PORT Isaac RNLI has paid tribute to a prominent character in the station’s history.

Ted Childs died peacefully at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice on May 22, aged 82.

Ted was a ‘man of the sea’, although land based as a teacher and eminent public school headmaster his heart and life was embedded in his love of Port Isaac and all things marine.

From his extensive knowledge of local history to actually taking every opportunity to set out to sea stringing out a few handy lobster pots and a fishing line or two. Or sailing a Cornish crabber with his long standing university friend to playing dominos at The Golden Lion with some of the regular local ‘shell backs’.

In addition, with the benefit of long school holidays Ted became a well-respected RNLI crew member of the Port Isaac D Class Inshore lifeboat clocking up a significant number of operational shouts over many years of service and assisting when time allowed the well-known and highly professional honorary secretary of the day, David Castle.

Later, in recognition of his service and dedication to duty in 1986 he was invited to represent the station with fellow crew member Mike Larkin at a garden party hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace marking the 175th anniversary of the RNLI.

Over the years Ted advanced from crew member to be appointed honorary secretary to the station a position he served in from 1996 to 1999.

His keen understanding of the sea and managerial abilities honed by the years of his headmastership enabled him to handle one of the most dramatic events in Port Isaac RNLI history when their D Class lifeboat D-517 ‘Spirit of the PCS Royal Engineers’ was lost whilst attempting a daring rescue operation in gale force conditions back in September 1998, thankfully without loss of life, but a testing and arduous event calling for cool nerves and ability to command the situation, both communication wise and by example, as Ted took charge of the station throughout 24-hours of high drama.

A spokesperson from Port Isaac RNLI said: “Even in retirement years his interest and support of the RNLI in Port Isaac has been second to none. His spirit will, without doubt live on. With warm memories of a unique personality. Indeed a special sort of man popular and always willing and able to give advice and help in so many ways. Port Isaac will be a lesser place without you, Ted.”