HRH The Princess Royal receives a warm welcome from Peel RNLI on Tynwald Day

HRH The Princess Royal met with Peel RNLI crew members and fundraisers and talked about day-to-day life as part of the 24/7 charity that saves lives at sea. This formed part of The Princess Royal’s trip to the island to mark Tynwald Day - the National Day of the Isle of Man.

The RNLI visit was planned to recognise the significance of the island in the charity’s history, as the birthplace of the RNLI. Peel is one of five RNLI lifeboat stations on the Isle of Man. Douglas resident Sir William Hillary founded the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1824, the organisation which later became the RNLI.

Whilst visiting Peel RNLI, Her Royal Highness enjoyed a tour of the all-weather Shannon class lifeboat and spoke with crew members about their voluntary roles with the charity. During the visit, The Princess Royal also presented long service certificates to some of the station personnel including Lifeboat Operations Manager Allen Corlett, Coxswain Jon Corlett and Deputy Launch Authority Eddie Allen. RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager Chris Gaskin was also presented with his long service award during the visit.

The Princess Royal was welcomed by Peel RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Allen Corlett and RNLI Chairman Stuart Blackley and was escorted on to the pontoon, where she met RNLI Coxswains Jon Corlett and Mike Faragher, who conducted a tour of the station’s new Shannon class lifeboat.

The £2.2 million Shannon Frank and Brenda Winter is the most advanced lifeboat in the RNLI fleet and is more manoeuvrable, safer, faster than the Mersey class lifeboat it replaced.

Peel RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Allen Corlett said:

‘It was an absolute privilege to welcome The Princess Royal on such an important day in the island’s calendar. She was genuinely interested in the roles of our volunteers who all make a valuable contribution to saving lives at sea and was most impressed by our Shannon and its capabilities.

‘It was interesting for her to see how charitable donations are spent. It has been a fantastic occasion and something which will stay with us all for a very long time.’

Notes to editors

For images from the visit, please contact Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Wales, the West and the Isle of Man on 07786 668829.

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For more information call Danielle Rush on the number above or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected].

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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 142,700 lives.

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