News
news update
Many Happy returns to Mabel self MBE and RNLI life Governor on her 90th birthday

Many Happy returns to Mabel self MBE and RNLI life Governor on her 90th birthday
6th feb 2012
Mabel who has volunteered for the RNLI for over 40 years has been rewarded with the charity’s highest honour
Mabel Self, 89, became an Honorary Life Governor for the RNLI – their highest possible award, in a ceremony at London’s Barbican, in
recognition of her long and valuable service to the Holyhead and Trearddur Bay Ladies Lifeboat Guild.
She was also recognised for her work with the award of an MBE from the Queen in 1999.
Mabel, from Holyhead, has already received a silver, gold and gold bar RNLI award for her work, which started back in 1969.
A native of Glan Conwy, who trained as a nurse at Llandudno Hospital, mother of three Mabel who still does regular volunteer work for the
RNLI at their shop in Holyhead, Gwynedd Hospice at Home, and the WRVS, came to Holyhead in 1968 when her late husband, Cecil Self
became the bank manager for the National Provincial Bank in Holyhead, which later became NatWest.
At the time, the wives of bank managers were not supposed to work, so to fill her time she threw herself into local charity work.
In 1972 Mabel became Chairman of the Guild a position she held until recently when she became local guild branch president.
Mrs Self explained: “I was very nervous at the ceremony and also feel very humble to have received this award.
Great picture some crew wearing various life jackets old to latest on BBC filming SOS Day picture taken by Rob Formston Free lance photographer

By Roy Norry
The RNLI Holyhead each year offer a thank you to volunteers and their families by launching the lifeboat
and having a social gathering of friends and supporters, families and volunteers. The Severn class all
weather boat is launched on this one special day of the year, as it tours the Holyhead port to thank
supporters, and it takes part in the annual charity New Years Day Swim of Holyhead.
There were hot mince pies on the shore line, the Mayor of Holyhead being the donor, and plenty of sea
faring veterans attended both the Lifeboat 'thank you day' and the cold morning swim for charity, along
with families and individuals young and old who came to observe the spectacle.
There was no shortage of good food on offer back at the RNLI boat house either, as Mabel, in her 90's,
prepared as she does each year a buffet fit for a King and Queen. Mabel runs the RNLI Lifeboat Shop with
her friend Daphne. I also met John Parry, a former Honorary Secretary of Holyhead Lifeboat, Alan Simms
of the Coastguard cliff and rescue service, and I spoke to onlooker Davy John who was the original First
Hand of the cliff rescue service many years ago.
I was invited to the event by Ray Steadman, a lifeboat crew member and publicity officer for Holyhead
Lifeboat who we'll hear from in the feature, and he introduced me to the second coxswain, Tony Price, who
explained to me what the day was all about.
click here to follow story and pictures
big thanks to http://www.fourthelement.com/ for their thermal head gear gift to the Holyhead volunteer
crew and martin Sampson for organizing it ,will be a great help with winter weather thank you
RNLI bike ride
Big thank you to the two guys Bob and Zack for you fundraising towards the rnli running costs it always humbles us here at holyhead lifeboat station to see what lengths people will go to to help us thanks again from the crew and committee at Holyhead

letter received from our friends at Llanfwrog sailing club big thank you from all the crew at
holyhead lifeboat station
Double for station this Sunday emergency coxswain Craig Stallman
received his long service award and ILB helm Martin Sampson has
his last trip on the ILB as martin has reached retirement age for
inshore lifeboat
Latest rescue video 30/07/11 click here
Trent 14-24 Dora Foster McDougall on station
ILB crew at Llanfwrog regatta
6th Aug 11-00 till 14-00 Main Champ race with a reserve day 7th Aug
20th Aug 11-00 till 14-00 Novice race with reserve date 21 Aug
congratulations to Mrs Mabel Self MBE from the crew and committee for receiving the charity’s
highest honour
see pictures off Mabel in the holyhead lifeboat shop
Mabel who has volunteered for the RNLI for over 40 years has been rewarded with the charity’s highest honour.
Mabel Self, 89, became an Honorary Life Governor for the RNLI – their highest possible award, in a ceremony at London’s Barbican, in recognition of her long and valuable service to the Holyhead and Trearddur Bay Ladies Lifeboat Guild.
She was also recognised for her work with the award of an MBE from the Queen in 1999.
Mabel, from Holyhead, has already received a silver, gold and gold bar RNLI award for her work, which started back in 1969.
A native of Glan Conwy, who trained as a nurse at Llandudno Hospital, mother of three Mabel who still does regular volunteer work for the RNLI at their shop in Holyhead, Gwynedd Hospice at Home, and the WRVS, came to Holyhead in 1968 when her late husband, Cecil Self became the bank manager for the National Provincial Bank in Holyhead, which later became NatWest.
At the time, the wives of bank managers were not supposed to work, so to fill her time she threw herself into local charity work.
In 1972 Mabel became Chairman of the Guild a position she held until recently when she became local guild branch president.
Mrs Self explained: “I was very nervous at the ceremony and also feel very humble to have received this award.
“I have always enjoyed doing the volunteer work as it means that you get out of the house and make new friends.
“It all started after we settled in Holyhead in the late 1960s.
“I was at a function with a lady called Mrs Horspool who asked me to join the lifeboat ladies and that was it.
“We held regular coffee mornings and had cake stalls and sold souvenirs and eventually we managed to get a permanent shop in Holyhead lifeboat station.
“I still do it, it keeps me busy.”
Not always rain snow and wind take a look at the fantastic
wild life just outside the
holyhead harbour thanks to the crew for pictures


Holyhead's Christopher's Pearce's little brother Llandudno's (Mersey) Andy Pearce drops in. The two lifeboats boats where last together for holyhead naming ceremony 5 years ago ,thanks to Ian station mechanic for the picture
BAE Systems Staff at RAF Valley handed over a cheque for £500 at the valley hotel to help the towns RNLI lifeboat This is not the first time our friends at BAE have given generously to the RNLI big thanks to all from the coxswain and crew

CLASSIC CAR CLUB DROP IN TO VISIT STATION

Towns mayor goes to sea to commemorate merchant shipping day