LAST week the team at SARA Beachley honoured one if its longest-serving members, Ron Harris who has been an operational crew member continuously for 35 years.

He was presented with his award and a medal, at the Beachley Station, by Area Commander Merv Fleming and Deputy Executive Chairman Mark Carwardine.

Ron joined SARA in 1981, as a lifeboat crewman.  

He qualified as a helmsman, then as a Coxswain, and has been the station’s Senior Coxswain for many years.

He has trained all of the current Beachley coxswains, and he is also the Beachley Station Manager. Over the years he has participated in more rescues and recoveries than he would care to remember, but he still loves being out on the water.  

Merv Fleming paid tribute to Ron “Ron has been instrumental in the service which the SARA lifeboats have provided, we are very proud of him.”

The SARA Beachley Station has its Open Day on Sunday 26th June, from 10.30am.

There will be demonstations of the lifeboats and other equipment, for the interest of young and non-so-young. Ron would love to see you there.