Dover lifeboat station celebrates RNLI’s 200th anniversary

On Monday, the charity turned 200 and can reveal that its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved an incredible 146,277 lives during its two centuries of lifesaving.

Dover RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1837 and in that time its crews have launched the lifeboats and saved many thousands of lives.

The Dover lifeboat was founded in 1837 and since then has been located at a number of locations throughout the Port of Dover and has attended hundreds of service calls to every conceivable situation.

A Service of Thanksgiving to mark 200 years of the RNLI took place at Westminster Abbey in London on 4 March. It was attended by representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland, including a delegation from Dover RNLI lifeboat station.

Danny Wilkins, Coxswain from Dover RNLI lifeboat station says:

‘Having saved lives for some 200 years, the RNLI has been safeguarding our shores and for our part, Dover lifeboat has helped to save thousand of lives since 1824. Our crew are drawn from every background and having moved into our new station, we look forward to helping to safeguard lives in the English Channel for many years to come'

The Dover crew have joined in a number of events over the past few days including a ferry fleet horn salute, the lighting of Dover Castle in the colour of our famous yellows as well as an official RNLI 200 commemorative photo shoot at the castle. With a new station, we also have a number of events to announce in due course and further details will be released shortly.

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.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, 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.