Commendation for lifeboat volunteer

A lifeboat volunteer for nearly four decades has been commended for his service.

Martin Traves, who has retired from the Flamborough lifeboat after 37 years, is credited with helping rescue 99 lives from shipwrecks.

He received the Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s Certificate of Service from Flamborough Lifeboat Operations Manager Chris Hoskison.

Martin, who has lived in Flamborough all his life and now runs MD Taxis with his son Darren, followed in his family’s footsteps when he joined the lifeboat.

Mr Traves Snr was a coble fisherman out of South Landing and a volunteer with the lifeboat. His uncle George was second coxswain of Bridlington Lifeboat.

Mr Traves said: “I started off younger than we should have done, helping out on the beach, launching the boat. I then became a crewmember and from 1993 until the end of 2008 I was a tractor driver.”

Mr Traves said a difficult moment was the loss of the coble Carol Sandra in 1984 and its crew including his friend Pete Brigham. He said: “Pete was a good mate of mine, we were at school together and grew up together.”