Teddington RNLI volunteer crew member, Andy Bell, was honoured to represent the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) last weekend by attending both the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in central London, attended by His Royal Highness King Charles III and other members of the Royal Family.

Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

Over the course of the Second World War, the RNLI saved 6,376 lives.

Its lifeboat crews towed vessels loaded with explosives, navigated minefields and rescued downed aircrew from both sides during the Battle of Britain.

Bell is a helm and joined Teddington RNLI Lifeboat station as a volunteer in February 2002 when the station first opened, while still serving at sea in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

He was recently awarded a long service medal after completing 20 years of volunteering along with a King Charles III Coronation Medal.

Andy Bell is a volunteer crew member of the Teddington RNLI (Credit: RNLI)

Bell said "It was a great privilege to be among the 22 Lifeboat crew and Lifeguards, selected from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, to represent the RNLI at the Cenotaph in our 200th year. 

"It was a lovely atmosphere, among veterans who were clearly enjoying being with others who had shared experiences.

"Just as the RNLI is part of the communities we serve; we felt part a of an international community of Remembrance in Whitehall.

"Our RNLI forebears saved lives at sea during the World Wars, regardless of who was in distress, and we are proud to continue that work."

 The RNLI charity saves lives at sea.

Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

It is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,000 lives.

You can donate to the lifesaving charity here.