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Walmer lifeboat celebrates RNLI 200

Lifeboats News Release

123 volunteers from across the station, their families, friends and invited guests attended Walmer RNLI’s 200th Anniversary meal.

RNLI/Chris Mansfield

Current Walmer Management team, boat and shore crew

The celebratory event, was held on Saturday 22 June at The Downs Sailing Club in Walmer where current and former crew and volunteers, including 89 year-old Bruce Brown, enjoyed a three-course dinner. Bruce, former coxswain/mechanic on our all-weather lifeboats was awarded a BEM in 1991 for Services to the RNLI. He has also been awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal and a Vellum for his actions during rescues.

The evening was organised by Chair Roger Blown and a small working group of volunteers. A souvenir Dinner programme containing a list of current boat and shore crew and the station Management Team was produced, which also included the names of sponsors of the event, a brief history of Walmer lifeboat and the RNLI, and a list of awards made to the station.

The evening continued with a speech from Rear Admiral (Retired) John Weale CB, OBE, formerly Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Submarines and Rear Admiral Submarines who entertained us with stories of his long career.

The evening concluded with dancing and music from a local band.

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

  • Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
  • Hatti Mellor, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305 [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [email protected]


Dinner table decoration

RNLI/Chris Mansfield

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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