Farewell from the 200th anniversary team

4 March 1824 marked an extraordinary moment, which would be honoured 200 years later. And what an anniversary it’s been – with over 70 activities and events across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and countless opportunities to interact with the public to tell the story and commemorate, celebrate and inspire together as one crew. As 2024 draws to a close, it is time for the 200th anniversary team to say thank you and goodbye.

The team, based across the RNLI from Bournemouth to Lincolnshire, Newcastle Upon Tyne to London, and Aberdeen to Portrush and beyond, has had the honour of playing our small part in marking such a historic occasion. We have loved being able to bring the RNLI’s 200th anniversary to you, our existing supporters, and new supporters alike.

Originally set up in 2020, the team has evolved and changed over the years, but has been working ever since to bring the themes of the 200th activity to life. Throughout this time, our goal has aways been to:

• commemorate those that have gone before us
• celebrate the incredible people who work to save lives at sea today
• and inspire the next generation of lifesavers to carry the RNLI into its third century.

We have seen commemorative services of thanksgiving in Westminster, Llandaff, York, and Glasgow, to name a few. There have been celebrations at the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Poole Lifeboat Festival, Bamburgh, and Pembroke. Inspiration was found all around us with the Connecting our Communities scroll, Coast to Cobbles, the 200 Voices podcast series, the StormForce Rescue mobile game, and countless community-led events right across our RNLI regions.

There were approximately 10 billion opportunities for the anniversary to be seen in the media in 2024, and throughout the year there were even more ways that people encountered the RNLI and learned more about our cause. The anniversary and its significance were internationally recognised by UNESCO; the specially bred Rose ‘With Courage’ won gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show; two brand new musicals premiered, each telling emotional stories about the work the RNLI does; two books were published, telling the history of the charity; the Royal Mint produced a commemorative coin and featured it in its Annual Set. Each of these moments brought the lifesaving work we do to the forefront of the public view.

The success of each and every one of these activities is down to you. Each programme, each partnership, each event was built on the support, experience, hard work, and kindness of volunteers and staff like you, without which this year wouldn't have been possible.

We will remember this year, and the incredible people we have met along the way, with a special fondness and will carry these experiences with us for a lifetime, as we hope you will too.

What's left is to say thank you. Thank you for embracing the 200th anniversary, thank you for baking cakes, thank you for shaking buckets on frosty mornings, thank you for organising events, thank you for going above and beyond your normal duties, thank you for everything you have done to bring this anniversary to life.

With courage, and hope for the future,

Amy, Anjie, Becky, Beth, Charlotte, Chris, Emily, Emma, and Elliot

Your 200th team

Have your say on the RNLI’s 200th anniversary activities

As the RNLI's 200th anniversary year draws to a close, now is your time to share your experiences. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey and help us understand the impact of the 200th anniversary activities on our volunteers and staff and how we can improve the programmes of activity for future anniversaries.

This survey is open to volunteers and staff and you can complete the survey here.

Thank you.