Reflecting on a momentous 200th anniversary year

You can watch the video below, at the bottom of the page.

There were too many incredible moments to mention, but here is a quick run through of how the anniversary was commemorated, celebrated, and how the next generation of lifesavers were inspired to get involved. Thank you to all the incredible volunteers and staff members who made this all possible. 

On 4 March, a Service of Thanksgiving was held at Westminster Abbey in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent as President of the RNLI, attended by representatives from every RNLI lifesaving community around the UK and Ireland. 

Flotillas took place on the River Mersey and the River Tyne, while a number of national monuments and historical buildings lit up yellow – including the London Eye, Dover Castle, the Millennium Bridge and Broughty Ferry lifeboat station in Scotland. There was a special birthday message displayed across the BT Tower, and special stamps from An Post, which depict the charity’s lifesaving work in Ireland, were unveiled.

Further Services of Thanksgiving were held during the year at locations including Glasgow, Norwich, Llandaff, York, and on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary.  

Opening our doors

In May, a flotilla of 40 lifeboats took place in Poole where we opened our doors to our inshore and all-weather lifeboat facilities (at Cowes and Poole respectively) so the public could see first-hand the work involved in building and maintaining the lifeboat fleet. Bamburgh Castle and Pembroke Castle both hosted special RNLI Open Days to mark the bicentenary.

Also in May, shortly after His Majesty King Charles III was confirmed as the charity’s new Patron, a Buckingham Palace Garden Party was held for RNLI volunteers, in recognition of their commitment to the charity in its bicentennial year.  

During the year, a number of special RNLI 200th anniversary products were launched, including a Royal Mint 50p coin; two books – To Save Every One: 200 Years of RNLI Courage and One Crew: The RNLI’s Official 200-Year History; a rose named With Courage, which was unveiled by the breeder, Peter Beales, at the Chelsea Flower Show, and stamps which were available in Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Several exhibitions dedicated to the RNLI ran throughout the year. Historic Dockyard Chatham held RNLI 200: The Exhibition, while the National Maritime Museum Greenwich hosted Women of the RNLI. RNLI exhibitions were also held at Falmouth, Swansea, Peel (Isle of Man), St David’s and Belfast. In further recognition of the charity’s significant history, a blue plaque was unveiled on the site of the first RNLI headquarters in the City of London.

During the year, the Connecting our Communities scroll bearing the RNLI pledge travelled to RNLI communities (lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches) around the UK and Ireland, being signed by representatives at each location on its route. The scroll started its journey at Westminster Abbey on 4 March, where it was signed by RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent. It completed its journey on the Isle of Man in October and now carries the signatures of over 900 RNLI representatives. 

Together in one moment

In August, hundreds of RNLI representatives took part in the special photo event, One Moment for One Crew, in which communities like yours a photo of themselves, their crew or their team and submitted it for inclusion in a montage image, to capture a snapshot of those involved with the charity in its 200th year. In the same month, the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) marked the RNLI’s 200th anniversary when 130 young participants in their annual sail race visited the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole after completing their race.  

The anniversary of the first ever street fundraising collection, held by the RNLI in Manchester in 1891, was marked with the Coast to Cobbles event in October. The event saw a Shannon class lifeboat travelling to Salford Quays in Manchester via RNLI stations on the north west coast of England, carrying a time capsule into which RNLI crews placed significant items. 

The RNLI’s 200th anniversary has also been given special recognition at events including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Lord Mayor’s Show and the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.

Thank you to all who took part and made this year one to remember. 

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.