More than 50 years of lifeboat service

Saturday 11 September 2021

A former Jurat who has given more than half-a-century of support to the RNLI has been celebrated with an award.

Chief Executive Mark Dowie visited the island last week, where he presented an award to Jurat Roy Bullen MBE for his 55 years of service, first as Launch Authority with Jersey Harbours and later as RNLI Honorary Secretary of the St. Helier and St. Catherine’s lifeboat stations and recently as Chairman of the RNLI Jersey branch.

In all his years of service, Jurat Bullen said that one of his "most memorable" moments was "during the Saint Malo ferry incident when she struck rocks off Corbiere and the international press descended on the island."

Following his retirement, he received an MBE for his services to maritime safety.

Despite his long lifeboat career, Jurat Bullen has no intention of stopping, having assumed the role of President of RNLI Jersey following the award presentation.

The ceremony also saw Michael McNally awarded for his 20 years’ service as crew and helm of the St. Catherine’s inshore lifeboat and member of the operations team for RNLI Jersey.

But celebrations didn’t continue for long, with St. Catherine’s inshore lifeboat launched to investigate reports of an inflatable dinghy off the north coast below La Saline quarry in St. John.

Pictured: Michael McNally receiving his award for 20 years' service.

The toy dinghy was found and recovered, with no-one on board or reported missing.

Although Mr Dowie had been in his role for more than two years, it was the first launch he had witnessed when visiting a station.

The RNLI has since issued a warning to beachgoers about inflatables toys, as they are “easily blown out to sea and can present risk to life for anyone unfortunate enough to be in/on them.”

Pictured: The toy dinghy. 

“At the very least they can result in search and rescue assets being deployed unnecessarily which could mean those assets are not available where there is a genuine need,” they said.