A long serving member of the Port Talbot Lifeboat Station has been presented with a 40 year bar to his gold medal.
Phil Walker joined the station in 1972 and served on the lifeboat for 15 years when he stepped down from the lifeboat crew and became a member of the station’s shore crew. Phil’s main job was to ensure the fuel for the lifeboat was purchased and mixed with two stroke oil and ready for use, a job he still does today.
For many years Phil served as a police officer with the local constabulary, rising to the rank of Sergeant, before retiring in 1996. He has also been a cub scout leader in Port Talbot since 1978.
Phil received his 20 year gold badge in 1992 and his 30 year bar in 2002, and he has now received the 40 year bar in 2012.
During a visit to the station by the Coastal Review team, Phil was presented with his 40 year bar to his gold medal by Rear Admiral John Toulhurst, Chairman of the RNLI’s Operations Management Group.