Mike Lands MBE for 50 Years Saving Lives at Sea

Mike Keggen has been awarded an MBE for his dedication to saving lives at sea over half a century, Mike will be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

A long-standing member of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI), during 50 years unbroken service, Mr Keggen has undertaken a wide range of roles at Port St Mary Lifeboat Station on the Isle of Man, including crew, mechanic, helm and coxswain, a position he has held since 2019.

In this time, he has been called out on more than 300 shouts on three generations of all-weather lifeboat. From 1994 to today, he has crewed 140 rescues, come to the aid of 124 people and saved 13 lives. For his dedication to saving lives at sea over half a century, Mr Keggen will be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Mr Keggen has been recognised along with four other RNLI volunteers in the King’s New Year Honours for their roles in helping the charity save lives at sea.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie said: ‘It is particularly poignant to see recognition for our longest standing seagoing crewmember in the Isle of Man, which is where our founder Sir William Hillary came from.’