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Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station receives two special visits

Lifeboats News Release

The RNLI Lifeboat Station at Little and Broad Haven received some very special visitors on Wednesday 25 September, as the institution celebrates its bicentennial year with a variety of events and milestones.

RNLI/Denys Bassett-Jones

The Porsche 911 Challenge and the RNLI200 Scroll come together for the first time on their journeys

The first to arrive was the RNLI 200 'Connecting our Communities' scroll, bearing the lifeboat pledge, being passed through RNLI communities – lifeboat stations, shops, lifeguard units and fundraising branches – around the UK and Ireland and being signed by representatives at each location on its route.

The pledge reads: ‘Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us. This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save every one we can. It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.’

Beneath the pledge, printed in Welsh, English and five other languages (Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Ulster Scots, Manx, and Cornish), it says: ‘Signed in 2024 by representatives of the RNLI’s lifesaving communities, on behalf of all who strive to save every one.’

Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-long scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations around the UK and Ireland before finishing its journey in October at Douglas on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary. By this time, it will carry around 700 signatures.

The scroll has been made bespoke by RNLI craftspeople using materials of significance to the charity. The wooden handle has been made by a carpenter from the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole (where the charity builds and maintains its all-weather lifeboats), using wood from an old flagpole from Ramsey lifeboat station on the Isle of Man. Apprentices from the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre on the Isle of Wight have made the protective fibreglass casing and set the scroll spindles and accessories into the case.

The scroll began its journey on Monday 4 March 2024, at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the charity’s official 200th anniversary, where it was signed by RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dean of Westminster, the RNLI’s Chair and the RNLI’s Chief Executive.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, said: ‘The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year as it’s all about our people. For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.

‘We asked our communities to express interest in participating in this event and we have been overwhelmed by the response – we’re thrilled to have representation from our stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches across the UK and Ireland.

‘Everything about the scroll – from the design and materials to the wording printed on it and the locations it’s travelling to – reflects the communities we serve. By the end of the relay, we will have an important document which will become part of the charity’s history and a significant snapshot of the charity as it stands at 200 years old.’

Representatives were selected to sign the scroll on behalf of Little and Broad Haven RNLI from all aspects of its operation, which were Andy Grey, Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM), Shireen Thomas on behalf of the station shop, Peter Erte, chair of the fundraising branch and the Water Safety Officer Sue Christopher.

Ford are providing an All-Electric E-Transit van to transport the scroll on its journey. When the seven-month-long journey is complete, the scroll will be displayed in the RNLI College in Poole, where the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards are trained.

Founded 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 been saving lives at sea for 200 years. Since the charity was founded, the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers, and the charity’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.

Throughout its 200th anniversary 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.

By sheer coincidence the RNLI Porsche 911 challenge came to visit the station at the same moment, and it was the first time both the car and the scroll had come together in the same place on their journeys.

Belinda and James Richardson, from London, are travelling 8,500 miles in their Porsche 911, hoping to visit all 238 lifeboat stations in 911 hours. After starting in Morecambe on Friday 23 August, the pair visited Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station and were delighted to see the scroll for the first time on their journey after hearing so much about it.

Andy Grey said ‘Today we had a special visit from the RNLI 911 challenge and the RNLI Scroll. To happen at the same time and on the same day was unique in itself. The beautiful Porsche of the 911 Challenge presented jigsaw and a special RNLI themed version of Top Trumps in memory of their visit to all Lifeboat Stations in the UK. Four members from the Station were asked to sign this wonderful scroll which will be a memory and recognition of the 200-year celebration of the RNLI’.

Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, said: ‘We are so grateful to Belinda and James for taking on this huge challenge and look forward to welcoming them at all our lifeboat stations around the coast.

‘We are only able to save lives at sea thanks to the generous support of people taking on challenges like this, and we’re honoured Belinda and James have decided to raise even more money to fund a new D class inshore lifeboat.

‘In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and helped 2,028 people in difficulty. Belinda and James’ 911 challenge will help continue that lifesaving legacy.’

To donate to their challenge, visit https://rnli-911challenge.co.uk/

Notes to editors

  • For more information on Belinda and James’ challenge, visit here.
  • Photos of the couple and the Porsche can be downloaded here.
  • Media are invited to attend scroll signing ceremonies. Please contact Tom Dale on [email protected] or 07977 157959 for more information.
  • For more about the Connecting our Communities event, click here.
  • Click here to access the RNLI 200th 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.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Ben Williets, RNLI Press Officer on 01202 641450 or [email protected]. Alternatively, contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]. The Little and Broad Haven Press Officer is Denys Bassett-Jones [email protected]

RNLI/Denys Bassett-Jones

Belinda and James Richardson were thrilled to hold the scroll in their hands for the first time.

RNLI/Denys Bassett-Jones

LOM Andy Grey signs the scroll on behalf of the crew

RNLI/Denys Bassett-Jones

Water safety officer Sue Christopher adds her signature to the landmark scroll

RNLI/Denys Bassett-Jones

The scroll signatories and supporters were delighted to be part of the first station that the scroll and the Porsche have come together

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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