Honour for Brighton lifeboat volunteer

In 1980, Stan Todd was visiting his brother in Brighton just after leaving the army when they heard two maroons firing above them.

They joined the crowds rushing down to watch the lifeboat launch and by the time it had hit the water, Stan said, “That’s what I’m going to do.”

He signed up as crew in the station that afternoon, and the rest is history.

Stan was the first member of RNLI crew to complete 1,000 shouts and has lost count of the hundreds of lives he has saved in his years of service.

He received an award for a launch during Hurricane Charlie in August 1987 during a shout when he and three other crew swam a life raft back to Brighton beach after the boat had capsized three times. The crew still rescued those in trouble in the water.

Stan said: “I’m absolutely astonished to receive this honour. None of us on lifeboats do what we do for an award like that. I feel so privileged to be recognised for doing something I love this much. Being lifeboat crew gets in your blood – we socialise together when we’re off the boat and we’re family to each other.

"I think my wife and daughters are looking forward to this ceremony even more than I am! I’m hugely proud to have been part of the RNLI for this long and I want to continue saving lives for as long as I can."

Paul Boissier, RNLI chief executive, said: "The RNLI depends on the commitment, courage and skills of its volunteers, fundraisers and staff and I am delighted to see that that Stan has been recognised in this years’ Queen’s Birthday Honours. It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of him – and all our other amazing people who do so much to help us continue our lifesaving work."

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