The RNLI 200 ~ “it’s not all at sea” ~ October 2024

Colin Brown, a volunteer crew with the RNLI, gave an illustrated talk exploring the amazing work of  volunteer crews, how the RNLI supports their motto “Saving lives at sea”, and how and why this now extends to the River Thames.

We heard about how the idea of the RNLI came from the Isle of Man where Sir William Hillary, a Manx resident, proposed the creation of a national lifeboat service in 1823. It spread across the British Isles relying on volunteers to save lives and is totally dependent on donations for funding.

Although the RNLI is seen as a coastal service, lifeboat stations now extend along the Thames all the way to Teddington. The Tower Lifeboat Station, Victoria Embankment, is the busiest in the country with crew on station 24/7, 365 days a year ~ ready to respond to any incident immediately. 

For more detailed information from Colin, visit; https://www.sites.google.com/site/

Pat and Chris visited the RNLI College in Poole where crews are trained and lifeboats are constructed.  It is also an excellent hotel where guests can stay before joining a tour of the facilities ~ not to be missed!