A coastguard in Cornwall who has clocked up half a century of service in his community says he is "honoured and humbled" to be made an MBE in the New Year's Honours.

Robert Harris helped oversee the establishment of Polzeath Coastguard Rescue Team near Wadebridge when he was 21, as he he wanted to give something back to the area where he lives.

He is now station officer there and has attended more than 2,000 incidents, dedicating his life to responding to people in need, training others to his same high standards and often putting call outs before his personal life.

Falmouth Packet: Cornwall coastguard Robert Harris of Polzeath has been made an MBECornwall coastguard Robert Harris of Polzeath has been made an MBE

Cornwall coastguard Robert Harris of Polzeath has been made an MBE

Typically, his response to receiving the award pays tribute to those he has served with and remembers those who have lost loved ones at the coast.

He said: “I feel so honoured and humbled to receive this award of an MBE and grateful to those who nominated me.

"Whilst this might be my award, it’s important to remember that I am one of a team, both past and present, who dedicate their lives to serving in search and rescue.

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"I am immensely proud to be part of Her Majesty’s Coastguard and that in my 50 years' service, many hundreds of lives have been saved by these dedicated teams of volunteers.

"But I am also mindful of those whose lives who have been lost, and in these turbulent times, a heartfelt message to those families who have been bereft – we do not forget and it’s that also which enables us to continue through sun or storm to save the lives that we do.”

Others receiving awards in Cornwall are: 

MBE

  • Mark Bignell, chief executive of Hamoaze House - For services to People with Problematic Use of Alcohol and Other Substances in Plymouth (Fowey, Cornwall)
  • Jacqueline Burt, chair of Brain Injury Social Work Group - For services to People with Brain Injuries (Stoke Climsland, Cornwall) 
  • Derek Goodwin - For services to the Study of Fish Populations in Cornwall (Perranporth, Cornwall)
  • Nigel Payne, Lately Chair of Professional Jockeys Association - For services to British Horseracing and to Charity, particularly during the Covid-19 Response (Launceston, Cornwall)