Happisburgh lifeboat station celebrates RNLI’s 200th anniversary

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

Happisburgh started Lifesaving in 1810 and the RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1866.

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 Paul Broomfield Launch Authority, Chris Risby Helm, Tany Blackburn Shop Manager and Philip Smith Chair of the Lifeboat Management Group from Happisburgh.

Philip Smith said: 'The RNLI has been saving lives for 200 years; we are the latest generation carrying on the lifesaving work which has been carried out by many generations before us, starting with local fishermen using their small boats to save lives, then in 1866 the RNLI opened the station with rowing and sailing boats launched from the beach with horses.

'In 1929 the station closed, but reopened again in 1965 with one of the first D class lifeboats. Since then we have had so many improvements in the boats and equipment.

'The RNLI has been part of me since the mid-1960s, when as a boy I would help my grandfather who was boat house attendant at Cromer’s No 2 boat, cleaning and polishing brasses on the boat. My grandfather started collecting memorabilia about Henry Blogg, which went on to be the Henry Blogg Museum.

'In 1972, while working for Richard Davies and Tuner Harrison on their fishing boats, I joined the lifeboat crew at Cromer on their D class lifeboat. 1979 saw my father, after retiring from the police, become Cromer’s Honorary Secretary carrying out this role for 21 years.

'1982 saw me move down the coast to Happisburgh Lifeboat Station; I was on the crew and became Lifeboat Press Officer in 1984, part of the Water Safety Team, and then in 2009 I was asked to take on the role of Chair of the station’s Management Group. All these three roles I still hold. Many things have changed over the past 200 years; the one thing that has not is the volunteers still willing to put themselves at risk to help others at sea.'

Tany Blackburn said: ‘It is such a great feeling to work in the shop with my team of volunteers raising money for the RNLI to keep it running. Last year our small shop at Happisburgh raised £43,000 which will go a long way to keep the service running.'

Chris Risby said: ‘I’ve been in the RNLI a short time but it is great to part of a team of people all working as one crew to save lives at sea.'

Happisburgh will be joining other stations from around the Norfolk coast to mark the 200^th anniversary by enjoying ‘the sublime sound of choral music sung by Norwich Cathedral Choir at Evensong, in thanksgiving for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’. Everyone is welcome at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 17 March at 3:30pm.

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.

‘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 further information about the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200.

Notes to editors:

Photo 1 RtoL Chris Risby, Tany Blackburn, Paul Broomfield and Philip Smith at Westminster Abbey. Credit: Happisburgh RNLI.

Photo 2 Happisburgh's first Lifeboat Huddersfield 1866. Credit: Happisburgh RNLI.

Photo 3 Happisburgh's first D-Class D-72 1965. Credit: Happisburgh RNLI.

Photo 4 Happisburgh present Lifeboat D-813 Russell Pickering. Credit: Philip Smith Happisburgh RNLI.

Happisburgh currently operates:

D class, D - 813 Russell Pickering.

RNLI media contacts

Happisburgh Lifeboat Station volunteer Press Officer, Philip Smith:

Mobile: 07766007936, email: [email protected]

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.