Yarmouth RNLI representatives celebrate at the RNLI 200th Palace Garden Party

An incredible 2,500 volunteer lifeboat crew, lifeguards, water safety volunteers, fundraisers, and their families, were invited to a very special gathering in the glorious May sunshine to celebrate the 200^th at the Anniversary Garden Party which featured a large RNLI Yellow Welly, and an Atlantic 85 RNLI Lifeboat on the grounds.

At this celebration, various awards were handed out and honoured including a Silver Medal for Gallantry to Penlee RNLI Coxswain Patrick Harvey for his pivotal role in saving eight French sailors during a hurricane in October 2022.

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal hosted the party, and in attendance were Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, RNLI President HRH The Duke of Kent and four of our very own crew and their guests from Yarmouth RNLI.

These included Coxswain Howard Lester, Deputy Volunteer Coxswain Pete Lemonius, and crew members Roger Coates-Evans and Robert Scott. Prior to the party, they were presentive with Long-Service awards, three 30-year service medals, and one a 20-year service medal, all of which were worn with pride with their previous celebrated medals, for example the Jubilee medal, whilst at the Garden Party.

As well as Yarmouth, members of Bembridge and Cowes RNLI also joined in on the festivities. It was an incredible event, that really embodied the RNLI’s One Crew mission and was enjoyed by all who attended.

RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: ‘It was also an honour to meet so many of our long-serving volunteers, staff, and their families and to thank them personally for their unwavering commitment. They are all lifesavers.

We thank our Patron, His Majesty The King, for granting permission for the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party to take place at Buckingham Palace in celebration of 200 years of saving lives at sea, and The Duke of Kent who has been hugely supportive of our charity throughout the past 55 years as our President.’

Since the RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824, the charity has saved more than 146,277 lives.

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

• Photos attached of the celebrations and were provided by the crew from Yarmouth RNLI in attendance.

• Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock ‘Wanderer’ came into service in 2001, prior to that Yarmouth RNLI had an Arun Class Lifeboat 52-08 Joy and John Wade which was in service for 23 years.
• As well as 2024 being the year the RNLI celebrates its 200th year, it will also be Yarmouth Station's 100th year in service.

RNLI media contacts

● Hebe Gregory, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

● Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager (South East & London), [email protected]

● Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead (South East) [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 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.