RNLI to celebrate The King’s Coronation year at Service of Thanksgiving

David Smart, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat Station, is representing the lifesaving charity.

David joined the crew at Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat Station in 1987 and has held a number of voluntary positions over the past 36 years including inshore lifeboat helm and mechanic. He has been awarded the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals for frontline services to the RNLI, and received his 30-year RNLI Long Service Award in 2017.

David said: ‘It is a tremendous honour to be asked to represent the thousands of RNLI volunteers and staff in Scotland in the People’s Procession and at the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for His Majesty King Charles III.

‘It has been a great privilege to serve the lifesaving charity for the past 36 years and I hope I will be able to continue to support the Queensferry community for many years to come.’

The People’s Procession will involve around 100 community groups representing different aspects of Scottish life.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be joined by The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay as heir apparent to the throne, when they travel in The Royal Procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral.

After the Scottish Honours are presented to His Majesty in the cathedral, the celebrations will continue, with a 21-gun salute fired from Edinburgh Castle and a RAF flypast down the Royal Mile.

Ahead of the events to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation in Scotland, on Tuesday 4 July, five representatives from the RNLI in Scotland will attend the garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. In addition, two individuals from the RNLI will be attending with the East Lothian Lord-Lieutenant's Office.

Laura Erskine, Water Safety Education Manager for the RNLI in Scotland, is attending the Garden Party to represent the RNLI. She says: ‘I’m really looking forward to representing the RNLI in Scotland at the garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Tuesday 4 July. It will be a fantastic opportunity to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation in Scotland and discuss the brilliant work of our volunteers across the country.’

Notes to Editor

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.