Retired RNLI Shetland crew member who saved 319 wins Pride of Britain award

A former Scottish RNLI crew member who saved 319 lives has won a Pride of Britain award after decades of service in Shetland.

Hewitt Clark, 79, joined Lerwick Lifeboat Station as a crew member when he was 20 years old. He then worked as a full-time mechanic before becoming coxswain in 1979, a career that lasted over three decades.

During his 35 years of dedicated service, Mr Clark saved 319 lives, including playing a pivotal role in rescuing the vessel Green Lily.

In November 1997, battling storm-force winds and enormous waves, the crew of Lerwick Lifeboat Station and coxswain Hewitt rescued 15 people aboard the 3,000-ton cargo vessel.

The crew was able to save everyone aboard with assistance from the HM Coastguard’s helicopter team, which winchman Bill Deacon died during the rescue.

Mr Clark was awarded a gold medal for gallantry and is now just one of three living members to have received the honour.

He was later awarded a silver medal in 1995 for outstanding seamanship after he helped rescue 64 people from the fish factory ship Pionersk.

During his career, Mr Clark was also awarded three bronze medals throughout his career for his service which included leading the rescue of six people from a fishing vessel in 1993.

The 79-year-old retired in 2000 but still helps the current Lerwick Lifeboat Station volunteers using his own boat as a casualty vessel in training exercises.

Mr Clark was announced as the winner on This Morning on Friday after being nominated on behalf of the RNLI.

Speaking on the win, he said: “The RNLI is a big part of my life. I have been involved since I was a boy, it’s a big chunk of my life.

“I am speechless to have won, but what we have to remember is without the volunteers, I could do nothing. It makes you feel very humble.”

Mr Clark will receive the award at the Pride of Britain ceremony in London on Monday.

RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes said the charity was “thrilled” to see Mr Clark recognised for his dedication to saving lives at sea.

“I had the great pleasure of meeting Hewitt in August at the Edinburgh Tattoo and it was very special to hear his memories from his time on the crew at Lerwick Lifeboat Station,” he said.

“While Hewitt’s name is the one on the award, this recognition in the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year is truly on behalf of all the lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards who collectively have saved more than 146,000 lives since the charity was founded in 1824.”

He thanked all volunteers for their “unwavering service,” adding that he hoped their commitment to saving lives would inspire the next generation of lifesavers.