Exmouth RNLI staff, crew, volunteers, and many friends paid their respects today to a popular and long-serving volunteer on the day of his funeral.

Volunteers and crew members from Exmouth RNLI past and present, RNLI staff together with many friends and acquaintances attended Exmouth Lifeboat Station on Queens Drive, Exmouth today Friday 2nd July 2021 to pay their respects to Don Hodgkinson, a long-serving and well-respected RNLI volunteer who died on 12 June after a short illness.

Don started his 24 years of volunteering as Box Secretary at the Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station in June 1998, Deputy Launch Authority and Sea Safety Advisor from June 2003 until May 2011, Exmouth RNLI Boathouse Manager from 2011 to the present and became Chair of the Fundraising Team in 2007 – a post he held for 11 years.

In 2018 he received his RNLI Badge and Certificate for completing 20 years exemplary service with the Lifesaving Charity from the then Chairman of the RNLI, Charles Hunter-Pease, "in recognition of his invaluable and loyal support to the Exmouth Lifeboat Fundraising Team. His dedicated volunteering and fundraising efforts as Chair, will help the RNLI to continue to save lives at sea.

"To the Grandfather of Exmouth Lifeboat Station – Thank you and rest in peace."