A celebration farewell service will take place on Portland today to thank the search and rescue team for their bravery and dedication as operations of the Portland coastguard helicopter come to an end.

Yesterday marked an historic event for the borough as the final day of operations for the Portland coastguard helicopter.

After more than two decades in service, the search and rescue helicopter base will cease to be operational as a regional service replaces it and the nearest base becomes Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire.

Despite a high-profile campaign to save the helicopter, after the decision to axe it in 2011, the base is closing as part of government plans to modernise the coastguard by creating supercentre hubs. 

Cllr Sandy West, who was a spokeswoman for the campaign, said it is time to put resentments aside and give the helicopter the “send-off it deserves”.

She said: “A million thank yous would never be enough. It is a sad day, there is no getting away from that, especially as a lot of us were involved in the campaign.”

“It was a long campaign and we managed to get over 180,000 signatures, but at the end of the day it’s done now and we should concentrate on saying a huge thank you to all the search and rescue guys who have risked their lives to save others.”

The Mayor of Portland David Thurston and South Dorset MP Richard Drax will speak at the service before unveiling a commemorative Portland stone plaque bearing the name of all past and present rescuers.

Mr Drax said: “There is nothing, in my opinion, more honourable than people who put their own lives at risk to save others. “Over the years the crews have shown courage and commitment and they have never, ever let us down so we are indebted to all of them and I cannot personally thank them enough for all they have done.”

The assistant director of aviation for the Maritime Coastguard Agency Damien Oliver said it has so far been a “gracious transition”.

He said: “The new service is already in place at Lee-on-Solent with two £20 million top-of-the-range Augusta Westland helicopters. We also have our new search and rescue base in Llyd and another in Newquay.

“In reality we have never had so many SAR helicopters serving the Portland area than we will now. We will have at least one aircraft in the Weymouth area, or no more than half-an-hour or maximum an hour away, which is as true today as it was with the Portland helicopter which could have been deployed any where any time.”

Last year it was announced that the helicopter base at Osprey Quay will continue to serve as a refuelling facility as it is taken over by the private company Heli Operations.

The firm, which currently supplies trained helicopter personnel to companies worldwide, said it also plans to continue to training for search and rescue pilots at the base.

Those wishing to attend the farewell ceremony this afternoon should meet next to Portland Castle at 1pm.