THE FORMER lifeboat operations manager at Redcar RNLI died on Sunday, the day after his 80th birthday.

Ian Readman, the chairman of the branch, had served with the RNLI since 1983.

He was known to many past and serving volunteer crew members and fundraisers and originally joined as honorary secretary, a role later renamed lifeboat operations manager.

He oversaw the transition of the lifeboat cover in Redcar from an all-weather lifeboat to an inshore lifeboat in 1986 and retired from his operational role in June 2007 when he reached the age of 70.

Mr Readman then became chairman of the Redcar RNLI branch, a position he held until his death.

During his time in operational charge of the station, the crew was presented with 22 awards for bravery, including the RNLI’s bronze medal for gallantry awarded to former helmsman Peter Hodge for a rescue of two people from the base of the cliffs at Saltburn in 1992.

During his tenure the lifeboats launched 750 times and the crews were credited with helping over 1,000 people.

When he became chairman, Mr Readman was still just as active and attended the lifeboat station for every training and social event.

He was also often seen presenting the RNLI at fundraising presentation nights across the local area.

Each November he would proudly lead the lifeboat crew in the Remembrance Day parade to the cenotaph and lay the station’s poppy wreath.

Dave Cocks, the current lifeboat operations manager at Redcar, said: “To say we are saddened doesn’t come anywhere near the true feelings on the station at the moment.

“Nobody had a bad word for Ian, and he saw the good in everybody.

“He was a true gentleman who showed a genuine interest in everything going on in the RNLI.

“He was a father-figure to many of our young crew and took great pride in seeing them mature, both as volunteers and as people.”

Mr Cocks said that Mr Readman’s words at his retirement celebration in 2007, when he stepped down as lifeboat operations manager, still resonate.

He said at the time: “Being in the RNLI is like having a big old grandfather clock in the hall.

“While it’s there, ticking away in the background, day after day, you never really notice it.

“But when it stops, you can actually hear the silence.”

Mr Cocks said that after the news of losing Mr Readman, there had been a “terrible silence” in the lifeboat station.

He added: “Ian will be greatly missed and we send our deepest condolences to his wife and family.”