A ceremony was held at the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes on Tuesday (10th September) to mark the retirement of Major General Sir Martin White KCVO, CB, CBE, JP as the President of the Isle of Wight RNLI Board.
Before the Board’s presentation to Sir Martin, he kindly carried out one final duty by presenting ‘Excellence in Volunteering’ awards to Caroline Peel (Vice-Chairman of the Board) and Lesley Myland (Honorary Secretary).
The Board was established in 1859 to assist with Island wide fundraising for lifeboats to cover the ‘Back of the Wight’. The heroism and dedication of the early lifeboat volunteers continues to inspire current generations of RNLI Staff and volunteers.
Sir Martin in his role as President, and also as the Island’s Lord Lieutenant, has consistently supported and encouraged with vigour, the work and ethos of the RNLI across the Isle of Wight in trying to ‘Save Lives at Sea’. Sir Martin White accepted the Presidency of the Isle of Wight RNLI Board, a unique organisation within the RNLI, in 2006.
He has consistently supported the Board’s volunteers in their efforts to raise funds, encouraged RNLI’s staff and volunteers with the Island’s 3 lifeboat stations and at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre. He has officiated at Royal visits, lifeboat naming ceremonies, and other special RNLI events. Tasks that he has undertaken with a sincere and genuine understanding of the RNLI’s ethos and work on the Isle of Wight.
Before making the presentation, Robin Ebsworth, Chairman of the Board, explained that the painting that Sir Martin was to be presented with was commissioned by the Board and was the work of Steve Simmonds, a former coxswain of the Bembridge Lifeboat and interestingly also previously an employee of the Inshore Lifeboat Centre.
After Robin Ebsworth had made the presentation, Mark Southworth, Lifeboat Operations Manager of Cowes RNLI, presented Sir Martin with a picture from the Station. Ed Rennie, an apprentice at Inshore Lifeboat Centre then presented some flowers to Lady White.
The Chairman then introduced Angie Rook, the Associate Director of the Fundraising, Marketing and Media Department of the RNLI, who talked about the RNLI’s award of Vice-President of the RNLI to Sir Martin and presented him a certificate. She explained that this award was made by the Board of Trustee’s of the RNLI and that of the 90 Honorary Vice-Presidents throughout the UK & ROI, Sir Martin was the only one on the Isle the Wight.
Sir Martin then thanked both the Isle of Wight Lifeboat Board, and the Board of Trustees of the RNLI for their generous words and presentations. He added that he was almost lost for words and felt greatly honoured; he had after all only been doing what he enjoyed doing. He commended the work of the Isle of Wight Lifeboat Board which he saw embracing the RNLI family across the Island and being made a Life President of the RNLI was the ‘icing on the cake’.
