Bembridge lifeboat station celebrates RNLI’s 200th anniversary

On the day the charity turned 200, the RNLI revealed its lifeboat crews and lifeguards had saved an incredible 146,277 lives during its two centuries of lifesaving.

Bembridge RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1867 and in that time its crews have launched the lifeboats 2,398 times and saved 948 lives.

Bembridge RNLI was established in 1867 following the wrecking of the Egbert on the Bembridge Ledge rocks. For the first 60 years, their rowing lifeboats (City of Worcester, Queen Victoria and Queen Victoria II) were kept ashore on the site of the current Inshore Boathouse and launched down the current slipway and across the beach until they floated. In 1922 the first offshore boathouse was built to house the motor powered RNLB Langham. The old boathouse and walkway survived with different lifeboats until 2009 when it was knocked down and rebuilt to house our current Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat, RNLB Alfred Albert Williams. Since the mid 1960s we have also had a smaller Inshore Lifeboat (currently RNLB Norman Harvey D-778) which is kept, when not afloat, in the Inshore Lifeboat Station.

As a ‘Discovery Lifeboat Station’ Bembridge RNLI’s Offshore Boathouse and Shop are open to the general public every day from 2pm to 4pm (11am to 4pm during the summer and school holidays). In addition to welcoming members of the general public, we also welcome School Groups and Adult Groups to come and see what we do.

A Service of Thanksgiving to mark 200 years of the RNLI was held at Westminster Abbey in London on 4 March. It was attended by representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland, including John Keyworth, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Bembridge RNLI lifeboat station.

John said: Representing the Bembridge RNLI family which has been part of the larger RNLI family since 1867 (157 years) is an honour. Representing all those who have gone before and carried out such sterling work in helping and saving those in trouble at sea is humbling to say the least. Our current team are all committed individuals from many different backgrounds and they are proud to be considered lifeboat crew. A tradition in one family at our station goes back 5 generations with the next generation desperate to reach the age when he to can clip on his belt the pager. Its what we do!

On Monday 4 March, Bembridge RNLI arranged for 200 local school children from Bembridge C E Primary and Ryde School with Upper Chine (Prep Department) to visit the Station. They were positioned our walkway to our Offshore Boathouse to represent every year the RNLI has been in existence.

Additionally, both our All-Weather Tamar Lifeboat and our inshore D class lifeboat launched so that both our boats were at sea on the 4^th to mark the occasion.

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.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, said:

‘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.

‘Today, we mark the bicentenary of the RNLI. We remember the achievements and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family over the past two centuries; we celebrate 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.’

Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.

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

Notes to Editors

• Statistics from RNLI Operational Data from 4 March 1824 to 31 December 2023 inclusive. A life saved shows how many of the people helped by the RNLI would have lost their life had the RNLI not been there.

• Click here to access the RNLI 200^th anniversary media pack, which contains a selection of RNLI archive images from key points in the charity’s history, an RNLI history timeline, and a film of ‘200 years in 200 seconds’ – all of which can be downloaded.

Media contacts

Mike Samuelson (Lifeboat Press Officer, Bembridge RNLI on 07785 593254 / [email protected] or the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 / [email protected].

RNLI online

For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 more than 146,000 lives.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200^th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.

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.