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Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat station hosts RNLI 200th anniversary scroll relay

Lifeboats News Release

On Saturday 15 June 2024 crew, fundraisers and supporters of Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat station came together at Eyemouth harbour for the arrival of the 'Connecting our Communities' relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024.

Eyemouth RNLI fundraisers and crew gathered at Eyemouth harbour to sign the historic scroll

RNLI/Eyemouth

Eyemouth RNLI fundraisers and crew signed the historic scroll

The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, being passed through RNLI communities – lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches – around the UK and Ireland and being signed by representatives at each location on its route.

The pledge reads: ‘Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us. This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save every one we can. It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.’

The historic scroll was signed at Eyemouth quayside by Margaret Driscoll from the RNLI Burnmouth and Eyemouth Fundraising Group and crew member Peter Walker, who recently passed out as a coxswain.

Margaret began fundraising for the RNLI nearly 70 years ago, while Peter’s family have a long history of being on the Eyemouth crew.

Hilda Johnson was also presented with her Certificate of Service for her 60 years of fundraising with the RNLI Burnmouth & Eyemouth Fundraising Group.

Peter Walker said, 'It is an honour to be chosen to represent Eyemouth station today, and to be a part of this 200 year lifesaving tradition'.

Fundraiser Margaret Driscoll, 'I was thrilled and honoured to be chosen to sign the Scroll on Saturday along with Peter. The day couldn’t be better with the weather and the people that were there. Also the crew who I feel are like family and have always been over the long number of years I have been involved with the RNLI. I look back over the years and see how much things have changed with our fundraising, a lot of good times'.


Eyemouth is the first station in Scotland to host the event. Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-long scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations around the UK and Ireland before finishing its journey in October at Douglas on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary. By this time it will carry around 700 signatures.

The scroll began its journey on Monday 4 March 2024, at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the charity’s official 200th anniversary, where it was signed by RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dean of Westminster, the RNLI’s Chair and the RNLI’s Chief Executive.


Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, says:

‘The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year as it’s all about our people. For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.

‘Everything about the scroll – from the design and materials, to the wording printed on it and the locations it’s travelling to – reflects the communities we serve. By the end of the relay we will have an important document which will become part of the charity’s history and a significant snapshot of the charity as it stands at 200 years old.’

When the seven-month-long journey is complete, the scroll will be displayed in the RNLI College in Poole, where the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards are trained.

The scroll has been made bespoke, involving RNLI craftspeople and using materials of significance to the charity. The wooden handle has been made by a carpenter from the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole (where the charity builds and maintains its all-weather lifeboats), using wood from an old flagpole from Ramsey lifeboat station on the Isle of Man. Apprentices from the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre on the Isle of Wight have made the protective fibreglass casing and set the scroll spindles and accessories into the case.

While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.

For further information about the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200


Notes to editors

Eyemouth lifeboat station has been operating since 1876. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/eyemouth-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts:

Wendy Lorimer, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07946650114, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789







Eyemouth RNLI fundraisers and crew with the historic RNLI 200th anniversary scroll

RNLI/Eyemouth

Eyemouth RNLI fundraisers and crew with the historic RNLI 200th anniversary scroll
Peter Walker, of Eyemouth RNLI crew, signs the 'Connecting our Communities' scroll

RNLI/Eyemouth

Peter Walker, of Eyemouth RNLI crew, signs the 'Connecting our Communities' scroll
Margaret Driscoll, of RNLI Burnmouth & Eyemouth Fundraising Group, signs the 'Connecting our Communities' scroll

RNLI/Eyemouth

Margaret Driscoll, of RNLI Burnmouth & Eyemouth Fundraising Group, signs the 'Connecting our Communities' scroll

RNLI/Eyemouth

Hild Johnson received a Certificate of Service from the RNLI in recognition of her 60 years of fundraising.
Peter Walker and Margaret Driscoll stand with the RNLI 200th anniversary scroll, the Eyemouth lifeboat in the background

RNLI/Eyemouth

Peter Walker and Margaret Driscoll with the RNLI 200th anniversary scroll

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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