ONE of Jersey’s longest-serving RNLI volunteers has encouraged Islanders to support the organisation – which she says ‘built her life’.
Mary Richards joined the group’s Fundraising Guild in 1990 and also served as a flag officer from 2001 to 2016, receiving a bronze badge in 2013 and a long-service award in 2020.
Her father, George Stapley, and grandfather William Glendewar, were RNLI crew members, with Mr Glendewar once serving as coxswain on Howard D – the first motorised lifeboat to be stationed in St Helier, which arrived in 1937.
‘Fundraising, organising, helping out – if you’re a member you do these things,’ said the 90-year-old, recalling her regular volunteering work, which included shifts in the lifeboat shop.
‘I always kept myself in the background and I liked to do things for everybody,’ she added, noting that those who were interested in supporting the RNLI should consider volunteering.
‘It’s all important. When I read in the paper that everybody had gone out – and then you hear as you sit down in your chair that another crew had gone out – it’s quite touching really, and nice to know that you’d done a little bit in your life to help save somebody’s life,’ she said, adding that the RNLI was ‘doing a wonderful job’.
‘The lifeboat and all of the members built my life. I was always down the pier or doing something [to help].’
Her daughter, Tina, joined the Guild in 1999 and was also given a long-service award in 2020.
She said: ‘Every little part of an organisation, whatever it is, becomes a big part. You meet people, there’s friendships developed and that’s important. When someone’s gone out, or you find out that one of the crew has not been well and they’ve come back again, it feels like part of a family really.’
Echoing her mother’s comments, she added: ‘Any little bit, whether it’s baking cakes, dropping something off or promoting a [fundraising] event – all those little things are important.’
RNLI Jersey press officer Helier de Veulle said: ‘We couldn’t do what we do if it wasn’t for the efforts of volunteers like Mary and Tina, and the many others who choose to give up their time to fundraise and support the crew members with their life-saving duties. While it is a different role to those who go out on the water, it is still a vital part of the RNLI and we are grateful to everyone who has played their part in supporting the Jersey branch over the years.’
Anyone who would like to get involved with fundraising for the RNLI should contact secretary.rnli.jerseyguild@gmail.com.
