LIFEBOAT crew from Southwold lifeboat station are to be honoured on a new memorial dedicated to those who died helping to save others.The memorial sculpture will be unveiled in Autumn 2009 at the RNLI's Dorset headquarters - and it shows a steel sculpture of a lifesaver in a boat saving someone from the water.

LIFEBOAT crew from Southwold lifeboat station are to be honoured on a new memorial dedicated to those who died helping to save others.

The memorial sculpture will be unveiled in Autumn 2009 at the RNLI's Dorset headquarters - and it shows a steel sculpture of a lifesaver in a boat saving someone from the water.

The majority of names on the memorial will be RNLI volunteers from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, but it will also honour other maritime lifesavers including those from HM Coastguard.

Peter Shore, the RNLI's Deputy Launch Authority at Southwold said: 'While we proudly remember our local lifesavers here in the community of Southwold, the new memorial sculpture will be located opposite The Lifeboat College, where future generations of lifesavers and fundraisers will train.

'This memorial and those it remembers should further inspire them and all who are connected with the RNLI and lifesaving at sea. The memorial will be accessible at all times so the public can pay their respects and contemplate the extraordinary self-sacrifice of the many people, throughout the whole of the UK and Ireland, involved with the charity over the last two hundred years.

'Ultimately the memorial will remind us all of the commitment and dedication of those involved with maritime search and rescue past and present, especially the RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crews,' he added.

The following people from Southwold RNLI lifeboat station, who have lost their lives while going to help others, will be remembered on the memorial.

They were G Ellis, Rev. R Hodges and J Ord, who all perished during active service in 1858.

The RNLI had invited submissions from artists for an inspirational design and a selection panel chose the vision of sculptor Sam Holland, as her memorial was thought to symbolise the history and future of the RNLI.

The roll of those who perished during active service from present and past stations also included a crew member from Kessingland.

Brian Wead, RNLI Service Information Manager, said: 'Significant research has been undertaken both at headquarters and at our stations to identify over 750 individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but given the passage of time and the vagaries of record keeping over the years, we sadly still have some unknowns or missing initials.'

For more information or to make a donation please visit www.rnli.org.uk/memorial.