Ventnor’s Martin Rayner has received his British Empire Medal from Lord Lieutenant Susie Sheldon for his exemplary 42 years service to His Majesty’s Coastguard. For the past 5 decades, Martin has responded to his pager – both day and night – to assist those in peril at sea and around the Island’s coastline, attending more than 2,000 shouts in every condition imaginable. Martin was named in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list for services to maritime safety. Although he signed up as a 25-year-old auxiliary coastguard, now known as the Coastguard Rescue Service, in April 1980, his history goes back even further than that, as detailed in an exclusive interview with Island Echo last year. He began his service on the same day that his own father retired from the Coastguard. Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Susie Sheldon, presented the 68-year-old with his medal at Ventnor Coastguard Station this afternoon (Friday) as one of his last acts as a serving Coastguard. He stopped operational duties back in April and still stand down after next weekend’s Remembrance Sunday.
Andrew Woodford, Senior Coastal Operations Officer for the Isle of Wight, said he was not alone in feeling indebted to Martin, as a former volunteer with the Ventnor team. He said:
“Martin was really instrumental in my training. I signed up in 2002 and have worked with him for 21 years, that is such a long time. He’s a huge part of the Coastguard on the Isle of Wight and he will be sorely missed. “I think everyone currently in the team was guided by Martin when they started and he leaves a big legacy behind. He’s such a character, he’s been so good for morale, and such a well-liked and well-respected member of the team. “He is very deserving of the medal and I think we are all really looking forward to giving him his moment. “It makes it extra special to be able to present it to Martin in the very station he manned for over 40 years.”
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Pete Mizen, Chief Coastguard for His Majesty’s Coastguard service, has said:
“It is people like Martin who make HM Coastguard such a special service, as it is hard to put into words the commitment he has shown for more than 40 years in keeping people safe at the coast. “I would like to once more express my gratitude to him for everything he has done, both personally and on behalf of His Majesty’s Coastguard. “Thank you Martin.”
