New Quay RNLI received a special visitor when Mark Dowie, the RNLI’s new chief executive, came to visit the lifeboat station.

Mr Dowie had accepted an invitation to visit the lifeboat station by the crew.

Roger Couch, New Quay RNLI’s operations manager, said: “When Mr Dowie was appointed we decided to send him an email to invite him to New Quay. We were delighted when he accepted.”

Mr Dowie met with crew members, fundraisers and shop volunteers, and also called in at the RNLI lifeguard unit on the main beach.

Coxswain Dan Potter and mechanic Bernie Davies then showed him around the station’s Mersey class all-weather lifeboat, the Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge, and the D-class inshore lifeboat, Audrey LJ.

Mr Dowie was presented with a copy of the book The New Quay Lifeboats, which was written by local author Roger Bryan to mark the station’s 150th anniversary in 2014, as a memento of his visit, before everyone enjoyed an afternoon tea prepared by New Quay RNLI’s fundraising team.

“It was a pleasure meeting all the volunteers of New Quay Lifeboat Station and I am extremely grateful for all that they do for the RNLI in Cardigan Bay.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now