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Home Whitstable News Article
The ashes of a late RNLI crew member have been scattered at sea by his family and former lifeboat colleagues.
Eric McGonagle served at Whitstable RNLI for a decade, during which time he earned an award for his part in the dramatic rescue of a fishing crew who encountered difficulties in a harsh storm.
On Sunday evening, his ashes were scattered just off Whitstable harbour by family and friends aboard the town's lifeboat and a former RNLI boat.
Mr McGonagle always had an interest in the sea, and while living in Widnes served as commanding officer of the Widnes Sea Cadet Unit.
When he moved to Whitstable in late 1979 to take a job as works manager at a local engineering firm, he was quick to join the town's lifeboat crew.
He volunteered with the station from 1980 until 1990, when he left having bought a hotel in Falmouth.
During his decade of service, Mr McGonagle was awarded with a vellum service certificate for his part in the rescue of 12 anglers onboard a fishing boat, who got into difficulties in the Swale in 70mph winds during January 1986.
He was also twice part of the winning crew in the station's Dan Davies First Aid and Seamanship exercise.
Mr McGonagle died on July 19, 2019, at the age of 78.
He leaves his widow Ann, daughter Kim, and son Ian.
On Sunday, Ann, along with other family members and friends boarded The Chieftain, a former RNLI lifeboat which now runs pleasure trips from Whitstable harbour.
The boat is owned by former lifeboat helmsman Richard Judge, who served with Mr McGonagle.
In this craft, they escorted Whitstable's serving lifeboat to scatter his ashes just of the harbour in waters he came to know so well during his years of service.
