THE coxswain of Poole’s volunteer lifeboat crew has thanked the community for its support as the station celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Jonathan Clark also acknowledged the part played by the crew’s families who support the volunteers in their life saving roles.

“Back in the summer the station launched to its 5,000th callout,” he said.

“It was quite something to think of how many people we have helped, how many families, loved ones that the crews have reunited.

“We continue to be one of the busiest coastal stations in the RNLI and as volunteers, we can only do it with the support of our families, employers and the community for donating the money so that we can save lives at sea. Thank you for the continued support.”

During the recent 150th anniversary church service at St James’s Church in the old town, Lily Clark, 12, and Marieanne McGuinness, 13, read a poem they had written together about being the children of lifeboat volunteers.

In it they acknowledged that whatever the occasion, “The lifeboat will always come first but that’s fine”.

Mr Clark said: “When you look at the statistics, the hours at sea, the time away from your family as a volunteer, it’s very poignant.”

Poole was again the busiest station in the south west last year and the crews saved three lives.

Of its 121 launches in 2014, 32 for the all-weather boat and 89 for the inshore lifeboat, the station assisted 135 people. The volunteer crews spent 672 hours at sea on service and undertook 53 services in the dark.

In 2009, 200 launches and 242 people were helped, 2010 there were 148 launches and 155 people aided, 2011 saw 140 launches assisting 126, 2012 launches numbered 109 with 146 people helped and in 2013 a total of 99 launched aided 136 people in peril.