An Isle of Wight coastguard has received his British Empire Media today (Friday, November 3) at the station he has manned for more than four decades.
Martin Rayner was named in the 2023 New Year Honours List for services to maritime safety, having spent more than 40 years volunteering for HM Coastguard in Ventnor.
He signed up as a 25-year-old auxiliary coastguard, now known as the Coastguard Rescue Service, in April 1980.
The 68-year-old had been due to retire in January 2023 but decided to hold off to receive the medal.
Today at 3pm, the Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Susie Sheldon, presented Martin with his medal at Ventnor Coastguard Station as his last act as a serving coastguard.
Andrew Woodford, HM Coastguard’s senior coastguard operations officer for the Island, said: “Martin was really instrumental in my training. I signed up in 2002 and have worked with him for 21 years. He’s a huge part of the coastguard on the Isle of Wight, and he will be sorely missed.
“I think everyone currently in the team was guided by Martin when they started, and he leaves a big legacy behind. He’s such a character, he’s been good for morale, and such a well-liked and well-respected member of the team."
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