The RNLI and family have paid tribute to a man who dedicated 33 years to saving lives at sea. 

'Proper Poole man' John Buckby died aged 76 from cancer. 

The third generation of his family to serve at the lifeboat station, John first volunteered for the station in 1965 before retiring in 1998. 

John's wife, Carol Buckby, 75, said: "He's always been dedicated to whatever he puts his mind or his hand to, if he's asked to do something, he takes it right to the end until it's perfect.

"We used to around all the lifeboat stations on holiday so he's very much a man who spent much of his life thinking about lifeboats."

Carol and John met in Poole in 1968 in a local youth club before they eventually married in 1969. 

The couple were married for more than 50 years and Carol believes his dedication to the RNLI was driven by his love for boats and helping others. 

She said: "It was saving lives and boats, any kind of boats. He put his hand to any type of boat to mend it and get going. He liked teaching other fellas how to tie ropes. He just loved everything about it.

"He was just there to help people and go and talk about the RNLI. He was always putting other people first before himself and he was a dedicated father and husband."

John, Carol and their three children lived in Poole in the same house which Carol was born in which she still lives in today. 

She believes between John, his father, and his grandfather, the family has served for nearly 100 years in the RNLI, half the time of the entire charity itself. 

Poole RNLI volunteer, Anne-Marie Clarke, said: "He was well known locally because they just walked everywhere together. 

"He was just generous with his time and everyone is sad about his passing as he was just one of those nice guys."

John's funeral is on April 25 at 2:30pm and will be held at Harbour View Crematorium Lytchett, Long Barrow.