A VETERAN lifeboat volunteer has received a top honour from the RNLI.

Bill Ludlow, 71, was made an Honorary Life Governor at an awards ceremony held at the Barbican in London.

He received the award - the highest available to a non-crew lifeboat volunteer - from the Duke of Kent after spending 32 years as chairman of Weymouth branch of the RNLI.

Mr Ludlow said the award was a reflection of the work done by the whole station and added: "The station has never been awarded an honorary life governorship.

"It's because the station has been very successful over the long-term, both operationally and in terms of fundraising, so I'm very honoured to receive it on behalf of everyone here."

Joining him at the ceremony was his wife Di, who raises money for the RNLI through her work with the Weymouth Ladies' Guild.

The couple, who live in Friar Waddon, still help with fundraising for the charity.

Members of the Weymouth lifeboat crew also travelled to the awards ceremony, including lifeboat coxswain Andrew Sargent.

Mr Ludlow, who retired as chairman of the Weymouth branch last year, said the success of the lifeboat, which raises £70,000 a year, was because of its proximity to the town and its people.

He said: "It's because the lifeboat is in the middle of the town and because so many people who live here have family connections with the crew."

He added that changes in the make-up of crews had also helped to increase the popularity of the lifeboat.

Mr Ludlow, who has previously received awards from the RNLI including a gold badge and bar, said: "The lifeboat used to be manned by seamen who were fishing or running fishing trips.

"Nowadays there are not enough professional seamen to man the boats and be available for 24 hours day and night.

"All round the coast the RNLI has to look for people who work within a mile of the station and can drop everything and go."