SHOP volunteers gathered to say thank-you to dedicated colleagues Anne Hodgkinson and Rosemarie Griffin as they finished their last shift

They joined the Looe Lifeboat Station RNLI shop team shortly after the Albatross boathouse and shop on the seafront opened in 2003.

Anne and Rosemarie have clocked up over 23 years combined service for the charity.

As well as working their weekly rota shifts, they have looked after stalls at numerous fund-raising events over the years.

Presenting both ladies with orchid plants and signed cards, shop manager Allan Newman said much of the lifeboat shop’s success is due to volunteers like Anne and Rosemarie, and Looe Lifeboat Station was extremely lucky to have them.

Over the years they have helped with the management of the shop and “showing the ropes” to new volunteers.

He said Anne and Rosemarie always gave a friendly welcome selling RNLI gifts and souvenirs.

Anne and Rosemarie will still be seen around Looe helping out at future RNLI fund-raising events.

David Haines, Looe RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager, said: ‘The lifeboat shop is very popular with locals and visitors. Everyone at the station is very proud of it.’