Richard’s life of dedication to lifeboat

Cromer RNLI recently celebrated the long service of crew member Richard Kirk, who has just marked more than three decades of dedication to the lifeboat station and the community he calls home.

Born and brought up in Cromer, the lifeboat station has never been  far from Richard’s world.

His father worked for local fisherman Richard Davies, who first suggested that a young Richard might like to get involved with the lifeboat. That simple conversation proved life-changing.

In 1990, aged 13, Richard began going down to the station, helping out wherever he could — cleaning, making cups of tea and lending a hand with the everyday jobs that keep a lifeboat station running.

By 1996, his commitment and enthusiasm saw him become a fully-fledged shore crew member.

Over the years, Richard took on a wide range of roles at the station.

He served as crew on both the all-weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat, and was a navigator, a head launcher and an integral part of the shore crew.

During his time at the station, the lifeboat launched on countless occasions and 27 lives were saved — a powerful testament to the collective efforts of the crew he was proud to stand alongside.

Reflecting on his service, Richard said: “The lifeboat station was my second family. It meant everything to me.

“From the moment I started coming down as a kid I felt part of something special, and I was incredibly proud to play my part
in helping people when they needed us most.”

Richard stepped away from the station in November 2023 to pursue other opportunities.

John Redmond, lifeboat operations manager, said: “Richard’s dedication over so many years has been exceptional… his commitment has made a real difference. We are hugely grateful for everything he has given to the station and the RNLI.”