Pwllheli Lifeboat Volunteer Retires After Half a Century

Pwllheli RNLI has paid tribute to long-serving volunteer Clifford ‘Cliff’ Thomas, who has retired as an operational volunteer after an incredible 50 years of lifesaving service with the charity.

At a special presentation on Tuesday, 16 September, Cliff was awarded a medal and certificate of service by Carolyn Greene, RNLI Chief People Officer, alongside Andy Vowell, Pwllheli RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, in recognition of his dedication and commitment.

Cliff’s RNLI journey began as a lifeboat crew member in 1975. He later went on to become Pwllheli’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, a position he held until 2021, when, with the opening of Pwllheli RNLI’s new station at Glan y Don, he handed the role to Andy Vowell and took up the role of Launch Authority.

Reflecting on his five decades of volunteering with the RNLI, Cliff recalled the dramatic changes he has witnessed in technology, training, and operations. When receiving his certificate, he said:

‘When I started, the lifeboat was an open wooden vessel with two small 32hp engines, and could only manage 6–7 knots; today’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat can reach 25 knots. Back then, the only technology on board was a radio — there was no radar equipment — and searches at sea often took hours, with a six-hour shout being quite normal.’

He added:

‘In the 1970s we trained every six weeks, compared to today’s weekly exercises; the high standard of training now is incomparable. But one thing that has not changed is the dedication of RNLI volunteers, who have a genuine desire to save lives at sea.’

Cliff also paid tribute to his colleagues at Pwllheli RNLI, praising the excellent team spirit at the station. He offered special thanks to Lifeboat Operations Manager Andy Vowell for his leadership and to Coxswain Mechanic Alwyn Roberts for his longstanding support.

With a smile, Cliff added:

‘It will be strange handing back the pager after all these years, but I’ll certainly be able to sleep easy on a stormy night knowing it won’t wake me with its call.’

Although stepping down from operational roles, Cliff won’t be saying a final farewell to the station just yet. He admits he ‘can’t quite let go completely’ and will continue to share his extensive knowledge as part of Pwllheli RNLI’s visitor engagement team, guiding guests, schoolchildren, and community groups around the lifeboat station.

Speaking on behalf of the station, Andy Vowell said:

‘Cliff has been an inspiration to generations of crew at Pwllheli. His knowledge, commitment, and humility have made him a cornerstone of this station. We thank him wholeheartedly for his half-century of service.’

The RNLI, powered by volunteers like Cliff, continues its mission to save lives at sea, with crews at Pwllheli and across the UK and Ireland on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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.

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