JUDITH RICHARDSON BEM.

On Tuesday 7 November, Judith Richardson, long-serving volunteer at Dungeness RNLI lifeboat station, received her British Empire Medal in recognition of 56 years of service to the charity.

The investiture was held at Knole House in Sevenoaks and Judith received her medal from His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain.

Judith’s medal recognises her service to the RNLI and to Dungeness Lifeboat Station where she began her volunteer role at the age of 20 as a ‘Lady Launcher’. The ‘Lady Launchers’ were predominantly the wives and female family members of the lifeboat crew and were responsible for launching and recovering the lifeboat in all weathers while their husbands went to sea.

Over the years, Judith embraced many other roles including fundraising and also spent time taking the charity’s water safety roadshow across the country to various events alongside her late-husband William, who had retired as Coxswain of the station.

Judith’s most recent role was Lifeboat Press Officer where she was responsible for overseeing the media enquiries for the lifeboat station and promoting the excellent work of the volunteers.

Vicky Morgan, Lifeboat Operations Manager, says:

‘Judith remains a key part of the lifeboat station to this day and is respected and loved by all the volunteers here. Her history at the station and wealth of experience, as well as her passion for the RNLI is an inspiration to the volunteers, both old and new.

The station is thrilled that she has been recognised in this way, the medal is very well deserved. Judith Richardson is one of three Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers that has been recognised in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours for her role in helping the charity save lives at sea.

Judith Richardson is one of three Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers that has been recognised in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours for her role in helping the charity save lives at sea. During her 56 years of service to the charity, Judith has held several roles at Dungeness Lifeboat Station. The wife of former coxswain, William Richardson, she started at the age of 20 as one of the charity’s last lady launchers – the team of women who helped to launch the lifeboat until 1977.

In 1967, she also embraced the fundraising and water safety education roles, taking the charity’s water safety roadshow around the country with her husband. She stepped down from her most recent role as volunteer lifeboat press officer last year, informing the media every time the lifeboat launches, but she is still involved with the station to this day.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie said: ‘Volunteers are the heart of the RNLI and make up the vast majority of our people. It is incredible to think that one of them started with us when the RNLI was still manually launching Watson class lifeboats off Dungeness beach – few active volunteers have witnessed such significant changes in lifesaving.’

A dedicated and enthusiastic lifeboat volunteer, Judith has been recognised for her efforts with a British Empire Medal (BEM). She said: ‘I was totally overwhelmed when I received the letter letting me know I was getting this honour.

‘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.’

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.

Text and photos courtesy of the NRLI Dungeness

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.