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Southend lifeboat celebrates 200 years of the RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Join Southend-on-Sea RNLI in celebrating 200 years of lifesaving at the Cliffs Pavilion on March 9, 2024, it’ll be a night to remember

Advertising poster for Southend RNLI 200 year celebration dinner and dance

Southend RNLI

Southend Lifeboat celebrates 200 years of the RNLI

Since 1824, people have selflessly given time, passion and donations to power this lifesaving charity. Now we’re celebrating 200 years – and counting on new and existing supporters to help us save everyone.

Southend-on-Sea RNLI will be holding a large dinner (& dance for those who wish) in the Auditorium of the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend, not only to mark the 200-year celebration of the RNLI but to also thank the volunteer crew of one of the busiest coastal stations in the UK! The evening will include a carefully selected three course meal, live band and DJ, auction and raffle and a few more surprises up our sleeve!

Southend RNLI invite you to join them in celebrating this magnificent milestone of the lifesaving charity. Doors open at 6.30pm with tickets at £60 per head. Groups and individual’s welcome. For groups, we advise booking a table (maximum 16 people per table). To book/reserve your places visit https://southendlifeboat.org/dinner2023/, or email [email protected].

For local businesses and companies, Southend RNLI are seeking sponsors with three packages on offer, including complementary tickets, advertising opportunities and Southend RNLI lifeboat station tours. For more information, please contact [email protected].

The RNLI’s first hundred years saw them evolve lifeboats from oar and sail-powered vessels to the first motor rescue craft. During their second century, those lifeboats developed almost beyond recognition, and they added lifeguards, water safety and international projects to their lifesaving work. They are saving more people, in more ways, in more places.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded by Sir William Hillary on March 4, 1824. The commitment and dedication of our volunteer crews and lifeguards remains as strong today as it was then. Collectively, they have saved more than 144,000 lives since the charity was founded. Since 1824 the RNLI has pioneered developments in lifesaving at sea, our volunteer lifesavers have shown unfailing courage and selflessness.

You can help in our mission to save everyone. RNLI crews will continue to face challenges – like unpredictable seas and rough weather. Today’s new technology and partnerships are offering new hope. And with your kindness and courage, we can reach more people in more places with our rescue and safety work. We’re a powerful crew with you by our side’.

Notes to editor:

Southend RNLI Lifeboat Station have been saving lives at sea since 1879.

Southend operate four lifesaving rescue craft from two boathouses, an Atlantic 85, two D class lifeboats and one of only four RNLI hovercraft around our coast.

Everybody at Southend RNLI is a volunteer, currently just over 100 volunteers, 45 of which are lifeboat crew.

RNLI Media contacts

· Nigel Gilchrist, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Southend-on-Sea RNLI, 07765875300 or [email protected],

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

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· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789.

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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