Aith and Lerwick lifeboat stations celebrate RNLI’s 200th Anniversary
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) today celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to local volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations.
RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards around the UK and Ireland have saved an incredible 146,277 lives during its two centuries of lifesaving. Across Scotland, there have been 45,853 launches and 11,878 lives saved.
There are two RNLI stations in Shetland: lifeboats have been permanently stationed in Lerwick since July 1930 and at Aith since May 1933. Since the stations were established, Lerwick lifeboat has launched 922 times and saved 445 lives, while Aith lifeboat has launched 398 times and saved 152 lives.
Both stations currently have 17-metre Severn-class all-weather lifeboats, the largest and most powerful in the RNLI’s fleet, with a top speed of 25 knots and capable of long searches in the very worst of sea conditions.
Volunteers from both Shetland stations are this morning attending a special Thanksgiving Service at Westminster Abbey in London – from RNLI Aith, John Hay (Deputy Launch Authority) and James Garrick (Treasurer); and from RNLI Lerwick, Malcolm Craigie (Lifeboat Operations Manager) and Tommy Goudie (Deputy Coxswain). Also attending is Cathy Goudie, who is the Support Coordinator for the RNLI Families Programme in the North of Scotland.
Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.
Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.
The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.
While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.
Stephen Manson, Lerwick Lifeboat Coxswain said: “The RNLI has been saving lives for 200 years; and we’re the latest generation carrying on the lifesaving work which has been carried out by the generations before us. As an island community, there are many folk in Shetland who have a connection to the sea, and many individuals and families who have had a connection to our two RNLI lifeboat stations.
“Our volunteer crews and all those involved with the stations are very pleased to be part of the wider RNLI 200th celebrations and we’re grateful to everyone who continues to support us with fundraising and donations so we can save lives at sea.”
Mark Dowie, RNLI Chief Executive, says:
“It has been an honour and a privilege to be at the helm of the RNLI for the past five years, and to see the charity reach its bicentenary. For a charity to have survived 200 years based on the time and commitment of volunteers, and the sheer generosity of the public donating to fund it, is truly remarkable. It is through the courage and dedication of its incredible people that the RNLI has survived the tests of time, including tragic losses, funding challenges, two World Wars and, more recently, a global pandemic.
“Today, we mark the bicentenary of the RNLI. We remember the achievements and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family over the past two centuries; we celebrate the world-class lifesaving service we provide today, based on our 200 years of learning, expertise and innovation, and we hope to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take the RNLI into its next century and beyond.
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who is involved with the charity – our volunteers, supporters and staff. This is our watch and it is our role to keep our charity safe and secure so it can continue to save lives into the future, as we strive in our vision to save every one.’
Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.
There are two RNLI stations in Shetland: lifeboats have been permanently stationed in Lerwick since July 1930 and at Aith since May 1933. Since the stations were established, Lerwick lifeboat has launched 922 times and saved 445 lives, while Aith lifeboat has launched 398 times and saved 152 lives.
Both stations currently have 17-metre Severn-class all-weather lifeboats, the largest and most powerful in the RNLI’s fleet, with a top speed of 25 knots and capable of long searches in the very worst of sea conditions.
Volunteers from both Shetland stations are this morning attending a special Thanksgiving Service at Westminster Abbey in London – from RNLI Aith, John Hay (Deputy Launch Authority) and James Garrick (Treasurer); and from RNLI Lerwick, Malcolm Craigie (Lifeboat Operations Manager) and Tommy Goudie (Deputy Coxswain). Also attending is Cathy Goudie, who is the Support Coordinator for the RNLI Families Programme in the North of Scotland.
Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.
Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.
The RNLI’s lifesaving reach and remit has also developed over the course of 200 years. Today, it operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK. It designs and builds its own lifeboats and runs domestic and international water safety programmes.
While much has changed in 200 years, two things have remained the same – the charity’s dependence on volunteers, who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public which have funded the service for the past two centuries.
Stephen Manson, Lerwick Lifeboat Coxswain said: “The RNLI has been saving lives for 200 years; and we’re the latest generation carrying on the lifesaving work which has been carried out by the generations before us. As an island community, there are many folk in Shetland who have a connection to the sea, and many individuals and families who have had a connection to our two RNLI lifeboat stations.
“Our volunteer crews and all those involved with the stations are very pleased to be part of the wider RNLI 200th celebrations and we’re grateful to everyone who continues to support us with fundraising and donations so we can save lives at sea.”
Mark Dowie, RNLI Chief Executive, says:
“It has been an honour and a privilege to be at the helm of the RNLI for the past five years, and to see the charity reach its bicentenary. For a charity to have survived 200 years based on the time and commitment of volunteers, and the sheer generosity of the public donating to fund it, is truly remarkable. It is through the courage and dedication of its incredible people that the RNLI has survived the tests of time, including tragic losses, funding challenges, two World Wars and, more recently, a global pandemic.
“Today, we mark the bicentenary of the RNLI. We remember the achievements and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family over the past two centuries; we celebrate the world-class lifesaving service we provide today, based on our 200 years of learning, expertise and innovation, and we hope to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take the RNLI into its next century and beyond.
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who is involved with the charity – our volunteers, supporters and staff. This is our watch and it is our role to keep our charity safe and secure so it can continue to save lives into the future, as we strive in our vision to save every one.’
Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.
For more information on the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, or to donate, visit RNLI.org/200
ENDS
- For media enquiries, please contact – Stephen Manson, Coxswain, RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat Station on 01595 693827; or John Robertson, Coxswain, RNLI Aith Lifeboat Station on 01595 810276.
Notes for Editors
- Statistics are from RNLI Operational Data to 31 December 2023. A life saved shows how many of the people helped by the RNLI would have lost their life had the RNLI not been there.
- Click here to access the RNLI 200th anniversary media pack, which contains a selection of RNLI archive images from key points in the charity’s history, an RNLI history timeline, and a film of ‘200 years in 200 seconds’ – all of which can be downloaded.
- For more on the RNLI’s history – RNLI.org/about-us/our-history
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.