A presentation was made to a volunteer who has given 40 years' service to the RNLI in Looe – but who has never been out in a lifeboat. John Cuttell joined the shore-based team of Looe Lifeboats in 1974, a year after retiring to the town with his wife. The 80-year-old has performed a variety of roles at the station, from press officer to vice chair and chairman. In his current position as boathouse manager, John co-ordinates and hosts visiting organisations and manages a team of boathouse guides. An experienced sailor, John was a rescue boat skipper for the local sailing club. He has been a dedicated supporter of his local RNLI, once walking 500 miles across northern Spain to raise money for the charity. As he was presented with a watercolour picture to mark the anniversary, John remarked that it was ironic that in all his years of voluntary service he had yet to go out on a lifeboat. Colleagues now say this situation may well be corrected very shortly. John Trethewey, president of Looe Lifeboats fundraising committee, said: 'John is a valued and loyal member of Looe RNLI and is an inspiration for the fundraising committee and crew. He epitomises the ethos of the RNLI.'