
RNLI celebrates turning 200
On Monday (4 March 2024) the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) celebrated 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by public donations.
The RNLI has been saving lives at sea around the UK and Ireland for 200 years, since the charity was founded in 1824, its volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved an incredible 146,277 lives.
To mark the significant milestone a Service of Thanksgiving was held yesterday at Westminster Abbey in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent as President of the RNLI and attended by representatives from every RNLI lifesaving community around the UK and Ireland. The service took place at the same time the RNLI founding papers were signed back in 1824.
There were also a number of events in areas where the RNLI operates and means so much to the communities it serves. Flotillas took place during the day, on the River Mersey which saw lifeboats from the area come together to recreate a picture from 25 years ago, and on the River Tyne. Lifeboats from Penarth RNLI were paraded through their town centre to remember past volunteers to symbolise a time when lifeboats were hauled by horses.
Two special stamps from An Post, which depict the charity’s lifesaving work in Ireland, were unveiled. Dublin based artist David Rooney has created two images which show the moment of rescue between the lifeboat crew member and the person in the water.
In appreciation of the RNLI and its brave volunteers across the coast, national monuments and historical buildings lit up in yellow on the evening of Monday 4 March 2024. This included the London Eye, Dover Castle, the Millennium Bridge in Newcastle and Broughty Ferry lifeboat station in Scotland. There was a special birthday message displayed across the BT Tower too.
Celebrities such as Dermot O’Leary, Jo Brand, Griff Rhys Jones, Dr Ranj, Fern Britton, Reverend Kate Bottley and Dave Berry took to social media to join the celebrations and share their birthday messages to the RNLI.
RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, says:
‘It has been an honour and a privilege to be at the helm of the RNLI for the past five years, and to see the charity reach its bicentenary. For a charity to have survived 200 years based on the time and commitment of volunteers, and the sheer generosity of the public donating to fund it, is truly remarkable. It is through the courage and dedication of its incredible people that the RNLI has survived the tests of time, including tragic losses, funding challenges, two World Wars and, more recently, a global pandemic.
‘Yesterday, we marked the bicentenary of the RNLI. We remembered the achievements and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family over the past two centuries; we celebrated the world-class lifesaving service we provide today, based on our 200 years of learning, expertise and innovation, and we hope to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take the RNLI into its next century and beyond.
‘I am immensely grateful to everyone who is involved with the charity – our volunteers, supporters and staff. This is our watch and it is our role to keep our charity safe and secure so it can continue to save lives into the future, as we strive in our vision to save every one.’
More events are scheduled through the year to mark the RNLI’s bi-centenary, to find out more about what is happening go to rnli.org.uk/200
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
You can view and download footage and imagery of RNLI events here: https://source.rnli.org.uk/web/2922db1e0d59834b/rnli-turns-200/
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 tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.
Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.
The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.
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.
Media contacts
For further information contact Oliver Wrynne-Simpson, RNLI National Media Manager, on [email protected] or the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 / [email protected]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.