A great weekend planned for Staithes and Runswick RNLI

Colin Harrison, lifeboat weekend coordinator, shared his excitement for the upcoming event: ‘We look forward to welcoming visitors to our lifeboat weekend, especially in this the RNLI’s 200^th year. We’ve planned a great weekend for everyone – though the weather remains beyond our control. We’re hopeful for sunny skies!’

The festivities kick off on Friday evening in Staithes with a performance from the Middlesbrough Jazz and Blues Orchestra (who have supported Staithes and Runswick’s lifeboat weekend for many years) and the famous Nightgown Parade. Participants, including volunteer lifeboat crew, villagers, and visitors, all clad in nightgowns, will parade melodiously from the Staith up the High Street lead by the jazz band.

Saturday’s events begin in Runswick, with a visit from Staithes and Runswick RNLI’s inshore lifeboat (dependent on operational needs). In Staithes, the Rapid Relief Team, a group of dedicated charity volunteers, will host a BBQ starting at midday. A cake stall and various other stalls will also be present, all raising funds for the charity. Visitors can purchase souvenirs, including Christmas cards, from the RNLI shop at both the Staith and the North Side shop.

The afternoon offers a chance to see not only the Staithes lifeboat but also our flank stations and their lifeboats as they conduct exercises with RNLI lifeguards and other search and rescue partners (pending operational requirements).

Saturday afternoon features a hotly contested race from the Lifeboat Slipway, with participants competing on an assortment of homemade rafts.

The village celebrations continue with a Fancy Dress Parade at 6pm on Saturday, followed by entertainment from the Middlesbrough Jazz and Blues Orchestra. As night falls, a spectacular fireworks display by the G2 fireworks team will light up the sky.

On Sunday at 11am, crowds will gather at vantage points around the beck in Staithes for the annual Duck Race, where hundreds of yellow ducks will race towards the finishing line near the lifeboat slipway. After the conclusion of the fiercely contested duck race a teddy bears' picnic, a best-dressed teddy competition, and a sandcastle contest take place on the beach.

The weekend concludes with thanksgiving services held at both Runswick Bay and Staithes, bringing the celebrations to a poignant close.

Notes to Editor
Staithes and Runswick RNLI lifeboat has been in operation since 1978 with Atlantic B-Class inshore lifeboats (ILB’s). The present ILB at the station B-897 Sheila and Dennis Tongue III has been on station since 2016.

In 2024, the RNLI is celebrating 200 years - and counting, commemorating this remarkable past, celebrating our lifesaving achievements today, and inspiring a future where we can save every one. More information on RNLI 200 can be found at https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/2024

RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact James Stoker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at: [email protected] or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (North and East) on 07824 518641 or, [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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 142,700 lives.

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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.