AN RNLI volunteer of almost 30 years standing is retiring this week.

Alan Sharp has served with Llandudno lifeboat for 16 years, prior to that he volunteered with the RNLI branch at Kelsall in Cheshire.

He was Llandudno’s station’s communications officer and his duties included keeping the public and media informed of rescues, general lifeboat activities, and fund raising.

“The reason I’m retiring now is I’m probably the oldest RNLI press officer, and I’ve covered the transition from operating a Mersey class lifeboat, capable of 15 knots, from a boat house in the middle of town, to a new station in the seafront at Craig-y-Don, operating a state of the art 25 knot Shannon class lifeboat.

He added: “I’ll take many memories with me, but the one that really sticks out is dreadful night in April 2012, there was a north easterly gale gusting up to storm force. With that wind direction the coastline of North Wales was getting battered.

“Llandudno lifeboat was called out together with Rhyl lifeboat to a German coaster which had been loading limestone at the jetty at Llandullas.

“The conditions were so severe that when the coaster’s skipper tried to get off the jetty the ship was not powerful enough to combat the sea. It was swept sideways and carried straight on to the rocks, where it was getting battered.

“When the two lifeboats arrived there was little they could do. The ship was hard aground with the water too shallow for them to approach, so they stood off with searchlights on illuminating the scene for the two helicopters which had been called out. One of the helicopters lifted all seven of the crew and landed them safely ashore.

“That was certainly the most demanding weather conditions I have known.”

He added: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the RNLI, but now the garden beckons.”