Special day of thanks in Westminster for New Brighton RNLI
Two of New Brighton RNLI’s longest-serving crew took part in a special ceremony in Westminster Abbey to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI on Monday 4 March.
A service of thanksgiving took place at Westminster Abbey to celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea for the RNLI. Representatives from across the RNLI network were invited to the event, including longstanding crew members Mike and Lee from New Brighton RNLI.
Founded in a London tavern on March 4 1824 after an appeal by Sir William Hillary, the RNLI has been saving lives at sea through the countless challenges of the past 200 years, and now looks forward to the next 200.
Today, the RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland and has seasonal lifeguards on 240 beaches around the UK. New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 and has won an astounding 48 medals for gallantry to date. In the time since the RNLI’s founding, Merseyside RNLI stations, including New Brighton RNLI, have launched 4,312 times, and saved nearly 2,000 lives. Across the northwest, RNLI stations have launched more than 16,000 times and saved more than 4,000 lives. In total, the RNLI have saved 146,452 lives since 1824, all whilst being funded by voluntary donations, and with 97% of their staff being volunteers.
Monday 4 March was also marked by New Brighton RNLI with a flotilla of lifeboats parading down the River Mersey. The B class, Atlantic-85 lifeboat was joined by Shannon class lifeboats from Hoylake and Lytham St. Anne’s RNLI, as well as West Kirby RNLI’s D class lifeboat. The hovercraft from Hoylake RNLI was also due to take part in the flotilla celebration but was diverted by HM Coastguard to a tasking just prior to the parade.
Lee Arnall, crew member at New Brighton, said:
‘It was a great honour and privilege to represent New Brighton at today’s service in Westminster. To see so many volunteers from across the UK and Ireland come together to celebrate such a momentous occasion was humbling and reminded me of the crucial service we offer around the coastlines of the UK. Days like today make you truly proud to be a part of a charity that saves lives at sea.’
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
Connor Wray – Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO)
07756553092
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.