Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation volunteers presented with Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medals as director Dr Roddy Stewart retires
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A LIFE-SAVING volunteer of nearly two decades and his crew were honoured for their service at a special event in Findhorn.
The Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation team, former volunteers and guests from the community attended the Royal Yacht Club to honour director, Dr Roddy Stewart, who has retired from MIRO after 17 years – frontline volunteers were also presented with medals to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
MIRO chairman, John Low, thanked Roddy Stewart for his “incredible” service.
He said: “We appreciate the enormous contribution Roddy has made to the organisation, first as a member of the crew. As a director, Roddy fulfilled the roles of treasurer and secretary from 2009-2014 and, without his fundraising efforts, MIRO would not be as well equipped to carry out its life-saving function.”
He added: “I would like to congratulate the 11 members of our team who received these commemorative medals and offer my thanks to them, to Roddy and to all our former and current volunteers.”
The Platinum Jubilee medal – designed to thank recipients for public service – has previously been awarded to serving members of the armed forces, recipients of the George and Victoria Cross, frontline emergency service workers, prison service staff and members of the royal household.
Deputy Lieutenant of Moray, Mrs Sue Finnegan, presented them to: senior coxswain Simon Paterson; operations manager Peter Mackenzie; helm Alastair ‘Attie’ MacDonald; crew members Claire Weller and Shaun Burns; and shore support volunteers Jock McEwan and Sean Maclean. Medals were also awarded to volunteers not present: helms, Ben Fraser, Steve Leslie, Phillipa ‘Pippa’ Low: and crew member, Lee Binks.
Mrs Finnegan, said: “I am honoured to present the richly deserved medals. People are full of admiration and gratitude for the amazing service MIRO gives freely, voluntarily and unconditionally. MIRO’s volunteers instantly and round-the-clock rush to the rescue, bringing relief and comfort to frightened and desperate folk. Facing danger for stranded strangers, MIRO are the good Samaritans of the sea. May they always return safely home.”
This year, MIRO has responded to 13 emergency call-outs after 29 incidents in 2021 and 25 in 2020. Incidents have included searches for missing persons, helping paddle boarders, wild swimmers, kayakers, kite surfers and sailors, as well as people and animals cut off by the tide.
Raise funds for MIRO by shopping on Amazon Smile and selecting them as charity recipients. Donations can also be made at www.morayinshorerescue.org.
