RNLI celebrates 200 years and more than 16,000 lives saved in the South West
The charity was founded in 1824
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea.
The charity has revealed during its two centuries, volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved 16,028 lives across the South West.
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.
In total, across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.
The charity has a strong presence in the South West with 33 lifeboat stations and 89 lifeguarded beaches during the summer season.
Since 1824, volunteer crews in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset West Dorset and the Channel Islands have launched the lifeboats 55,912 times, saving 14,967 lives.
RNLI lifeguards across the region – who became part of the charity’s lifesaving service in 2001 – have responded to 176,585 incidents, saving 1,061 lives.
South West lifesavers witness "greatest moments of triumph"
The largest rescue in RNLI history was of the liner the Suevic which ran aground off the coast of Cornwall in 1907 in which 456 lives were saved and not a single life lost.
Cornwall also saw the first RNLI gallantry medal for lifeguarding when in 2003, Rod MacDonald was presented with the bravery award for a particularly challenging and selfless rescue of a bodyboarder in Newquay.
In 2008, Torbay RNLI went to the rescue of the 20-person crew of The Ice Prince, a cargo ship which had got into difficulty 31 miles out in the English Channel.
In storm force winds, the crew arrived on scene, supported by Salcombe RNLI and the Coastguard helicopter and discovered that the boat was listing and was at severe risk of sudden capsize.
In atrocious conditions and an operation lasting nearly two hours, Torbay RNLI volunteers were able to take eight crew members from The Ice Prince, with the Coastguard Helicopter India Juliet taking the remaining 12. The casualties were taken to hospital and all recovered.
Following the rescue, the Torbay RNLI crew involved that night were all recognised for their bravery, receiving the RNLI Thanks of the Institution Vellum award, and later attending the GMTV Pride of Britain awards in London and winning the Emergency Services category. The Salcombe lifeboat crew all received the RNLI Chief Executive's Letter of Thanks.
Marking the bicentenary of the RNLI
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 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."
Today, the RNLI 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.
RNLI Heritage Archive and Research Manager, Hayley Whiting, said: "The RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary, witnessed the treacherous nature of the sea first-hand when living on the Isle of Man and he wanted to take action.
"His first appeal to the nation in 1823 did not have the desired result but, thankfully, he persevered and gained the support of several philanthropic members of society, who put their names to the charity at a meeting in the City of London Tavern on 4 March 1824.
"Twelve resolutions were passed at that meeting, the core of which still stand as part of the RNLI’s Charter 200 years later. This shows how the RNLI’s values and purpose have remained unwavering for 200 years, despite the social and economic changes and challenges of the past two centuries.
"Hillary’s vision was ambitious and forward-thinking, and no doubt he would be extremely proud to see the charity he founded still going strong today, and to see how much it has achieved."
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.
A Service of Thanksgiving to mark 200 years of the RNLI will take place at Westminster Abbey on 4 March 2024 at 11.30am. It will be attended by representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland.