Last week, Fethard RNLI came together to honour and bid farewell to Dr John Cox, who retired from his role as a volunteer Lifeboat Medical Advisor after over 25 years of dedicated service.
Dr Cox began his tenure as a medical advisor in 1996 when Fethard station reopened, taking care of the volunteers and ensuring their regular medical certifications were up to date. Prior to this, he had served for many years at Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI station.
During the retirement ceremony, Owen Medland, Area Lifesaving Manager for the southeast, presented Dr Cox with a framed print of Fethard's D-Class Naomh Dubhan on a chart of Ballyteige Bay, which is the station's operational area. Medland praised Dr Cox's voluntary commitment to saving lives at sea and his long-standing dedication to the RNLI. He wished the retiring doctor all the best for the future.
The Fethard RNLI crew with retiring Medical Advisor Dr John Cox Photo: Sorcha Bird
In response to the presentation, Dr Cox expressed his gratitude, saying, "While Fethard has done a lot for the Lifeboat by providing crews to man our D-Class lifeboat, the Lifeboat has done a lot for our community, not just in the high-profile activities of saving lives at sea but also in providing somewhere where people feel they belong and, most of all, that they feel they are doing something special and are appreciated."
Dr Cox added, "The picture of the Naomh Dubhan with the chart of Ballyteige Bay in the background is quite beautiful and will hang in our hallway for visitors to see for years to come. I wish you all continued success, and now that I do not have to go to work, I will try to take you up on your kind invitation to pop into the station for a cup of tea and a chat some evening."
Fethard RNLI station's management and crew extended their best wishes to Dr Cox and his wife, Mary, as they began the next chapter of their lives. Dr Cox's service and dedication to the RNLI will undoubtedly be missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide volunteers for years to come.
