April 8 2013.
 

A special ashes service was held yesterday just off Seaford beach aboard Newhaven Lifeboat for crew member Gavin Butcher who passed away peacefully on Monday the 25thof  February after battling cancer for the last ten months. This special service was carried out with Newhaven's Severn Class lifeboat 'RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland' whilst being flanked by Eastbourne and Brighton Lifeboats and a fly past by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 104.

Gavin was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May 2012 while he was still serving on the Newhaven crew. His wife, Lucy said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to the Newhaven crew and the RNLI HQ who have both been amazing at this most difficult time. Gav would have loved the moving ceremony today, with Eastbourne and Brighton lifeboats, plus the Coastguard helicopter."

Gavin joined the crew in 2006 and was appointed as assistant mechanic in 2008. He was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 in recognition of his service.
 
He will be greatly missed by all that knew him, especially his friends at the Newhaven Lifeboat Station.
 
Coxswain Paul Legendre explained: "It was such an honour to arrange today in the memory of Gavin. We would like to thank our friends from the Eastbourne and Brighton RNLI Crews, Newhaven and Birling Gap Coastguard teams and the Coastguard rescue helicopter for making it such a special day."


Photograph by Barry Johnson.