Pembroke Ladies Lifeboat Guild recently celebrated the unique continued service to the RNLI of Kath Klau, Guild Vice President.

Kath retiring as Souvenir Secretary has made a priceless contribution to Guild fundraising for the charity as Souvenir Secretary since 1997.

Kath has also held the role of Asst.Treasurer for periods since that date too.

Kath’s amazing team initially Vilma Polhill, then Maggie Pegg, Asst. Souv. Sec and Rose Phillips, all still Guild members, could be seen fundraising with their souvenir stall all over the Pembroke area raising thousands of pou’ds for the RNLI.

Kath’s husband Franz always there to help too with the more strenuous tasks !! He won’t forget that and he is still helping us all !! Thank you Franz.

Her loyalty and success to the charity’s fundraising was recognised by the RNLI in 2001 with a Bronze badge and in 2011 with a Silver badge.

Kath has a long RNLI family history dating back to prior 1931, when Kath’s great grandfather left instruction in his will that after his wife’s days, any station needing a lifeboat could benefit from his estate. Lifeboat prices having increased, the donation for a lifeboat had to be subsidised by his children.

In 1931 the family donated one of the first new motor self-righting Royal National Lifeboats. The ‘RNLB Louisa Polden’ was named and accepted at the customary ceremony in that year by the RNLI at Redcar Lifeboat Station. The ‘Louisa Polden’ served the Redcar Lifeboat Station for 20 years.

Kath still maintains connections with Redcar Lifeboat Guild, also visiting the area, where her grandparents name has not been forgotten.

Kath’s late mother, Kay Humber, carried on supporting the RNLI, as many local people will remember, which is where it all started for Kath as soon as she was old enough.

I shall conclude by saying an immense heartfelt thank you to Kath, her team and her late family, on behalf of the RNLI. You can be really proud to have inherited such enthusiasm.