A lifeboat crew member who rescued almost 3,000 people at sea has died with colleagues saying his sense of humour will be greatly missed around the station.

Phil Mace, who worked at RNLI Ramsgate for 27 years, died earlier this month after a two-year cancer battle.

The 61-year-old was born in Billericay, Essex, in 1963 and is credited with saving 52 lives since joining the charity as a volunteer in 1997.

His crew mates have recalled his ability to make people laugh and he was renowned for his dry humour.

Coxswain Ian Cannon paid tribute to his friend and colleague, saying: “We have lost a dear friend, who was a huge part of our RNLI family here in Ramsgate.

“Life is a lot quieter without Phil around.

“He will be greatly missed, and our heartfelt sympathies go to his family - Vicky, Jake and Josh - at this difficult time.”

Phil became a permanent team member at the lifeboat station after former coxswain and mechanic Ron Cannon retired and he took on the full-time mechanic role in 2000.

The lifeboatman later reflected this was his proudest moment besides the birth of his children Jake and Josh and his wedding to wife Vicky and described being part of the RNLI not as a job but “a way of life, you become part of a bigger family”.

During Phil's lengthy time with the RNLI, he was awarded medals in recognition of the Queen’s Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.

In 2017, he received a 20 Years’ Service Award and, most recently, was presented with the Kings’ Coronation Medal.

He was also among the crew of a rescue in May 2008 when both lifeboats were launched in rough seas and Force 6 winds to the yacht 'Spirit' with four people onboard, aground on the North Bank sandbank, and was thanked by the RNLI’s chief executive.

RNLI figures show that during his service, Phil was credited with aiding 2,881 people and saving 52 lives.

One crew member said: “That’s not a bad tally when you are standing in front of the pearly gates.”

Phil met wife Vicky aged 21 while working as a Volvo truck distributor before the couple relocated to Ramsgate where Phil joined Davis Marine Engineering Ltd, based in the arches in Military Road, after his parents took over the business.

She said: “We're incredibly grateful for being part of the RNLI community who have become our family and some of our closest friends.

“We continue to feel supported, and we know Phil is resting in the knowledge that we are a part of that.

“I hope that we can each take a little of the strength and positive attitude we all knew him well for. Let's move forward with that and do him proud.”

She recalled the family’s pride at Phil being chosen to represent the RNLI’s south east and London region for the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London in 2019.

And just in June, he was selected to attend Buckingham Palace for a garden party celebrating the charity’s 200th anniversary alongside Princess Anne.

Away from his commitment to the lifeboats, Phil was an enthusiastic motorcyclist and had a passion for classic bikes and motorcycle racing, which saw him take many trips with Vicky as pillion.

Phil’s two sons, aged 22 and 21, are also volunteers at the RNLI.

He had been fighting cancer for more than two years but continued to work right to the end before losing his battle on October 1.

Ramsgate RNLI spokesman Karen Cox added: “Even when he was given his final prognosis, Phil, with his always positive attitude, invited his friends and RNLI family to visit him.

“At one point, in his final days, 20 crew members, family and friends gathered around Phil’s hospital bed at his home, laughing and remembering the good times, whilst Phil, ever committed to his job, set off the launch test pagers for both boats one last time.

“It was quite a sound to behold, with so many pagers beeping in one room.”

Phil's funeral will take place tomorrow (Thursday), at 10.45am in St George's Church, Ramsgate. All those who wish to pay their respects are welcome. The service will be live-streamed for those who would have liked to attend but are unable to.