RNLI 200th Anniversary Flotilla on the River Mersey

Photos by Stratus Imagery

ON Monday, 4 March 2024, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea with a Anniversary Flotilla on the River Mersey.

It was fitting the River Mersey was chosen for this very special event, as many people do not realise that the 1st recorded independent Lifeboat service was established in 1776, at Formby Point. This now long gone Lifeboat Station was taken over in 1824, with the foundation of the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. The charity was founded on:- 4 March 1824, in a London tavern, following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and had witnessed many shipwrecks. That was to become the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, under the patronage of King George IV. But on 5 October 1854 was granted a Royal Charter, and became the name we all now today, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Since the begining of the RNLI, it has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars. Its volunteer crews in the North West have launched the lifeboats 16,004 times, saving 4,316 lives, while its lifeguards; who became part of the RNLI’s lifesaving service in 2001; have responded to 9,762 incidents, saving 40 lives*. In total across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI; this equates to an average of 2 lives saved every day, for 200 years.

Photos by Connor Wray.

On 4 March 2024 the RNLI in the North West revealed that its volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved an incredible 4,356 lives during its 2 centuries of lifesaving. To celebrate this historic milestone, a flotilla of North West RNLI Lifeboats come together and sail side by side along the River Mersey paying tribute to volunteers, both past and present.

The RNLI’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; the RNLI’s only lifeguarded beach that is patrolled year round is Crosby beach in Merseyside. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.

When the RNLI started 2 centuries ago using the early oar powered vessels, the charity has seen vast developments in the Lifeboats they use to lifesavers. Today's technology packed boats, which are now built in house by the charity are a far cry from the past, but crews still face danger every time they deploy. But its not just the boats that have changed, so has the kit, from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850's to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued, all helps make crews safer and alows them to keep saving lives. But only with your help and support!

For further information about the RNLI's 200th Anniversary, please visit:- RNLI.Org/200, and to donate, please visit:- RNLI.Org.

Photos by Stratus Imagery

Marking the Anniversary Flotilla was:- the Shannon Class Lifeboats, from both:- Lytham and Hoylake, Hoylake's hovercraft and the D-Class Lifeboat, from:- West Kirby, along with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat, from:- New Brighton.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, says:- "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."

Photos by Stratus Imagery

Jo Partner, RNLI Head of Region in Wales, the West and the Isle of Man says:- "I'm thrilled we're able to make the bicentenary of the RNLI in such a unique way here in the North West. The flotilla really will be quite a spectacle and will serve as a reminder not only of the courage and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family for over the past two centuries, but also those who have given so generously to keeping our service afloat. Today we celebrate a world class lifesaving service and I am immensely grateful to all those involved with the charity; our volunteers, supporters and staff. We hope this impressive flotilla will inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take the RNLI into its next century and beyond."

Photos by Stratus Imagery

RNLI Heritage Archive and Research Manager, Hayley Whiting, says:- "The RNLI's founder, Sir William Hillary, witnessed the treacherous nature of the sea 1st hand when living on the Isle of Man and he wanted to take action. His 1st 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. 12 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 2 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."

Photos by Connor Wray.

Did you know that:- 'A Service of Thanksgiving' was also held to mark 200 years of the RNLI, at Westminster Abbey, on:- 4 March 2024, with representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland?

Also, did you know that The RNLI has a history of innovation, and adapting to challenging circumstances, such as:-

• Lifejackets: In 1861, Whitby lifeboat crew launched 6 times to rescue stricken vessels in a storm, but on their sixth launch a freak wave capsized the lifeboat and all but 1 of the crew were lost. The sole survivor was Henry Freeman, who survived because he was wearing a new design of cork lifejacket. After this event, the cork lifejacket became more widely adopted by lifeboat crews.
   

• Fundraising: In 1886, 27 lifeboat crew members from:- Southport and St Annes lost their lives while trying to rescue the crew of the Mexico. A public appeal was launched, driven by local man Charles Macara. An 1891 appeal raised £10,000 in 2 weeks. On 1 October 1891, Charles and his wife Marion organised the 1st Lifeboat Saturday. Bands, floats and lifeboats paraded through the streets of Manchester, followed by volunteers collecting money. More than £5,000 was taken on the day, which was the 1st recorded example of a charity street collection.
   

• Lifeboats: In 1914, over 140 people were saved when the Hospital steamship Rohilla was wrecked. The ship had been en route to Dunkirk to help wounded soldiers but was broken up when it ran aground on rocks near Whitby. 5 lifeboats battled terrible seas to reach the ship. A motor lifeboat (the 1st of its kind) from Tynemouth, took the last 50 people on board. In total, 144 people were saved by the crews, who worked for over 50 hours in atrocious conditions. The motor lifeboat proved its capabilities and became more widely accepted by lifeboat crews after this event.
   

• Wartime: When World War 1 broke out, many lifeboat volunteers were called away to fight. The average age of lifeboat crews at home increased to over 50. During 1914 to 1918, RNLI lifeboats launched 1,808 times, saving 5,332 lives. In 1939, young lifeboat volunteers were called away again to war. By the end of the Second World War, RNLI crews had saved 6,376 lives around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.
   

• In 1940, 19 RNLI lifeboats were used to evacuate troops from Dunkirk, in World War 2. 2 had RNLI crews onboard, while the others were crewed by the Royal Navy. The lifeboats and their stand-in crews saved thousands of lives while being shelled and bombed for days.

Photos by Stratus Imagery

Photos by Connor Wray.

Photos by Stratus Imagery

Photos by Connor Wray.

Photos by Stratus Imagery

Photos by Connor Wray.

 
Photos by Stratus Imagery

Photos by Connor Wray.

Photos by Connor Wray.

Photos by Connor Wray.

Photos by Stratus Imagery 

Photos by Stratus Imagery

* Statistics from RNLI Operational Data from 4 March 1824 to 31 December 2023 inclusive. A life saved shows how many of the people helped by the RNLI would have lost their life had the RNLI not been there.