Lifeboat Press Officer, Dan Whiteley, has been presented with the RNLI’s Excellence in Volunteering Award in recognition of his dedication to the role and Hoylake Lifeboat Station.
Yesterday marked the beginning of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) and at Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station they were celebrating their Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO) and Crew Member, Dan Whiteley.
Dan was nominated for the award due to his amazing work promoting Hoylake RNLI, supporting RNLI fundraising and safety campaigns as well as going above and beyond in his role of the LPO.
All RNLI volunteers are valued and make a difference however, this award recognises those who go above and beyond, something which Dan embodies.
Dan began volunteering with Hoylake RNLI back in 2006 when he became a volunteer crew member. However, his journey with the RNLI began long before this as both his father and grandfather volunteered on the Hoylake Lifeboat for decades prior. Dan, his older brother and younger sister have all since followed in their footsteps.
Having always had an interest in communications and when social media began to grow many years ago, Dan saw the chance to help showcase the incredible skill, courage and selflessness of the crew to a wider audience.
After a few years working in London, he re-joined the crew in 2017 and formally took on the role of Deputy LPO at Hoylake, advancing to Lifeboat Press Officer in 2022.
For the last five years, Dan has worked endlessly to share news of rescues, the excellent work of the Hoylake RNLI volunteers and important safety messages with the community with his efforts both on and off the lifeboat helping to save lives at sea.
Dan manages these two roles alongside working full-time as a civil servant in a government department. He enjoys walking and water sports on the stunning Wirral coast, travelling, nature-watching, theatre and cinema, and spending time with family.
Dan Said, “However, as all our crew know, the sound of the pager is never far away. Volunteering with the RNLI will always be such a huge passion and privilege and I wouldn’t be able to manage all this without the help and support from my wonderful wife Siân, who also gives her time to fundraise for our charity.”
Speaking of the award, Dan said, “We’re a busy lifeboat station so there’s always lots of news to share. Alongside operational volunteering as crew, I spend much of my time writing press releases and social media posts, engaging with journalists, and arranging media interviews with our volunteers.
“Of course, there would be no news to share without the amazing work of all our volunteers. I’m proud to help promote our station’s lifesaving, fundraising and education efforts alongside my deputy, Robyn and to raise the profile of the RNLI.
“What I enjoy most is seeing the really positive engagement we get with our stories from our local community and supporters around the UK and the world. I’m really grateful to Claire and Danielle in the regional media team and to the wider RNLI for presenting me with this award in recognition of this work.’
The award, a 3D glass engraved model of Hoylakes’ all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, was presented by Claire Elshaw, Regional Media Officer for Wales, North West and Isle of Man, at the crew’s training evening on Wednesday 31 May.
Claire said, “I’m delighted to present Dan with an Excellence in Volunteering Award. He has been an outstanding Lifeboat Press Officer. Not only does he work tirelessly to help promote the work of Hoylake RNLI, he also helps out providing support and guidance to other new LPOs.
“I’d like to thank Dan for his commitment and dedication to the role, and the RNLI.”
Images: RNLI Regional Media Officer, Claire presenting Dan with the Excellence in Volunteering Award. Credit: RNLI/Robyn Callander
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