RNLI anniversary event to be supported by Ørsted

The black-tie gala dinner will be sponsored by renewable energy firm Ørsted.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will launch a year of celebrations marking its 200th anniversary this autumn during a Gala Dinner at the Comis Hotel on Saturday 4 November.

Dedicated to saving lives at sea with a 24-hour search and rescue service, the Isle of Man is the birthplace of RNLI. The RNLI was founded by Sir William Hillary in 1824 who saw the treacherous nature of the sea first-hand when living in Douglas on the Isle of Man. He witnessed dozens of shipwrecks around the Manx coast and saved many lives with the help of locals.

Gilli Cowley, Chair of Douglas RNLI Lifeboat Guild, said: ‘As a charity, the RNLI relies on donations to be able to carry out its lifesaving work in Manx seas and further afield, so we are grateful to Ørsted for agreeing to support our gala dinner and launch a very special year in the Island where it all began.

‘We look forward to welcoming supporters from across the Island to Douglas RNLI gala dinner in November.’

Ørsted is a keen supporter of the RNLI and have been for many years – supporting the funding of seven lifeboat stations across the UK.

Ørsted Development Director John Galloway, said: ‘We’re extremely proud to be supporting the Douglas Lifeboat Guild RNLI gala dinner in 2023. Ørsted has a long history of partnership with the RNLI across the British Isles, supporting local lifeboat stations and hosting training exercises on our offshore wind farms. We’re thrilled to be supporting the start of the RNLI’s bicentenary celebrations right here in the Isle of Man where the vital importance of saving lives at sea was first recognised by the Institution’s founder Sir William Hillary.’

ENDS

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Charli Dimelow, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624 436013 or email [email protected] or Eleri Roberts on [email protected] / 07771 941390. Alternatively contact RNLI Press Office on 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.