A CARDIGAN lifeboat crewman has been honoured for his contribution to the RNLI by being invited to a royal garden party.

Derek Pusey attended the event at Buckingham Palace at the end of May with his wife Angela in recognition of his 22 years of service with the RNLI.

“It was a brilliant day out,” said 55-year-old builder Derek.

“We met up with other coxons and people from the RNLI. The Queen and Prince Harry were there, while I also had the chance to chat with the Duke of Kent for a couple of minutes. It was a great honour.”

Derek has been a senior helm at the Poppit Sands station for the past couple of years but has now come off the boats having reached the age of 55 and is part of the on-shore management team.

“I have seen a lot of changes over the years,” he said. “The boats and equipment are getting better and better all the time and we now have the Atlantic 85 class boat at Cardigan.

“When I trained, it all used to take place at the Isle of Wight but now the main training college is at Poole.”

Derek has been involved in numerous call-outs over the years and in 2013 was recognised for his role in saving the lives of two people at Tresaith.

On September 19 2013, he was part of a rescue of two men cut off by the tide and in danger of being swept out to sea. The casualties were stranded high up on a ledge among steep rocks. It was dark, the sea was very rough and the tide was high.

Derek received The Lady Swaythling Trophy from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society in London for his courage and outstanding seamanship, with the award presented by the society’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

And he was also awarded, along with fellow Cardigan RNLI volunteers Len Walters and Clive Williams, the St David Bravery Award for his part in the same rescue. It was presented by then First Minister Carwyn Jones at the Senedd.