A man from Mousehole credited for his compassionate and selfless commitment to the lifeboat station and wider community has been recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s 2015 New Year Honours list.

Roy Pascoe, 73, has been a volunteer with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Penlee for the last 34 years, first as a crew member and more recently as lifeboat boathouse manager, providing an invaluable sense of stability through some difficult times.

He will now receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of his unwavering commitment to the lifeboat crew and wider community of Newlyn.

Following the tragic events of December 19, 1981, where all eight crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost in a service to the stricken coaster Union Star, Roy did much to calm and reassure others in a community hit by tragedy and he has continued to provide this support, staying close to the families and acting as a constant source of wisdom, encouragement and cheerful enthusiasm for the crew.

More recently he has set about preserving the old lifeboat station at Penlee Point, together with the small memorial garden which first opened in 1985 to commemorate those lost on the Solomon Browne.

Paul Boissier, the RNLI’s chief executive, says: "Roy is always cheerful and has a kind word for every visitor. You’ll often find him bringing the crew biscuits and tea after a long night on the water. He never seeks any recognition for his work, instead possessing a quiet unassuming warmth that endears him to all who visit Penlee.

"His sense of continuity, history and perspective has been vital in the lifeboat station’s spirit over recent years. I am delighted that he is being recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours list."