Helensburgh RNLI volunteers attend 200th anniversary service

As the Royal National Lifeboat Institution [RNLI] marks its 200th birthday, Neil Petrie and Tom Ridskill from the Helensburgh lifeboat station travelled to London for a special Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 4.

The service was attended by representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland and looked to commemorate the charity’s history and vital work.

Local operations manager Howard Morrison said: “The RNLI has been saving lives for 200 years. We are the latest generation carrying on the lifesaving work which has been carried out by many generations before us.

“Helensburgh lifeboat station was founded in 1965 and today has an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.

“The lifeboat has been called out 1,961 times since it was first launched in Helensburgh in 1965.

“We will be joining in the celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary throughout the year to thank all our volunteers over the years and our supporters who have helped us to save lives at sea.”

Founded in a London tavern on March 4, 1824, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the years.

The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years as today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland.

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.

“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 everyone.”

Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its history and celebrate the lifesaving service it is today – while hoping to inspire future volunteers and supporters.

For more information about the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, visit: www.RNLI.org/200.