Ron Caldicott, from Hayling Island, has been awarded the prestigious Silver Statuette by the RNLI after 39 years of employment and voluntary service with the lifesaving charity.

The 70-year-old, of Rogers Mead, joined the RNLI after spending 16 years maintaining destroyers, frigates and submarines in the Royal Navy.

He used expertise gained during his life at sea and became a radio engineer with the charity in 1970 and part of the team responsible for making lifeboats safer.

In 1971 he set up the RNLI's workshop which bought and maintained the electronic equipment installed on lifeboats and visited and went to sea in every lifeboat in the fleet.

He said: 'I kept everything going. I was responsible for the care, maintenance, and training for all the electrical equipment.

'As a volunteer I managed the rescues with the Coastguard and made the decision on whether a boat could go out or not.

'Over nearly 40 years I've met some wonderful people in the crews and have a great regard for the service. There is a fantastic sense of camaraderie and I believe it is a great service to be involved with.'

During 15 years living in Portsmouth Mr Caldicott was part of the Eastney auxiliary coastguard and a member of its mud rescue team.

Keen to be involved again in a local search and rescue service, he joined Hayling Island Lifeboat Station as a volunteer, initially as a shore helper and then going on to become a Deputy Launching Authority.

His most moving experience with the RNLI was in 1981 when he was part of the team that investigated the Penlee lifeboat disaster, which saw all the members of a lifeboat crew die trying to save the crew of stricken coaster Union Star in appalling conditions.

He retired earlier this year and is now helping with crew training at the station.

'I was honoured to have been presented with this award', he said. 'It has been a privilege to be involved with the RNLI for 39 years both as an employee and a volunteer.'