Torbay RNLI greet Poppies to Paddington 6:34am train on Remembrance Day
A special Torbay RNLI ceremony took place early on Monday 11th November at Paignton station when Ian Barnaby, Chairman of Torbay RNLI, presented a wreath on behalf of Torbay Lifeboat to the GWR crew of the 6:43am train to Paddington, as it stood on Platform 2.
In the 'handing-over', Ian was accompanied by fellow Torbay Lifeboat volunteers and crew members as well as Helen Lovell Smith of the Fisherman’s Mission who said a few words. As part of the ceremony, the bugler from the Brixham’s town band played the Last Post.
In this the charity's 200th Anniversary Year, the RNLI has been a core theme of Remembrance Day, marking the contribution the volunteer crews made during both World Wars and the sacrifices past and present volunteers have made serving their country. A key part of the day has been the laying of wreaths at Paddington Station’s War memorial on Platform 1.
GWR coordinated with the RNLI as well various veterans’ charities across Southwest and Wales, to place wreaths collected from their branches on board 10 of their early-morning trains travelling to Paddington. Upon arrival, the wreaths were placed at the War memorial in time for a service of remembrance which started at 10.45am.
The lifeboat station’s wreath was transferred to the main line service from Exeter to Paddington where it joined the other charity branches’ wreaths, and then on to be all placed at the War memorial situated on Platform 1 in Paddington.
Ian said afterwards, 'It was a solemn but important and moving event for us. It was an early start, but everybody made it, and we were all glad to have had the chance to reflect, remember and make our small contribution to the Day on the Lifeboat station’s behalf.'
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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