Pwllheli RNLI takes part in national Coast to Cobbles time capsule event

A historic moment for Pwllheli RNLI as its Shannon class all-weather lifeboat takes part in national event in Salford Quays to celebrate the first street collection, part of the RNLI’s 200-year anniversary.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Coast to Cobbles time capsule relay arrived at Salford Quays on Thursday 10 October after travelling down the north west coast of England from Silloth.

The relay saw a specially designed time capsule pass from lifeboat to lifeboat, with each RNLI crew given the opportunity to add something before it is put on display in Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Museum.

The event marked the RNLI’s 200th anniversary in the north west of England, commemorating the region’s contribution to the charity’s two centuries of saving lives at sea. Pwllheli RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat took part in the relay, with crew travelling to and from the event in the town’s own lifeboat, the Smith Brothers.

Sophie Wood, RNLI Community Manager said: ‘This event was a fantastic way to close our 200th anniversary year in the North West. We commemorated the lifesavers of the past that have contributed to our history, celebrated our crew today, and hopefully inspired the next generation of supporters, lifeboat volunteers and fundraisers.

‘For 200 years, we’ve relied on the generosity of everyday people – from seafaring crew to fundraisers and supporters, they’re all lifesavers and make the RNLI what it is, so this is for them.

‘It’s important that we’re connecting our people in this way and collecting mementos from each station to be sealed away for fifty years, so those crew that we inspire on this journey can look back in 2074, when the charity is 250 years old.’

The capsule was transported via the lifeboats of the eight stations in Cumbria and Lancashire before travelling on to Albert Dock in Liverpool, where the RNLI’s three Merseyside stations and lifeguards added their keepsakes to the capsule.

The capsule contains an RNLI Navigational Chart plotting each leg of the journey, signed by representatives from each station and the charity’s chief executive, crew tea and coffee lists, and RNLI clothing, among other items. Also included is a special notebook for the public to share thoughts, messages of support, of what the RNLI means to them today.

The journey to Liverpool, and onwards to Salford Quays was in Pwllheli RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat powered by a biofuel – Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) – supplied free of charge by one of the RNLI’s fuel suppliers, Certas Energy.

The time capsule’s journey took 11 days from 28 September until 9 October, to ensure it reached Greater Manchester in time for the anniversary of the world’s first street collection on 10 October.

Graeme Harold, Pwllheli RNLI lifeboat crew member who took part in the event said, ‘It was great to support the event, and for the public to meet the RNLI people and fleet. It was also a fantastic training opportunity for some of the Pwllheli lifeboat crew, having go at various roles on the lifeboat. It was an invaluable opportunity to do something different and see what the lifeboat can do in different waters.’

The first Lifeboat Saturday took place in the streets of Manchester on Saturday 10 October 1891, a lifeboat was paraded along the cobbles to drum up support for the charity following a disaster. Five years earlier, 27 men from Southport and St Anne’s died while trying to rescue sailors from the stricken vessel Mexico.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Notes to editors

• Pwllheli lifeboat station has been operating since 1891. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/pwllheli-lifeboat-station.

Photo

Photos attached:

Pwllheli RNLI Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat at Salford Quays – credit David James.

Pwllheli RNLI volunteers aboard Pwllheli Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat at Salford Quays – credit RNLI

Video of interview with Graeme Harrold, Pwllheli RBLI crew member who took part in the event: https://source.rnli.org.uk/l/b576f6330cda5e5/