By Isle of Wight Observer
Mark Southwell has been announced as the winner of the inaugural High Sheriff Maritime Volunteers Award.
Graham Biss, High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, presented Mark with the award in a ceremony attended by the RNLI Cowes station crew and operational team.
Mr Biss said: “The standard of nominations received reflected the strength and depth of the voluntary and maritime sectors on the Island. Mark is an outstanding winner, and it was a pleasure to recognise his exceptional service to the maritime sector. My thanks to Jermey Dale and Caroline Peel for their support in creating this important award.”
Mark was nominated for the award by Hugh Robotham, chairman of the local management board of Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Station, and Captain John Kidd, Cowes Harbour Master.
The award is sponsored by SeaSafe Systems, in Cowes. Alongside the award, Mark received a commemorative pin, one of only 50, depicting Henry Freeman, the sole survivor of the capsizing of Whitby lifeboat in 1861 during a rescue attempt.
Under Mark Southwell’s leadership, since 2008, Cowes RNLI Station has grown into a fully operational station with 55 volunteer crew, a water safety team and a visits team.
Outside the RNLI, Mark is a member of the Island Sailing Club, where he acts as race safety officer, and is part of the organising team for Cowes Week and many other major sailing events held in Cowes.