British Coastguard Chief Executive Sir Alan Massey congratulated Coastguard Volunteer of the year John Lowry from the South Down Coastguard Rescue Team in Northern Ireland for the following reasons.

In an incident on 1st June 2010 involving the South Down Coastguard Rescue Team, John, the Station Officer, went 'above and beyond' expectations to save an angler's life.

He was first on scene to a report of an angler who had fallen in the water in Newcastle, County Down. When John and another team member arrived on scene with the first person who'd raised the alarm they could see that the man, who had been holding on to the rocks for some time, was no longer responding to calls and appeared to be losing consciousness.

Because the lifeboat was still some way away John felt he had no option but to enter the water and support the casualty. Wearing the new water rescue jacket and attached to the floating line he had to jump off the rocks and swim to the man.

The rocky shoreline and swell made it impossible for the angler to be brought ashore so John supported the casualty in the water and waited for the Lifeboat to get on scene. After a very tricky operation by the lifeboat, both John and the casualty were rescued from the water and received medical attention. John's selfless actions, saved this person's life.

It is this kind of commitment and dedication to the preservation and saving of life ensures that the Coastguard Rescue Service is rightly held in such high esteem.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S EXTRA MILE AWARD 2010 to Cindy Rodaway from Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre for her work as Diving Liaison Officer in the Portland District.

Cindy has really gone the extra mile by being particularly pro-active in establishing and developing working relationships as well as educating all sectors affected by diving, both internal and external.

Cindy has developed improved lines of communication with the Health & Safety Executive; presented training to Dorset Police Marine Section and interviewed and debriefed divers involved in incidents.  Her work with casualties, dive marshals and Charter Boat Skippers has meant that local skippers are now using crew members rather than operating single handed, along with making reports back to the MRCC of actual or potential dive incidents - both of which are significantly mitigating the consequences of diving incidents

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S INDIVIDUAL AWARD 2010 to Lois Iddon for her dedication and professionalism.

Lois started her career as an Auxiliary Coastguard, then serving as a Coastguard Watch Assistant for five years.  In the early 2000s she helped shape the merging of the Marine Office and Coastguard administrative functions into one office - demonstrating just how it was possible to knit together two organisations into a coherent new one.  Lois is renowned for her pro-activity, dedication and professionalism in her role of Office Manager at Brixham and Falmouth Marine Offices and MRCCs