Art donation commemorates 200 years of RNLI in Lyme Regis
Successful Exeter artist Nick Langdon has donated an evocative drawing of their inshore lifeboat to volunteers at Lyme Regis RNLI to commemorate 200 years of lifesaving service in the town.
The coloured pencil drawing entitled Around the Cobb at Lyme Regis depicts the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne alongside the historic Cobb high wall against the setting sun.
Presentation of the drawing was made to volunteer lifeboat crew at a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Lyme Regis Councillor Philip Evans MBE and members of Lyme Regis Town Council at the town’s historic Guildhall on Saturday 2 May.
In presenting his drawing to Lyme Regis lifeboat station, Mr Langdon said: ‘Whilst holidaying in Scotland near Leith I came across an anonymous fisherman’s prayer which reads: ‘So with the darkest days behind, our ship of hope will steer, and when in doubt just keep in mind, our motto – persevere'.
‘This prayer drew to my mind the sterling work of the RNLI. Their ships of hope, their lifeboats which certainly persevere as they operate from 238 lifeboat stations around UK and Ireland. Lifeboat stations are not just places to store and maintain lifesaving craft. They are places to train vital lifesaving skills, and are hubs for local communities to come together with the shared goal of keeping the waters around them safe.’
Accepting the drawing on behalf of Lyme Regis lifeboat station, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Mark Colley said: ‘We are very grateful to Nick Langdon for his donation of this lovely drawing of our boat alongside the Cobb. It certainly evokes the spirit of Lyme Regis and our lifeboat’s place in it. We intend to hang the drawing in a prominent position in the lifeboat station with a plaque recognising the donation in commemoration of our 200-year history.
Prints of Nick Langdon’s drawings are on sale via the RNLI website with all proceeds going to the lifesaving charity. RNLI Prints Wall Art and featured small gifts
Ends
Notes to editors:
In February 1826 the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (which later became the RNLI) approved £18-4s-0d for Lyme Regis to help with the conversion of a local fishing boat for use as a lifeboat. This is the earliest known association of the lifesaving charity with the town.
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For more information, please contact Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected], or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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