A LIFELONG Minehead lifeboat enthusiast and ‘unofficial’ crew member has made a last generous gesture of support by leaving the RNLI over £15,000 in his will.
Jeremy Connell died in February after years of being a popular member of the lifeboat community. Last Sunday, his wife Anna, his brother Bob and sister-in-law Deborah visited the Minehead station to meet the crew, swap memories, and present a cheque for £15,045.
An RNLI spokesman said: “Jeremy was a familiar face, working as a barman at the Old Ship Aground pub and, over time, he became a member of the lifeboat community too.
“While not a formal crew member, he would frequently arrive on shouts before the crew, rushing from the pub to open the boathouse, collecting donations from patrons and even driving the tractor on shouts, and he would always ensure the crew were well fed and watered afterwards!”
Later, Jeremy also supported the RNLI by volunteering in the shop.
Former lifeboat operations manager Kevin Escott commented: “Jeremy really was a part of the station family and helped us immensely.
“He was well loved for his outgoing personality and ability to chat to anyone”.
Mrs Connell said: “Jeremy’s family was quite dispersed but he found a second family in the lifeboat community and loved the camaraderie.
“We are delighted that he can continue to contribute after his passing and it’s wonderful to see how well the money is spent here”.