Hunstanton RNLI made One Moment for One Crew picture with minutes to spare

Thursday 1 August 2024

A Norfolk lifeboat crew lined up for a historic picture with minutes to spare after 'shout'.

Volunteers at Hunstanton RNLI line up for their One Moment for One Crew picture

On Thursday, 1 August, volunteers and staff at RNLI lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland were set to join in a special picture – One Moment for One Crew – to create a photographic record of those involved with the charity that saves lives at sea in its 200th anniversary year.

The institution, which was founded in 1824, asked stations to take a photo of their team as close to 18:24 on 1.8.24 as possible.

Things were looking promising at Hunstanton RNLI, with the station's lifeboat and relief hovercraft carefully arranged on the beach as backdrop.

Film-maker and former crew member Pete Naylor was on hand to take a drone picture, while the boathouse had been emptied of yellow wellies, which had been carefully arranged to spell out the number 200 on the sand.

But at 18:13 - just over 10 minutes before the big photo-shoot - a familiar beeping sounded.

Crew were called to assemble, running back to the boathouse to swop best bib and tucker for dry-suits, while lovingly-arranged wellies were cleared to make way for a launch.

Two minutes later, the 'shout' was cancelled. With nine minutes remaining, the wellies were hurriedly re-deployed, while more than 50 volunteers lined up as the drone buzzed sky-wards.

The photo has been uploaded to an online portal and will be used to create a montage image celebrating the bicentenary of the RNLI.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the charity’s 200th anniversary programme, said: 'We have encouraged anyone who has some form of involvement with the RNLI to participate in this special One Moment for One Crew photographic event, to capture a record of everyone who, at this moment in time, is playing some part in the RNLI’s lifesaving work, continuing its legacy and securing its future.

'One Moment for One Crew is very much about celebrating the people of today’s RNLI and, we hope, inspiring those future generations who will take the RNLI into its third century of lifesaving.'

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives – an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the past two centuries.

Editor's notes

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest lifeboat stations, operating both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

It covers The Wash, a tidal estuary fed by five main rivers of more than 100 square miles, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of those who give donations or leave legacies to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the RNLI and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

The yellow wellies were carefully arranged - before they had to be taken up again

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.

Hunstanton RNLI made One Moment for One Crew picture with minutes to spare

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