Kit PetersPORTHCAWL: BEM for the RNLI volunteer behind 34 years on the lifeboats — and the town’s Christmas swim
A Porthcawl man who has spent more than 34 years saving lives at sea has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
Ian Stroud, chair of Porthcawl RNLI’s lifeboat management group, is recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for decades of service to the lifeboat station and his wider community.
He said the award came as a complete surprise.
“I’m delighted and honoured to receive such recognition,” he said. “It’s not something I ever expected.”
Ian’s RNLI story began in 1986, when he joined the Porthcawl crew. He served as a sea-going crew member until 1992.
But stepping back from the boats was far from the end of his involvement.
For 25 years, he was the station’s lifeboat press officer — sharing rescue stories, raising awareness of the volunteer crew, and getting safety messages out to the public.
Alongside that, he spent 20 years as a deputy launch authority, the person responsible for authorising the station’s lifeboats to launch.
Lifesaving, by his own account, has always been in his blood.
He qualified as a voluntary lifeguard on Porthcawl beach at the age of 31, and went on to spend more than 20 years with Porthcawl Lifeguard Club — teaching lifesaving skills and later becoming an examiner.
His commitment stretches well beyond the RNLI, too.
For 23 years, Ian has been a driving force behind the Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim, helping to publicise the event, promote water safety to the hundreds who take the plunge, and raise more than £175,000 for charities across south Wales.
He is one of eight RNLI volunteers and staff recognised in this year’s honours.
The charity’s chief executive, Peter Sparkes, said he was always astounded by the dedication of the RNLI’s people.
“Whatever their role, they are all lifesavers, and the RNLI couldn’t do what we do without them,” he said.
Ian’s recognition adds to a strong showing for the area in this year’s list, which honoured a string of Swansea Bay and Carmarthenshire names for service to their communities.
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