A VOLUNTEER lifeboat coxswain has been recognised for dedicating four decades to saving lives at sea.

Peter Brown, who is a helm for Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) and a volunteer for Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team, was presented with the prestigious 2nd clasp award for his long service and a good conduct medal at a recent ceremony.

At the special celebration, the 65-year-old was honoured for his long service and was described by colleagues as “generous” and “humbling”.

Mr Brown said: ‘It has been my absolute pleasure to work with so many teams over the years.

“Even today I feel lucky to have worked with what I think are the three best operational teams in the country: the Lymington Coastguard team, the Gosport Independent Lifeboat crew and the whole UK search and rescue team.

“This medal should really be going to my wife Alison, who, as my two sons will testify, is a real driving force behind the man.

“Over the last 40 years I have dragged her all over the country, woke her up at silly o’clock for emergency pager calls, and bored her to tears with my silly excuses for being late.”

Keith Thomas, chairman of GAFIRS, paid tribute to Mr Brown’s work.

He added: “Peter has made a huge contribution to GAFIRS in his time here and continues to helm the lifeboat, commuting for duty days from his home in Lymington.

“His skills and knowledge have helped train many of our crew today and this medal is incredibly well deserved.”