A NARROWLY-avoided personal tragedy made Mrs Alice Attenborough (87) join the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Now, 45 years later, she has been officially recognised for her dedication.

Mrs Attenborough, of Higher Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe was presented with a certificate of thanks by Mr Keith Horrocks, former senior helmsman of the Blackpool Lifeboat in a special ceremony at Haydock Racecourse (pictured).

She was prompted to join the fund-raising charity after the sea nearly claimed her beloved husband.

"During the war Harry served in the Navy on board minesweeping convoys to Russia," she said. "He came home on leave to get his commission and one night we were listening to the radio when it was announced his ship had been lost with all hands. It was terrible and shocking," said Mrs Attenborough.

Coming so close to tragedy made her all the more appreciative of the life saving work the RNLI does and she had no hesitation in joining.

Mrs Attenborough, whose husband died 15 years ago, has been president of the Radcliffe branch of the RNLI for the past two years.

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