Two Coastguards have been honoured by the Queen in this year’s Birthday Honours List.

Peter Dymond from New Milton, Hampshire, a former Chief Coastguard at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and now Project Manager for the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service, has been awarded the OBE for services to HM Coastguard, maritime safety and UK search and rescue. James Roberts from the Isle of Wight has been awarded a MBE for voluntary service to maritime safety in the Isle of Wight.

Peter Dymond joined Her Majesty’s Coastguard in 1976. During his service he has been responsible for the early modernisation of HM Coastguard, its training and its search and rescue (SAR) operations, rising to Chief Coastguard where he was responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of all the Agency’s emergency response functions and capability, including SAR, Counter Pollution and Civil Resilience. In his current role he is leading a project to re-evaluate the role and management of the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service which has over 3500 rescue volunteers

James Roberts joined Her Majesty’s Coastguard in 1966, when it was the ‘Coast Life Saving Brigade’. His 43 years of service to the Coastguard have included 20 years as the Station Officer at Bembridge, where he is still a serving Coastguard Rescue Officer.

Chief Executive Peter Cardy said:

“I am very proud that these two individuals who have so greatly contributed to the work of Her Majesty’s Coastguard have now been honoured and recognised in this way. Peter Dymond, who handed over his role of Chief Coastguard last year, and now leads our Coastguard Rescue volunteers, has dedicated over 30 years to Her Majesty’s Coastguard and we owe a great deal to the benefit of his dedication, knowledge and experience.

James Roberts joined Her Majesty’s Coastguard in 1966, when it was the ‘Coast Life Saving Brigade’. Since then it has gone through many changes, but James’s dedication has been unwavering, and it is no exaggeration to say that coastal communities on the Isle of Wight are a safer place because of James’s devotion and commitment.

Both of my colleagues recognised today are truly deserving of this honour, and I would like to join the rest of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in offering them my congratulations, as well as my thanks for their continued support.”