Six Duddon Inshore Rescue volunteers awarded King's Coronation Medal

The medal is awarded to members of civilian emergency services who have completed five years of service.

Ian Standing, Chris McNamee, Jon Lewney, Stu Fagan, Neil Hargreaves and Rebecca Smith will be presented with their medals at a celebratory event today (Saturday).

Each of these recipients has earned their medal through volunteer work, dedicating their own time to help those in danger.

The team provides a search and rescue operation, offering assistance to anyone or anything in peril from the sea in the Duddon Estuary and out towards Walney.

The Duddon Inshore Rescue Team in action (Image: Graham Postlethwaite)The Duddon estuary is tidal with dangerous currents and treacherous sands and has been the site of many fatal accidents and near-miss incidents over the years.

Since it was established, Duddon Inshore Rescue has been involved in more than 400 incidents.

Rebecca Smith, the Duddon Inshore Rescue Secretary, said: “What makes these special for Duddon Inshore Rescue is that the people receiving the medals have volunteered all their time over the five years rather than receiving payment as part of a job or call-out.”

Chris McNamee has volunteered with the team and been on the committee for 50 years while Ian Standing has been a member for 47 years.

Rebecca said: “They both remember Duddon Inshore Rescue as children with Chris helping to paint our boathouse when he was just 13 years old. Over this time they have been awarded medals for the Silver, Golden and Platinum Jubilee.”

Both men have been involved in numerous rescues and shared their most memorable incidents.

Chris said the rescue of Alan Hughes and searching unsuccessfully for Ian Howard stands out most to him.

For Ian, a rescue involving a gentleman who had gone under the water near Askam pier was ‘remarkable’ as, upon being rescued, he thought his rescuers were angels coming to take him ‘up’.

Chris's ties to Duddon Inshore Rescue extend to his dad Bernard McNamee, who was one of the founder members of Duddon Inshore Rescue and was elected chairman at a public meeting when the organisation was formed in July 1969.

Barrow mayor Steve Darbyshire presented a commemorative plaque to Bernard McNamee of Duddon Inshore Rescue in 1996 in recognition of the good work done by the organisation (Image: Newsquest)

Bernard retired from active service in 1997, served as Chairman until 2000 and continued as President until his death in 2013.

Rebecca said: “As an organisation we are immensely proud of the dedication shown to us by our crew.

“As Bernard maintained, you cannot do justice to any organisation without your committee and the fantastic support of family members and most of all the local public and businesses who have supported us for 55 years.”

The late president of Duddon Inshore Rescue, Bernard Mcnamee, receiving his MBE from the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria in 2006 (Image: Norman Pascoe)

To celebrate, there is a presentation by HM Coastguard and an open day at the boathouse from 11am to 1pm on Saturday.