New book charts remarkable 200-year lifesaving history of RNLI

To Save Every One chronicles the awe-inspiring history of the lifesaving charity, which has saved more than 144,000 lives since it was founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary.

With a foreword from award-winning actor Daniel Craig - who lived next door to Hoylake Lifeboat Station on The Wirral as a boy - the book spans two centuries of dedication to saving lives at sea, from the courageous volunteers who have crewed RNLI lifeboats day and night for the past two centuries to the lifeguards who keep beachgoers safe during the summer and the thousands of selfless volunteer fundraisers who have dedicated themselves to powering the charity throughout its history.

From the RNLI’s beginnings on the Isle of Man, to its present-day status as a world leading search and rescue organisation, To Save Every One documents the evolution of lifesaving technology from the days of wooden lifeboats, oars and horses to today’s state of the art lifeboat launch and recovery vehicles and all-weather lifeboats with waterjet propulsion.

Featuring heartrending accounts of daring rescues and stunning imagery, the book commemorates and celebrates the lifesavers of the past and present in the hope of inspiring the next generation of volunteers and supporters.

RNLI Chair Janet Legrand said: ‘It is an honour for the RNLI to be able to share the incredible story of the bravery, sacrifice, innovation and dedication that has shaped the RNLI from its foundation on 4 March, 1824 up to today. To Save Every One is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the institution and the countless lives it has touched and saved.’

HarperNonFiction Publishing Director Lydia Good said: ‘It’s so rewarding to have this chance to celebrate the RNLI’s incredible 200-year history. They’re truly one of our best-loved charities with a remarkable – and exciting – story to tell. This book is packed full of amazing archive photography and first-hand stories from those at the heart of the RNLI.’

To Save Every One will be published on 1 February in hardback and ebook and is available to pre-order here with royalties from sales supporting the lifesaving charity.

Notes to editors

• High-res image of book jacket available to download here

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected].

HarperCollins media contact

Please contact HarperNonFiction Press Officer Kara Nielsen by email on [email protected]

About HarperCollins UK

HarperCollins UK is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 17 countries, and was named Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards 2018. With two hundred years of history and more than 120 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in 16 languages, and has a print and digital catalogue of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins UK has offices in London, Glasgow and Honley, and can be found online at www.harpercollins.co.uk.

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.