A bench has been unveiled in memory of 'a true Star of Norfolk' at one of the coast's best known beauty spots.

Eastern Daily Press: Sid Everett who raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI in Cromer and was still fundraising aged 93. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYSid Everett who raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI in Cromer and was still fundraising aged 93. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Sid Everett, of Mattishall, raised almost £200,000 for charity – including the RNLI – before his death, aged 93, last year.

And now a bench has been dedicated to him next to the lifeboat station at the end of the pier in Cromer.

The Barnham Broom-born fundraiser, who enjoyed holidays in nearby Northrepps, became the first person to be posthumously honoured at the EDP Stars of Norfolk and Waveney Awards when he received the Volunteer of the Year title last year.

And, after the official inauguration ceremony by local clergyman Roger Billings on Sunday, his family, who collected the award on his behalf, toasted the bench's installation with the Champagne they received as part of his prize.

Eastern Daily Press: Rachel Clegg and Paul Evans, who nominated Sid Everitt, are pictured with his Volunteer of the Year award. Picture: ANDREAS YIASIMIRachel Clegg and Paul Evans, who nominated Sid Everitt, are pictured with his Volunteer of the Year award. Picture: ANDREAS YIASIMI (Image: ANDREAS YIASIMI)

Sid's great-niece, Rachel Clegg, who nominated him for the award, said: 'He was my true star and it's nice that everyone who knows him can go there to remember him.

'Paul (Evans) and I nominated him for Stars of Norfolk last year but unfortunately he passed away before he knew that he'd been shortlisted. We got told on the day of the funeral and attended the ceremony where he was given a posthumous award.

'His fundraising started way back in the 1970s with Mencap because he and my great aunty Iris had two children with learning difficulties and they had a new centre he was fundraising for. And he never gave up. He used to organise bingo every single night for various charities.'

She added: 'He did a lot of things in his later life for the RNLI so it just seemed fitting that for his funeral we made the donation for here, because he was planning for another big fundraising event that he wasn't able to see through.'

Eastern Daily Press: Cromer lifeboat crew pay their own respects to Mr Everitt for his fundraising efforts. Picture: ANDREAS YIASIMICromer lifeboat crew pay their own respects to Mr Everitt for his fundraising efforts. Picture: ANDREAS YIASIMI (Image: ANDREAS YIASIMI)

The memorial bench includes a plaque inscribed with the words: 'In memory of Sid Everett, a true Star of Norfolk'.

Close friend Paul Evans used to run a fish and chip shop in Mattishall and met the former home guard officer when he became a customer. He described Mr Everitt as a 'one of a kind man'.

He added: 'He was well known and well loved throughout Norfolk.'

The RNLI, a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea, relies on public donations, like Mr Everett's, to survive.

The lifeboat station in Cromer is one of the most visited in the country due to its links with Henry Blogg, who served in the town and remains the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history.

Station treasurer Jim Page said: 'Several people have donated benches, in my reign this is the third one we've had. We welcome it because people do come and sit down here, some of them sit here for hours on end and anything we can do to promote the RNLI we will.

'Cromer Lifeboat Station is one of the most visited in the whole of England because of our links to Henry Blogg and it remains a busy station.'

Footage of the unveiling ceremony, which included a salute from the Cromer lifeboat crew, will be played at this year's EDP Stars of Norfolk and Waveney Awards, which recognises the region's unsung heroes, at Sprowston Manor in Norwich on December 8.

Mick Parker, who helped launch the awards three years ago, said: 'The RNLI have very graciously agreed to not only build a special bench with a plaque on it but have it within the grounds of the lifeboat station here in Cromer which is fabulous.

'It has taken us 12 months to get this far but we're very excited and of course we have the Stars of Norfolk this coming Thursday and it's so appropriate we can show this footage, it's going to be a very moving event.'