Little and Broad Haven RNLI volunteers attend Buckingham Palace garden party

The RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party was held by HRH The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and HRH The Duke of Kent on Thursday, 23 May.

The Duke of Kent has been President of the RNLI since 1969 during which time volunteer lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards have saved more than 51,000 lives. Sir Tim Laurence is also a Vice President of the lifesaving charity and former Deputy Chair.

The garden party brought together around 2,500 of the RNLI’s long-serving volunteers, staff and their families and also featured an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat in the palace grounds.

Among those attending from across the charity were lifeboat crew, lifeguards, water safety volunteers, fundraisers and recent recipients of meritorious service awards and The King’s Birthday and New Year Honours.

Volunteer crew members and fundraisers from Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Station were invited in recognition for receiving medals and awards for gallantry and long service and wore them proudly on the day. They included George Bevan, Kevin Thomas and Andy Devonald (gallantry), Ben Rudder, Denys Bassett-Jones, Viv Grey and Dai Love (long service). Celebrating long service medals for their contribution to fundraising for the station were Gill Leighton Davies and Rosie and Ken Ainge.

Lifeboat Training Co-ordinator (LTC) and retired crew member Viv Grey MBE said:

'It was a privilege to be part of the RNLI’s 200-year celebrations at the Buckingham Palace Garden Party yesterday. A wonderful day out for crew and fundraisers and an opportunity to meet different people from all around our coast.

'The Princess Royal and Tim Lawrence spoke to so many volunteers and spent time with each group. It was very special to be able to walk around the Palace gardens which were stunning.'

Station Mechanic and retired crew member Dai Love described the day as 'a once in a lifetime experience', and said:

'I'm honoured to have had my 37 years of service formally recognised on the 200 year anniversary of the RNLI. It made the day special to share it with crew and fundraisers from Little and Broad Haven and to meet colleagues from throughout the UK.'

RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: ‘We are incredibly honoured that His Majesty The King has granted permission for the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party to take place at Buckingham Palace in celebration of 200 years of saving lives at sea.

‘Our hosts, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Kent and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, have been hugely supportive of our charity over many decades and it will be a huge honour and privilege for many of our volunteers and staff to meet them.

‘Volunteers are the lifeblood of the RNLI and I am looking forward to being able to thank them personally, along with their equally dedicated families and our long-serving staff members, for their courage and commitment to saving lives.’

Head of Volunteering at the RNLI Donna McReath said: ‘I would like to thank each and every one of our incredible volunteers.

‘We couldn’t do what we do without their vital support and the time and effort they generously dedicate in a wide variety of roles, from lifesaving crew to fundraisers and those who volunteer in our shops, museums or by sharing our water safety messaging.

‘They are all lifesavers, and this special Garden Party is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the joy and impact of volunteering for the RNLI. We are always looking for new volunteers to join our charity to help us continue saving lives at sea.’

Since the RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824, following an appeal to the nation from Sir William Hillary, the charity has saved more than 146,277 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Today, the RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on around 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK.

Notes to editors

· More information about the RNLI’s 200 years of lifesaving can be found here

· Interviews upon request

· For information on how to volunteer for the RNLI visit here

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Little and Broad Haven Lifeboat Press Officer Denys Bassett-Jones, [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.

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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.