Solent Rescue receive Queen's Award for Voluntary Service at Lepe beach event

SOLENT Rescue were delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the hard work they do keeping people safe at Lepe Beach.

The award was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, at an event held at Lepe Country Park which also marked the 50th anniversary of the charity.

Past and present members of the organisation were there to see Solent Rescue chair Cameron Critchfield accept the accolade – one of only four handed out to charities in Hampshire this year.

Wayne Monks, press officer for the charity, said: “It was an honour to host the Lord-Lieutenant at Lepe to formally present the award which is a testament to all the crew past and present for the hard work that is put in to keeping the unit going, also the family members of the crew who support them in doing this.”

The charity was formed in 1971, initially as a beach rescue unit in response to a spate of incidents at the site caused by the strong currents there.

It evolved to also become operational offshore, and it now helps to monitor approximately 33 square miles of the central and western Solent from Easter until September.

Staffed by volunteers from all walks of life, it has been responsible for saving lives and acts as an additional lifeboat service for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The charity has two boats and is able to respond to incidents fast as it is often training on the sea or at anchor at Lepe beach.