Gravesend RNLI Sign 200th Anniversary Pledge Scroll
On Thursday 28 March at 10:30am, volunteers from Gravesend lifeboat station took part in the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event, as part of the charity’s 200th anniversary celebrations.
At Gravesend lifeboat station, the scroll was signed by Roy D. on behalf of the lifeboat crew, Adrian Soper on behalf of the Gravesend RNLI fundraising team, and Ross Boushear on behalf of the water safety and education team. They were the 126th, 127th and 128th signatures on the scroll, respectively. Roy explained, ‘It is a really proud moment for me to be a part of the RNLI's history. The scroll bears the RNLI pledge. It is being passed through RNLI communities around the UK and Ireland, being signed by representatives at each of around 240 locations on its route. It will finish its journey on the Isle of Man, the birthplace of the RNLI, with approximately 700 signatures.’
The pledge reads: ‘Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us. This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save every one we can. It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.’
The scroll began its journey on Monday 4 March 2024, at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the charity’s official 200th anniversary. Ross said: ‘Receiving the scroll at Gravesend Lifeboat Station, and being able to sign this pledge, representing our local lifesaving community as part of ‘One Crew’, on behalf of all of us who have pledged to 'save everyone we can', is a great privilege.’
The scroll will be signed at Lakeside Shopping Centre in the same afternoon, and at Chatham Historic Dockyard tomorrow (Friday 29 March) at 11am, where you can go along and see it being signed by representatives. Throughout its 200th anniversary 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 200th anniversary, visit RNLI.org.
Notes to Editor
Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.
Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Helena Lane, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI on 07809 683883 or email [email protected]
Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager – SE & London, RNLI 07724 801305 or email [email protected]
Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or 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.