Judith Richardson BEM R.I.P.

Judith with sons Mark and Stewart

Judith, being presented with the BEM by HRH King Charles’ Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain

Judith passed away peacefully and unexpectedly on February 20th 2025.

Judith, along with her late husband William was a highly respected resident, a member of one of the oldest families of Dungeness and a life long active supporter and stalwart of the local Dungeness Lifeboat community.

Recognised and honoured in King Charles’ 2023 honours list, she received the BEM medal for her service to the RNLI and specifically for her life-long dedication to Dungeness Lifeboat Station, where she began her volunteer role at the age of 20 as a ‘Lady Launcher’. The ‘Lady Launchers’ being predominantly wives and female family members of the lifeboat crew and were responsible for launching and recovering the lifeboat in all weathers whilst their husbands went to sea.

Over the years, Judith embraced many other roles including, in 1967, fundraising and, alongside her late husband William spending a great deal of time taking the charity’s water safety roadshow to various events across the country. William, who had retired as Coxswain of the station in 1998 remained an active member of the team until he passed away.

Judith stepped down from her most recent role as volunteer lifeboat press officer in 2024, but she remained involved with the station until her passing last month. having stated ‘I am so very proud of everything I’ve been involved with in the RNLI – I’ve enjoyed and loved all of it and I just hope along the way I’ve helped to save some lives. I haven’t got the energy that I used to but I’m just as committed as I ever was to this wonderful charity.’

For our overseas visitors to this site it should be noted that the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Association) is not Government funded. It is a charity, relying solely on donations from the public.

The RNLI was founded in 1824 (Dungeness established 1826) and to date records indicate over 137,000 lives have been saved. There are over 230 lifeboat stations around the coastlines of the UK and more 140 lifeguard units. For further, in depth reading refer to ‘History’ page in Wikipedia and of course the rnli.org website.

If you are interested in volunteering for Dungeness RNLI Lifeboat Station, we have a number or roles available both afloat and shore based. Please contact the station on 01797 320317 or Dungeness@rnli.org.uk if you would like to take on a new challenge and become part of the charity that saves lives at sea.

And of course donations to this very worth cause are always appreciated.

Text and photos courtesy of the NRLI Dungeness

February 2019. Captain left. Lifeboat member on board

Locals to the rescue. February 2019

About the Author: Mike Golding

Born in Ashford a long time ago I have had a lifelong relationship with Dungeness having spent every year here for a fortnights holiday up to the age of 15. In those good old days there was no electricity and hence no radio, no running water and no adequate sewage solutions. Nothing to do other than enjoy the vast expanse of the Ness and all it offered for the young children of that era. Out after breakfast and back before nightfall. There were lakes to swim in. Same lakes to boat on (well old railway sleepers). A derelict school and long disused railway station in and on which to play. Gun emplacements, underground shelters. Sheer bliss. That all ended at 16 when I joined the RAF, finally purchasing a shack – as indeed it was then – in 1971 for the princely sum of £750.00. Only 15 years prior to that we could not afford the £150.00 asking price for what was then known as ‘Windwhistle’, reported to be one of Queen Victoria’s entourages carriages. Still there today, sold last year (2022) and still awaiting planning permission to re construct, but the original structure still concealed behind painted shiplap. Leaving the mob I travelled, retuning ‘home’ as oft I could, and realistically, only becoming a permanent fixture since 1977. In those days there was a vibrant community here with annual gatherings for the Mayday festival – spit roast and all and open days at the Lifeboat station – with bosuns chairs, zip wires to keep the kids happy. I think Health and Safety put paid to that and other activities, as did the moving away of many locals. The result of which , today there are probably less than 20 families residing here permanently, (I have been told not to use the word ‘shacks’ as now, at £650,000.00 plus they are 'desirable bungalows in a well sought after locale'. So ‘Shacks’ they are! End. P.S A few originals left to rent from £500 per week.