Ramsgate RNLI receive an Historic England award.
Members of Ramsgate’s Christ Church Junior School’s History Detective Club chose four past Ramsgate RNLI coxswains to research for a project supported by the local ‘Discovery Planet’ team and Historic England entitled ‘Ramsgate’s Remarkable Residents’.
Having been visited earlier in 2019 by a RNLI Education Presenter and in turn having raised money for and visited Ramsgate RNLI lifeboat station the History Detective Club members thought they would like to find out more about some of the people involved in the station’s two hundred plus year history.
The four people they decided to research were Isaac Jarman (Coxswain 1861-1870 and awarded 2 Silver Medals), Charles Fish (Coxswain 1870-1891 and awarded 2 Gold and 1 Silver Medal), Howard Knight (Coxswain 1936-1946 and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his service with the RNLI at Dunkirk in 1940) and Ron Cannon MBE (Coxswain 1976-2001 and awarded 2 Silver Medals).
With the support of Ramsgate Lifeboat Archivists John and Vanessa Ray they researched the relevant RNLI rescues and filmed interviews with some of the present and recent crew members. They also researched the coxswains using computer records, census returns and old newspaper records held in the local library.
Their research culminated in a recent presentation at a whole school assembly at which representatives of Ramsgate RNLI, Historic England and Discovery Planet were in attendance. As well as receiving copies of the coxswains ‘plaques’ Ramsgate RNLI were also presented with an Historic England ‘Heritage Schools Heritage Partner Award’ certificate.
Written by Ramsgate RNLI station Archivist John Ray.
Karen Cox Lifeboat Press Officer Email: [email protected] Tel: 07779848431
Paul Dunt RNLI Regional Media Officer London and South East Email: [email protected] Tel : 07785296252
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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