As the station celbrates its 150th Anniversary, Martin Phillips, Coxswain, is asking for any volunteer members from the past who have fallen out of touch to get in contact. 'The week is celebrating the history of the station, and so we would like as many faces from the past to join the current volunteers in the festivities'.

The station, which was first established by the RNLI in 1858, came about at the request of locals who witnessed the loss of a whole crew when a sailboat was wrecked nearby. Hastings crew members went on to be recognised for many acts of gallantry - not least for their efforts during the Second World War. The lifeboat Cyril and Lilian Bishop took part in the evacuation of the British Expiditionary Force from Dunkirk. Another outstanding wartime service was a rescue of seven men from a wrecked trawler in heavy seas. Coxswain John E Muggridge, on his first service in this position, and mechanic W R Hilder were each awarded Bronze Medals for Gallantry, however, sadly, a few days after he won his medal, the Coxswain struck a mine in his fishing boat and was killed. Then, eight weeks later, Motor Mechanic Hilder wa killed during an air raid. The Muggridge name has appeared many times in the Hastings crew lists over the years - saving lives at sea seems to be in the familys blood.

One of the other outstanding gallantry awards at Hastings came in 1975 when the Lifeboat Medical Advisor, Dr Peter Davy, received a Silver Medal. Dr Davy broke seven ribs while being lifted into a helicopter from the lifeboat, and, although in great pain, went to the aid of an injured man aboard an Argentinian warship. 'It is rescues like these that have given us a good lifesaving reputation, which we're keen to build on,' added Coxswain Phillips. You can contact the station on hastings@rnli.org.uk