Any organisation that manages to reach its 200th anniversary must be doing something right and on Monday (4th March), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) reaches that milestone. It was formed 2 centuries ago due to the visionary zeal of Sir William Hillary, who envisaged having rescue points around the coast of the UK and Ireland for those in peril at sea. Originally known as the National Institute for the Preservation of Life From Shipwreck, it became the RNLI in 1854 and was granted a Royal Charter in 1860. In the early days lifeboat crews launched rowing boats that had to be powered by the crews using oars. There were several of this type of lifeboat at stations around the Isle of Wight. Legacies account for about 2/3 of donations and over the years gifts have included a set of gold teeth, a pig farm and a century-old bottle of fine cognac. 6 in every 10 launches are only possible thanks to gifts in wills. Queen Victoria became a regular subscriber to the RNLI in 1861, and down the years the childrens’ TV programme “Blue Peter” ran various appeals. So far, the organisation has been responsible for saving some 144.000 lives at sea. During the 1979 Fastnet yacht race disaster a total of thirteen lifeboats were deployed. Over the 2 centuries the rescue craft, equipment and kit have evolved and improved immeasurably. Now there are rigid inflatables, hovercraft, surf boards and personal rescue craft. Following the introduction of lifeguards at the turn of this century, 200 plus beaches are now covered. There are now 238 stations and a total of 444 lifeboats. On the Island we have three RNLI stations- Bembridge, Cowes and Yarmouth. and not forgetting the independent rescue teams. Cowes Week 2024 has adopted the RNLI as one of its two charities. All-weather lifeboats are produced at their centre in Poole, while the inshore lifeboat centre is based at East Cowes. In 2002 the RNLI introduced 4 stations on the River Thames, with Tower becoming the only station to rack up 10,000 shouts by last June.
ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION TO CELEBRATE 200TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT WEEK
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They have lost a lot of support in recent years, I know many people who have stopped their ‘quite wealthy’ donations, and I will never donate to them.
It’s now a glorified government taxi service bringing people to our shores instead of returning them to France or leaving them in the channel.
Our country can not cope with this invasion which is helped and funded by the RNLI through your donations.
The usual suspects will thumb my comment down, but the rest of you will agree with me.
Our local lads are fantastic, having needed their help once. Believe me I know a couple of volunteers and they think it’s a joke being used to ferry illegals. Blame the gangs not the crews.
If you are not happy in your job and it is seriously affecting the entire country, would you stay doing it or quit.?
The correct answer is quit.
In 2022 almost 46,000 boats arrived in the UK illegally and so far this year the figure is almost 2,500. It is a disgrace.
If I was on the crew I would tow the suckers back to France and ram them up the beach.
Then if I was suspended you could pretty much guarantee that there would be public outcry and support.
The RNLI taxi service would soon end, and I do blame the crew as they are piloting the lifeboat, nobody else.
How many car drivers would leave the RAC or AA if the company started a free taxi service openly smuggling illegals to the UK.?
Totally agree, & that Pink & the others in Captiva are on the Lifeboats which has made me dislike them even more !
The RNLI are not the RNLI they use too be!
Totally agree, and how refreshing to see that people are ‘finally’ albeit way too late, seeing the serious threat, and damage being caused to the UK by such unwanted, unacceptable and numerous arrivals to our shores.
It is not just coincidence that since such arrivals in the UK that food banks, housing shortages, massive amounts of crime, acid, gun and knife crime, gang rape and s ex slavery, genital mutilations, diseases once thought eradicated, and ever more drug dealing have swelled beyond the most pessimistic levels, not just in this country, but in EVERY area on the globe where such impose themselves.
I will never ever give one bean to this outfit ever again.
When people or organisations (RNLI) don’t stand up for what is right for our country. Then they are part of the problem.
There should be a sea tax like road tax by now as voluntary is just not the thing these days and it could be per foot of each body so fair to the yacht:boat owners
Per foot of each yacht/boat to be fair to owners
Why is the Royal National Lifeboat, not paid for by the Royal family?. If they want to call it theirs then make them pay for it, we all know it’s their idea, to bring the illegal imagants to the UK. They have sucked up to to illegals for years, no other country is willing to help them.
Well done to a vital emergency service .
Pity it isn’t funded by central government as should the air ambulance.