Thames RNLI Volunteer made MBE in King’s Birthday Honours
Tony Vlasto first joined the RNLI’s City of London Committee as a volunteer fundraiser in 1981. He was appointed chair in 2003 and since 2017 has served as president of the Committee, Tony played a vital role in raising £1.5m for Tower Lifeboat Station on the River Thames.
Tower Lifeboat Station is the busiest lifeboat station for the RNLI, enabling 6,424 rescues to take place and saving 283 lives. Tony ensured the RNLI had pride of place at the Lord Mayor’s parade in 2015, with over 250,000 people attending the event and a further 3.5 million watching the live broadcast as a new Shannon class lifeboat was paraded through the streets of London.
Tower RNLI Thames Commander Craig Burn said: ‘Tony Vlasto hugely deserves this recognition and it truly is an honour to know him, everyone at the station are incredible proud, not only has he played an integral part for Tower Lifeboat Station, but he’s enabled the RNLI City of London Committee to also raise funds for coastal stations including Dover which is close to my heart’
‘Tony and his wife always attend and support the fundraising events and his calm approach is admirable for the charity. A truly genuine gentlemen and the RNLI are incredible lucky to have support from the Vlasto family.'
Tony Vlasto said: ‘Whilst humbled and proud personally, this honour is really for those many committee members and others including my family who have tolerated and supported me for over 40 years and my abiding passion for the RNLI and its truly amazing and inspirational work.'
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes said: ‘The commitment and dedication of our people never ceases to amaze me, and these individuals are no exception. I am so pleased to see this national recognition right across the RNLI from the frontline delivery of our lifesaving services to our shops and fundraising groups.’
‘My congratulations to these worthy recipients and my sincere thanks to the thousands of others who continue to volunteer their time to saving lives at sea.’
Notes to Editor
Tower RNLI, based in the heart of London, is our busiest lifeboat station. The crew are on the station 24/7, 365 days a year- ready to respond to any incident immediately.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
· Ashley Bard, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected]
· Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]
· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.