RNLI volunteers past and present gathered to celebrate over 87 years of operational service carried out by two stalwarts of The Lizard lifeboat station as the pair retired.

John Harris has given over 47 years service while Phil Burgess who retired as full-time coxswain in October 2010, and continued on until recently as a volunteer shore crew member, notched up over 40 years service.

While John was a lifeboat crew member he and Phil were involved in a number of difficult service calls which included the rescue of the yacht Heptarchy with 12 people onboard, which got into difficulties 40 miles south of Lizard Point. The lifeboat was at sea for over 11 hours, towing the yacht back to the Helford river in hurricane force winds.

John’s extraordinary service with the RNLI was recognised in 1987 when he received his long service badge and in 2012 he received his second bar to the badge in recognition of over 45 years service at the station.

Phil received his second bar to his long service badge in recognition of 40 years service at the crew dinner just before Christmas last year. It was then that he decided it was time to stand down from the shore crew.

John has held a number of important positions at the station. From 1967 to 1985 he was a shore crew member, 1985 to 1989 winch operator, 1989 to 1990 all-weather lifeboat crew member, 1990 to 1999 assistant mechanic, 1999 to 2003 shore crew member, 2003 to 2004 deputy winch operator, 2004 to 2010 winch operator and 2010 to 2014 deputy launching authority. He will continue to support the station for many years to come, in his capacity as a vice president of the branch.

He was born in The Lizard and during his 70 years has volunteered for a number of different organisations which includes the Holman – Climax Male Voice Choir and he has been a member of the church bell ringers since 1961 alongside his RNLI service.

At the recent retirement party RNLI operations director, George Rawlinson, presented both men with service certificates in recognition of their service to The Lizard lifeboat station.

Lizard lifeboat operations manager, Ned Nuzum, said: "Both Phil and John have had a long and distinguished service here at The Lizard and we cannot thank them enough for all their time and dedication. Eighty-seven years is a phenomenal amount of time and just shows the calibre of person that volunteer for The Lizard lifeboat and wider RNLI."