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Volunteer lifesavers from Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI were honoured to host the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Peter Oliver OBE, on a special visit to Hoylake Lifeboat Station on 12 June, according to Birkenhead News.
The Lord-Lieutenant is His Majesty The King's personal representative in the county, and the occasion marked Mr Oliver's first visit to a local RNLI lifeboat station since being appointed to the role in December 2025.
The King became Patron of the RNLI in 2024, continuing the tradition of patronage by the reigning monarch which began when the charity was founded in 1824.
Mr Oliver was joined on the visit by Helen Tanzey, Clerk of the Merseyside Lieutenancy. They were greeted at the lifeboat station by John Curry, Chairman of the Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Management Group.
John introduced Mr Oliver to Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Howie Owen, who then presented RNLI volunteers from the station's lifeboat and shore crews and members of the fundraising, souvenirs, and visits teams. The volunteers had an introductory chat with Mr Oliver about the lifesaving work of the RNLI.
Later, volunteers from the neighbouring West Kirby RNLI lifeboat crew joined them, arriving in style in their vehicles and lifeboats. They were fully decked out in their seafaring kit, in case an event interrupted the ceremony.
Led by volunteer helm Chris Gatenby, the West Kirby RNLI crew showed the Lord-Lieutenant around their lifeboat and equipment.
Mr Oliver was then given a guided tour around Hoylake Lifeboat Station and learned about its lifesaving history spanning almost 225 years. He was shown around Hoylake RNLI's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft.
The Lord-Lieutenant then joined RNLI volunteers in the crew room for coffee and homemade orange drizzle cake baked by shop volunteer Jan Ambery.
Following the visit, Mr Oliver said in a statement: "The impact of the RNLI is quite literally life-changing, and with such an incredible heritage. Every day, teams are working around the clock to maintain, deliver, and develop their services and undertake emergency responses to those at a critical time of need. "
West Kirby RNLi volunteer Jonathan Dodd was previously honoured for his service.
