Jill honoured with gold for work for the RNLI (From Western Telegraph)

Jill honoured with gold for work for the RNLI

THE WOMAN who has been the fundraising inspiration at Pembroke Ladies Lifeboat Guild for 21 years has been awarded the RNLIs highest onshore accolade - the gold badge.

Jill Mason, the guilds secretary, will be presented with the honour in May at the RNLIs annual presentation of awards meeting at the Barbican Centre, London.

Jills family has a long association with the sea. Her husband, Commander Tony Mason, is the naval liaison officer for West Wales, and the couple sail a 57-foot MFV, once owned by the former Milford Haven Conservancy Board.

Under her term as secretary, the Pembroke Ladies Lifeboat Guild has been the top house-to-house collector in the country.

Last year alone, its fundraising activities - including the popular summer ball at Pembroke Castle - achieved £23,000.

Ill health may force Jill to give up her role as secretary this year, but she has no plans to resign from the guild.

The guilds work is vitally important. It not only raises the profile of the RNLI, but the money it raises is very important for the day-to-day running of the Institute, says Jill, of 2 The Terrace, The Dockyard, Pembroke Dock.

The gold badge, she is keen to point out, is an award for the guilds membership. I couldnt have done this on my own, she says. Pembroke Ladies Lifeboat Guild has a pretty special band of ladies. One of the first people to congratulate Jill was John Allen-Mirehouse, honorary secretary of Angle RNLI. In a letter to her he says: This award is so well deserved as you have inspired and led the Pembroke Ladies Guild for very many years and worked so hard to raise money in support of the lifeboats in a variety of memorable events.

Jill has two children, Tim and Sue.

RNLI gold badge recipient Jill Mason. Fellow Guild member May Roberts is awarded a certificate of thanks for her individual services.