Excellence In Volunteering - Jonathan Clark - Poole Lifeboat Station
The word 'Life-boat' is synonymous to Jonathan, as for over 35 years (official years) and long before that his life has been arranged around an RNLI boat.
RNLI/John Earnshaw
Johnathan and Paul
He is from a long briny line of master mariners and lifeboat men; A great great grandfather was saving lives at Mudeford long before the RNLI was established there and his brave grandfather, a Grimsby trawler man served in the Merchant Navy on the dangerous decoy runs, during the 2nd World War.
Jonathan followed and served alongside his dad, cousin and godfather on the Poole Lifeboat crew, it truly is his calling and DNA.
The first thing you notice about Jonathan is his big smile, this radiates with his huge motivation to help others.
Jonathan was the 12th and last Poole Coxswain from 1998 till the 'City of Sheffield' left the station in 2016, he still had the will and desire to stay on and felt that he had plenty more to give so worked alongside the younger crew, trained and became reacquainted, with the D class and Atlantic 85, Jonathan had served on a D Class many years before at Poole and was a busy Helm before he became Coxswain, he just wanted to do what he does best, saving lives at sea, sharing his wealth of knowledge and years of experience with the younger crew and boats officers, helping the station to move smoothly into its next phase as an Inshore lifeboat station.
Our LOM Paul Glatzel presented Jonathan with his Excellence in Volunteering award on behalf of the RNLI Chairman and Council for his invaluable contribution to Poole Lifeboat, for constantly providing a professional service and for being an ambassador and a well-respected leader to his fellow crew. It also recognised Jonathan for fully embodying the RNLI values of being selfless, courageous, trustworthy and dependable quite fitting as in 1999 Jonathan accepted the Freedom of the Borough of Poole on behalf of the whole of the RNLI for the 175th anniversary.
Congratulations Jonathan, this acknowledgement is much deserved
Anne-Marie Clark
Lifeboat Press Officer, Poole Lifeboat Station
Poole Lifeboat Station