RAMSBOTTOM’s own ‘Lifeboat Lady’ received a gold medal for giving 50 years’ volunteer service to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Marjorie Willetts, aged 89, has been dedicating her life to the RNLI since 1964 when a friend asked her for help going door-to-door with a collection box.

She carried on collecting donations for several years in Ramsbottom until the 1970s, by which point she became known in the town as ‘the Lifeboat Lady’.

She went on to join the committee at the RNLI’s Ramsbottom branch, then called the RNLI’s Ladies’ Guild, where she arranged coffee mornings and social events to raise money for the charity.

Mrs Willetts, who was born in Bolton but has lived in Ramsbottom for most of her life, still volunteers for the branch and said she has had “a wonderful 50 years”.

“I have loved every minute of my time here,” she said.

“Also I have got to know so many different people from being a volunteer.”

She said the work the RNLI do is “invaluable” and “very brave”.

Mrs Willetts added: “When everybody is coming into land because things are getting dangerous, they are the ones heading out to the water.

“The work the lifeguards do is just fantastic.”

She was presented the medal by Councillor Dorothy Gunther at Ramsbottom Library.

Councillor Gunther said the fact that Mrs Willetts was receiving the award for giving so much service to the RNLI was “no mean achievement”.

“She has offered the charity such dedication for over 50 years and she thoroughly deserves the recognition,” said Cllr Gunther.

“Marjorie lives locally and is a brilliant member of the community.”

Cllr Gunther added she believed the RNLI to be a “wonderful charity”.

She added: “Without these institutes and the dedicated volunteers like Marjorie I really wouldn’t know where we would be.”

Chloe Shore, the RNLI’s community fundraising manager, also praised Mrs Willett’s dedication.

“She has been a driving force in promoting the lifeboat cause in the Ramsbottom and surrounding areas and her commitment, good humour and positive attitude make her a great role model for new volunteers,” added Ms Shore.

“Volunteers like Marjorie are the lifeblood of the RNLI – without people like her who work hard to raise both funds and our charity’s profile, our lifesaving service could not continue. This award is very well deserved."