A “KEY figure” of Jersey’s RNLI crew is celebrating 40 years of volunteering – and his family has notched up nearly 100 years of combined service.
Chris McFadyen was recently presented with his third Long Service Award at a dinner for the St Catherine’s Lifeboat crew.
Mr McFadyen first joined in 1983, when the lifeboat station was still at the top of the slipway at St Catherine’s Breakwater.
During his career, he helmed two different vessels.
After retiring in 1996 due to the age-limitation policy used by the RNLI, he took on a number of land-based roles, working as shore support, press officer and training co-ordinator.
Mr McFadyen has been deputy launching authority since 2007, which makes him responsible for deciding when to launch the boat, as well as making sure the lifeboat is always ready to be put to sea.
He is not the only one in his family with an impressive RNLI track record: his wife, Caryll, joined the group’s Fundraising Guild when an invitation was extended to crew members’ partners. She served as secretary for 34 years and is now honorary vice-president.
Their son Edward joined the RNLI in 2001 and he, too, has received a Long Service Award.
Nigel Sweeny, lifeboat operations manager for RNLI Jersey, said: “I am delighted that Chris has been recognised for his long-standing voluntary service to the RNLI.
“Chris’s unwavering enthusiasm and pragmatic approach to everything he tackles has meant that he has been a key figure in the RNLI Jersey community for the last four decades.
“Most recently, his roles as deputy launching authority and member of the operations management team allow him to share his considerable and valuable experience with the amazing team and local crew we have within RNLI Jersey.”
The RNLI issues a Long Service Award after 20 years of voluntary work and then again every ten years after that.
