Keith Downey was born in Rye Harbour on December 8 1934. After leaving school he did his National Service and then signed up for a further three years.
In 1957 he married Mary, the girl next door, and last year they celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary and received a letter from the Queen. Keith always said that his wedding day was the best day of his life.
In 1966 the RNLI was revived in the village thanks to the determination of Keith, Alan Haffenden and Roy Gawn to get it up and running again. Since the Mary Stanford disaster in 1928, when all seventeen crew from the Harbour lost their lives, there had been no RNLI presence there and it was warmly welcomed back by the villagers. Amongst the many shouts he attended was the rescue of two women and a child from the ketch Midley Belle. For this he received a framed letter of thanks from the chairman of the RNLI, which had pride of place in his home.
Keith enjoyed many years in the Rye Harbour tug-of-war ream. He spent most of his working life at Gould and Co., based in the village, as a crane driver. His skills came in very handy when a whale was washed up on the slipway and he took his crane round to the harbour and lifted the whale on to a lorry to be taken to safety.
Alan Haffenden, remembering Keith, said, ‘ He was a good man and was dedicated to bringing the RNLI back to the village, which had been devastated by the Mary Stafford disaster in 1928. He lost his uncle Maurice Williams on that awful night. The RNLI was dear to his heart.’
He was much loved in the village and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Image Credits: Rye Harbour RNLI .
He was a lovely man bless him I used to make them tea when they finished there rescue may he rest in peace those pictures bring back memories
I spent many a day working with Keith at Gould’s best crane driver ever.
Lovely man and well respected RIP KEITH