St Magnus Cathedral welcomes RNLI to celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea

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.

Since 1824, RNLI lifeboats in Scotland have launched 45,853 times, saving 11,878, meaning that over a quarter (25.9%) of all rescues in Scotland have resulted in a life saved. In Orkney, lifeboats have launched 1,822 and saved 1,019 lives since the RNLI first established a station at Longhope in 1874.

For 150 years, volunteers at Longhope RNLI have selflessly risked their lives to save others. The volunteer crews have been honoured with 26 awards for gallantry, but the station has also witnessed tragedy. In 1969, eight crew members sadly lost their lives when saving others at sea.

On Sunday 17 March, RNLI volunteers remembered those who selflessly gave their lives 55 years ago trying to save others.

Retired Longhope RNLI Coxswain, Kevin Kirkpatrick said: ‘It's important that we keep their memory alive. I’m sure they would have been so proud to witness the support of our community and the ongoing commitment of the volunteer RNLI service here in Longhope, who continue to bravely serve our coastal waters.’

To mark the charity’s significant milestone, a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday 24 March and will be attended by representatives from the local RNLI lifesaving community.

Ahead of the service of thanksgiving on Sunday, Orkney Council will be lighting up St Magnus Cathedral from dusk to dawn to recognise the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary.

On Sunday, RNLI volunteers from the 3 lifeboat stations in Orkney will gather at Kirkwall RNLI Lifeboat Station before heading to the cathedral.

RNLI volunteers will make up a guard of honour before the Service of Thanksgiving at St Magnus in Kirkwall. During the service, readings will be given by 3 RNLI volunteers – Katie Irving-Lewis, a volunteer at Kirkwall RNLI, Roz Ware, a volunteer at Longhope RNLI, and James Burgon, a volunteer at Stromness RNLI.

James Burgon follows a long line of RNLI supporters that began with fisherman, Peter Burgon, who served on the crew at Berwick and Eyemouth, from 1876. His son William followed in his footsteps, becoming coxswain of Berwick lifeboat from 1899. Now James volunteers alongside his son, Lewis, at Stromness RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Orkney Islands Council Convener Graham Bevan says:

In this, the bicentenary year of the RNLI, on behalf of Orkney I express our admiration and thanks to the volunteer lifeboat crews, fundraisers and lifeboat service for all the work they have done over many years of association with our islands.

Our communities hold the RNLI in the highest regard and widespread support is shown at the numerous fundraising events held throughout the county to ensure that there is a steady flow of funding to assist the service to continue its lifesaving work.

We are incredibly lucky to have three volunteer lifeboat crews – in Kirkwall, Stromness and Longhope – who are willing to go to the aid of others in distress at sea, saving 1,019 lives over the years.

The RNLI forms an intrinsic part of our communities, and we celebrate 200 years of its welcome existence with a service of celebration in St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday. The Cathedral will also be lit up yellow for the occasion and the Council will be flying the RNLI flag at the Kirkwall Town Hall over the weekend as a mark of our respect.

We must also pay tribute to those volunteers who have perished at sea in service of others. Only last Sunday – 17 March 2024 – we remembered those eight men of the Longhope lifeboat TGB who tragically gave their lives 55 years ago whilst on a rescue mission in horrendous conditions. This serves as a timely reminder of the immense dangers faced by these brave volunteers every day of service.

Notes to editors

· To attend the service or interview RNLI personnel, please contact the Scotland RNLI media team in advance of Sunday.

· Details of the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary can be found here.

RNLI media contacts

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 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.