Ten years after the foundation of the Royal Life Saving Society in 1891 our first Royal Patron, King Edward VII, presented a cup to the Society for an international competition. The first of these was held in 1903 and was won by a team from the English Amateur Swimming Association.
Later, the basis of the competition was altered to meet changing patterns of lifesaving activity and organisation. In 1985 the Commonwealth Council endorsed the retention of the King Edward VII Cup and invited Member Branches to nominate a person making an outstanding contribution to lifesaving. The first winner thereafter was George Turnbull from Australia.
The award was made every five years until recently, when it was agreed that nominations would be invited for a member of the RLSS throughout the Commonwealth (i.e. not just National Branch Members) on a two yearly basis.
Recipients of the King Edward VII Cup are:
(Please click on the recipient’s name for details of their contribution):
| 2024 | Dr W Clive Patrickson | RLSS Australia |
| 2022 | Mr Norman Farmer AM ESM | RLSS Australia |
| 2020 | Dr Stephen Beerman | Lifesaving Society Canada |
| 2018 | HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO | RLSS President |
| 2016 | Professor John Pearn, AO, RFD | RLSS Australia |
| 2009 | Neville Bayfield OAM John Long | RLSS Australia Commonwealth Headquarters |
| 2006 | Dr Anthony Handley MD FRCP | RLSS UK |
| 2001 | Dato’ Teoh Teik Lee DSPN AMN DJN Dr Ian Mackie AM FRACP | Life Saving Society of Malaysia RLSS Australia |
| 1996 | Brian Morrissey OBE QPM | RLSS UK |
| 1991 | Stuart Nicol QSO MBE | RLSS New Zealand |
| 1986 | George Turnbull OAM | RLSS Australia |
