Man has dedicated 60 years to saving lives at sea

14 August 2025

Audrey Dias,BBC News, West of Englandand

Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley,BBC News, West of England

News image — Richard Spindler (L) joined the RNLI crew as a teenager in 1965

Richard Spindler An old and slightly sepia toned photograph of Richard in a red RNLI uniform on a speed boat with a colleague. He is on the left and smiling. His colleague who is also wearing uniform, is wearing a white helmet and smiling. — Richard Spindler (L) joined the RNLI crew as a teenager in 1965

A 77-year-old who has dedicated more than 60 years to saving lives at sea has said he is far from retired.

Richard Spindler, from Weston-super-Mare, was first introduced to the RNLI at the age of 12 when he volunteered to help clean lifeboats at weekends - little did he know at the time that it would turn into a lifelong commitment.

He joined the crew aged 17 in 1965, and while he no longer goes out to sea, still gets "the tea and biscuits in" and looks after the crews and the boathouse

"It's about being part of something bigger than yourself," said Mr Spindler, whose efforts have been recognised by him being named as a finalist in the volunteer category of the BBC's Make a Difference Awards.

Listen to the latest news for Somerset

Richard Spindler Richard is standing in front of a RNLI speedboat being towed by a truck. He is wearing a dark jumper, beige shorts, a hi-vis jacket and sunglasses. — Mr Spindler is a finalist in the BBC's Make a Difference Awards in the volunteer category

"It all started when I was 12. A friend's dad ran pleasure boats and invited me down to help. I found out they were part of the lifeboat crew too and I never looked back," Mr Spindler said.

The stretch of coast near Weston-super-Mare is home to the second highest tidal range in the world.

Over his decades of service, Mr Spindler said he had seen it at its most unforgiving in 1978 when he swam into a flooded cave at Brean Down to rescue three boys and two coastguard volunteers.

Richard Spindler Richard when he was younger wearing a blue shirt and beige trousers leaning against an old RNLI boat smiling at the camera. — Mr Spindler started working with boats when he was 12-years-old

"It was one of those nights you think should I really be doing this," said Mr Spindler.

"But you do it, because there's a life at stake and you trust your crew completely.

"When you save a child, something else happens in your heart... you don't forget that."

Richard Spindler An old photograph of Richard at the helm of an RNLI speedboat with three other rescuers. They are speeding through a body of water. — Mr Spindler said his time with the RNLI was about "being part of something bigger than yourself"

Mr Spindler now spends his time looking after the Weston lifeboat boathouse and supporting crews.

"I still get the tea and biscuits in," he said.

Richard Spindler Richard standing in an RNLI office wearing an apron that says "RNLI head chef Spin MBE". He is wearing glasses and has short grey hair. — Mr Spindler was awarded an MBE in 2016 by Prince William

He was awarded an MBE in 2016 by Prince William, but said: "It's not about medals.

"It's about saving lives. It's the greatest feeling in the world.

"I love it, I love Weston, I love the boats and I love the RNLI. We're one family wherever you go in the country, if you're lifeboat crew, you're home."

You can find out more about the BBC Make a Difference Awards where you live here.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.