A volunteer shop manager has been presented with a medal recognising nearly five decades of dedication to saving lives at sea, and the institute is looking for more volunteers from the Shotley peninsula area.

Ann Brand was presented during Harwich RNLI's Black Tie evening, with a 40 Year Long Service Medal for her dedication to saving lives with the RNLI at Harwich, by Area Lifesaving Manager Graeme Richardson.

The presentation was due to be held two years ago until Covid restrictions put it on hold.

Presenting Ann with the award, Graeme said: "Ann is a prime example why the RNLI made the right decision recently to extend the long service recognition medal to all volunteers, not just crew. Volunteers like Ann - of which there are over 23,000 - are the backbone of the charity, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure those volunteers going to sea have the best equipment and training to save lives.

Ann Brand being prsnted with award by Graeme Richardson (Pictre credit: Harwich RNLI)

"On behalf of the RNLI family I would like to thank Ann for her now 47 years of dedicated service to the charity as part of the Ladies Guild, and as shop manager for the past 20 years, ensuring the Harwich lifeboats were able to answer the call for help."

For more than 33 years Ann's husband Ken was a volunteer crew member and assistant mechanic for 10 of those years aboard the Harwich lifeboats. Little did she know when they met in 1972, his passion for the charity would become hers. 

Experiencing all the highs and lows, along with the fears associated with knowing a loved one is battling the storm to save the life of a complete stranger, Ann was driven to do all she could.

After 47 years fundraising with the Ladies Guild and as shop manager, along with representing the charity twice at Buckingham Palace Garden Parties, she can rightly say the RNLI is 'in her blood'.

If anyone would like to join Ann and her volunteer team running the Harwich RNLI shop, please email [email protected], or pop across for a chat.

Ann Brand's long service medal (Pictre credit: Harwich RNLI)