising funds and awareness which help RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards save lives at sea.

The ceremony was opened by David Delamer, chairman of the RNLI Council of Ireland. Mr Delamer welcomed the awardees and their families before introducing the guest speaker, RNLI Chairman Charles Hunter-Pease.

The awards included three gold badges, 10 silver badges, nine bronze badges, two inscribed statuettes and 14 certificates of thanks.

Douglas RNLI volunteer Clare and Jeanette were both presented the charity’s Certificate of Thanks for their years of hard work and dedication to the town’s Guild.

Clare’s energy was noted at the awards as she was thanked for her enthusiasm towards whatever task the Chair or Committee would give her; from organising sponsorship to finding unique venues for events, Clare would always look forward to the next challenge with a smile.

During the ceremony it was said that the Chair of the Guild and the entire team at Douglas are effusive in their praise of Jeanette – the high-achieving event-led Guild could not run their events without her support.

Mr Hunter-Pease said it was a pleasure to attend the awards ceremony which he described as a celebration of the difference the awardees had made to the lives of others.

Praising the awardees he said: ‘This evening, we celebrate people. We celebrate not just those whose lives we have saved, but also those who have made this incredible number possible. We celebrate remarkable fundraising feats and decades of lifesaving service given by volunteers. And we say thank you to all of you.’

Photo - Clare Bettison and Jeanette Williford of Douglas RNLI Guild receiving their Certificate of Thanks by Charles Hunter-Pease, Chairman of the RNLI.  Photo courtesy of Colin Watson.