For 200 years, tireless volunteers at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have braved the coasts of the UK and Ireland, saving the lives of thousands of people.
The RNLI celebrates its landmark 200th birthday today, March 4, with a flotilla of lifeboats sailing side-by-side along the River Mersey between 11.20am and 12.20pm paying tribute to volunteers past and present. Lifeboats Hoylake, West Kirby, New Brighton, and Lytham in Lancashire will rendezvous to recreate a 25-year-old picture of the lifesavers in front of Liverpool's distinctive skyline.
Since the charity was founded in 1824, RNLI volunteer crews in the North West have launched 16,004 times, saving 4,316 lives, while its lifeguards – who joined the service in 2001 – have responded to 9,762 incidents, saving 40 lives.
READ MORE: Six weeks to save legacy of mum found dead hours after playing with her kids
READ MORE: Mould warning to anyone with a dehumidifier
In Merseyside alone, RNLI crews have launched 4,312 times and saved 1,743 lives. At Lancashire’s four stations there have been 8,345 launches and 1,889 lives saved, while Cumbria lifeboats have launched 3,117 times and saved 684 lives.
In total across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI – an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.
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."
Founded in a London tavern on March 4 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has seen monumental changes over the years, from early oar-powered vessels to today's high-power, custom-built lifeboats. Once equipped with rudimentary cork lifejackets, volunteers now wear a full protective kit
Today, the RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on over 240 beaches. The RNLI’s only lifeguarded beach that is patrolled year-round is Crosby.
A Service of Thanksgiving to mark 200 years of the RNLI will take place at Westminster Abbey today at 11.30am. At the same time, the flotilla will set off into River Mersey, where people on the opposite banks of Liverpool will be able to see the passing lifeboats.
Jo Partner, RNLI head of region in Wales, the West and the Isle of Man said: "I am thrilled we’re able to make the bicentenary of the RNLI in such a unique way here in the North West. The flotilla really will be quite a spectacle and will serve as a reminder not only of the courage and commitment of all those who have been part of the RNLI family for over the past two centuries, but also those who have given so generously to keeping our service afloat.
"Today we celebrate a world-class lifesaving service and I’m immensely grateful to all those involved with the charity – our volunteers, supporters and staff. We hope this impressive flotilla will inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take the RNLI into its next century and beyond."
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmxpdmVycG9vbGVjaG8uY28udWsvbmV3cy9saXZlcnBvb2wtbmV3cy95b3Utc2VlLWZsb3RpbGxhLWxpZmVib2F0cy1yaXZlci0yODcyNTU2N9IBAA?oc=5
2024-03-04 04:30:00Z
CBMiXWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmxpdmVycG9vbGVjaG8uY28udWsvbmV3cy9saXZlcnBvb2wtbmV3cy95b3Utc2VlLWZsb3RpbGxhLWxpZmVib2F0cy1yaXZlci0yODcyNTU2N9IBAA
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar