RNLI wins Pride of Britain award

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) coxswain has won the prestigious ITV This Morning Emergency Services Pride of Britain award in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the lifesaving charity.

Former Lerwick Lifeboat Station crew member Hewitt Clark, 79, was announced as the winner on This Morning on Friday (18 October), after being nominated on behalf of the RNLI.

During his 35-years of dedicated service, Hewitt helped saved 319 lives and was awarded three bronze medals, one silver and a gold medal for gallantry, the RNLI’s highest recognition for bravery.

He said: ‘The RNLI is a big part of my life. I have been involved since I was a boy, it’s a big chunk of my life.

‘I am speechless to have won, but what we have to remember is without the volunteers, I could do nothing. It makes you feel very humble.’

Hewitt Clark, Coxswain of the Lerwick Lifeboat in official hat, with lifeboat in background.

RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes said: ‘We are thrilled that Hewitt has been recognised with this prestigious award for his dedication to saving lives at sea, spanning more than three decades of service with the RNLI in the Shetlands.

‘Hewitt is one of three living RNLI lifesavers to have received a gold medal for gallantry, the highest RNLI award for meritorious service, in recognition of his outstanding seamanship while rescuing the crew of the Green Lily in perilous conditions in 1997.

‘I had the great pleasure of meeting Hewitt in August at the Edinburgh Tattoo and it was very special to hear his memories from his time on the crew at Lerwick Lifeboat Station.

‘While Hewitt’s name is the one on the award, this recognition in the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year is truly on behalf of all the lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards who collectively have saved more than 146,000 lives since the charity was founded in 1824.

‘We thank them all for their unwavering service and hope their commitment to saving lives at sea will inspire the next generation of lifesavers.’

Initially joining Lerwick Lifeboat Station in Shetland aged 20, Hewitt went on to work as a full-time mechanic before becoming coxswain in 1979.

In 1983 he was awarded a bronze medal for rescuing three people from a yacht. His second bronze came in 1989 for rescuing three people from a fishing vessel. In 1993 he received his third bronze medal for his leadership during the rescue of six people from a fishing vessel.

Hewitt was then awarded a silver medal in 1995 for outstanding seamanship when he helped rescue 64 people from fish factory ship Pionersk.

Most notably however, Hewitt was awarded a gold medal for gallantry for his pivotal part in the rescue of the Green Lily.

On 19 November 1997, battling storm force winds and enormous waves, the crew of Lerwick Lifeboat Station and coxswain Hewitt rescued 15 people aboard the 3,000-ton cargo vessel.

Thanks to the lifeboat crew and the crew of HM Coastguard’s helicopter, including winchman Bill Deacon who tragically lost his life during the rescue, all 15 people were saved.

Hewitt is one of just three living members of the RNLI to have received a gold medal for gallantry, alongside Brian Bevan from Humber and Keith Bower from Torbay.

He retired in 2000, but still helps the current Lerwick Lifeboat Station volunteers using his own boat as a casualty vessel in training exercises.

Hewitt received the award at the Pride of Britain ceremony in London this month.