November 11, 2021 - 700 views
Local lifeboat volunteer Keith Charlton has completed 40 years serving in the RNLI including his current stint at the Llandudno station.
Keith has volunteered at both Beaumaris and Llandudno serving on many different lifeboats.
Keith started at Beaumaris in 1981 when the station still had an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat in two quite separate boathouses. Keith was the last serving Winchman before the all-weather lifeboat station was decommissioned in 1991.
Not long after, Keith moved to Llandudno becoming one of the station’s Assistant Mechanics. Apart from Assistant Mechanic, Keith has been a crew member on both the inshore lifeboat and the all-weather lifeboat, a launch vehicle driver, shore crew, reserve Head Launcher, Safety Officer and now Boathouse Manager.
Over his long service Keith has completed hundreds of rescues with many lives saved, Keith recalls that some were particularly challenging and arduous and some sadly with distressing conclusions.
One of Keith’s most poignant memories was being involved with the transfer of a relief lifeboat to Cornwall after the harrowing tragedy involving the Penlee Lifeboat he Solomon Browne in 1981.
He also vividly recalls a particular “shout”, spending many hours at sea in Force Ten gale on board “The Robert” a Watson Class Lifeboat, when the crew were tasked to attend and escort the training ship Kaskelot from the Anglesey coastline back to Liverpool in the most treacherous conditions imaginable.
Representing the RNLI, Keith has also enjoyed meeting members of the Royal Family both at Buckingham Palace and locally with Prince William. Keith recently met with the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge who talked with him about the Prince training with Llandudno Lifeboat during air sea rescue helicopter exercises.
Like many volunteers in the RNLI, Keith’s family have played a huge role in supporting him during his forty years of service, his wife Sue is a member of the HM Coastguard, while following in his footsteps, son Robert has been a serving crew member at Beaumaris as was his late son Darren before him.
Captain Marcus Elliott Lifeboat Operations Manager for Llandudno RNLI said "It’s a fantastic effort by Keith, he has been a loyal and diligent crew member for the last 40 years. He has given great service to Llandudno RNLI, and we are immensely proud to honour his achievements."
Current Coxswain Graham Heritage added, "Keith has always been a highly respected member of the team. His knowledge and experience has been passed down to new crew members over the many years of his service. He has always made himself available night or day and has been a valuable asset to Llandudno Lifeboat."
