Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI volunteers celebrate 200th anniversary of lifesaving charity at Westminster Abbey

Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI volunteers celebrated the 200th anniversary of the lifesaving charity at Westminster Abbey in London.

Today, Monday, March 4), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers like those at Kyle of Lochalsh lifeboat station, who volunteer their time to save others, funded only by public donations.

Over the last two centuries, the RNLI have saved an incredible 146,277 lives. Kyle RNLI was founded in 1995, and has seen its lifeboats launched 488 times, and saved 14 lives.

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The RNLI is celebrating the milestone with a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London, and is being attended by RNLI representatives from around the UK and Ireland, including Kyle Lifeboat's very own Andrew MacDonald, Emma Noble and Jonathan MacKinnon.

Andrew MacDonald from Kyle RNLI lifeboat station said: "Kyle has had an RNLI lifeboat station for 29 years, however the RNLI has been saving lives for 200 years; we’re the latest generation carrying on the lifesaving work which has been carried out by a large number of volunteers both here and around the coast. It’s an honour for some of us from the station to be down in London attending the Thanksgiving Service marking the occasion.

"In Kyle, we are running a number of events to mark the 200th year of the RNLI, including a quiz night in April, a special afternoon tea in June, our maritime day in September, a bingo night in October and Santa's Grotto in December. Keep an eye on our social media pages for more details of these and other events."

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 life jackets 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.

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, said: "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.

"Today, we mark the bicentenary of the RNLI. 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 200th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200.

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