A PRESTIGIOUS accolade has been handed to the chairman of the Solihull Lifeboat Fundraising Branch for his dedicated work over the past two decades.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution awarded the Gold Badge to Clive Buckley at an awards ceremony held at Birmingham University’s Great Hall.
Vicky Wright, the RNLI’s vice-chair, presented Mr Buckley with the accolade in recognition of the dedicated support he has given the lifeboat service.
The Solihull Lifeboat Appeal was launched in 1986 and Mr Buckley has been the chairman ever since helping to raise a whopping £41,310.
The money has been used to purchase a new Atlantic 21 class inshore lifeboat named ‘The Borough of Solihull’ which served at Abersoch, in North Wales, from 1990 until 2002. For the past 13 years, the ‘Margaret Bench of Solihull’ has been used.
David Herriott, Solihull branch’s press officer, said the gold award was a great honour, not only for Mr Buckley but also for the branch itself.
He added the Solihull branch consistently raised at least £10,000 every year and its success was due to the generous support they received from the public at their various fundraising events.
“It is only awarded after many years of dedicated support of the lifeboat service which he and the branch have given,” Mr Herriott said.
“Congratulations are due to Clive and a big thank you to all our supporters.”
