AN RNLI volunteer has retired aged 70 after more than three decades of guarding the coast of Gwynedd.

Steve Fox, fondly known as Foxy, first joined the volunteer crew at Abersoch RNILI in 1988 following his move to the area from the Wirral.

He started as a crew member and after completing his training in Cowes he became a helmsman on the Atlantic 21 lifeboats Wolverhampton and Borough of Solihull.

At that time the RNLI retirement age was just 45 but Mr Fox realised it was not for him.

After a chat over coffee with fellow volunteer Phill Brown, now chairman, it was decided that Mr Fox could continue as shore crew. He later became deputy launch authority until his retirement in 2021.

Andy Vowell, lifeboat operations manager for Abersoch RNLI, said: "Steve has always been a valuable member of the team here at Abersoch RNLI and he was always the person who would lift everyone’s spirits even after a difficult shout.

“He was a real character and will be missed by us all. We wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.

"There have been so many [memorable moments] but my claim to fame is being upside in a boat with George Rawlinson.”

Mr Fox completed his initial training with Mr Rawlinson, who is now head of lifeboat operations at the Abersoch team.

Mr Fox and his wife Chris have three sons and their youngest, Ioan, is following in his dad’s footsteps and now serves on the crew at Abersoch.