The RNLI is one of several businesses and institutions marking its two hundredth anniversary in 2024. Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station was honoured on Monday, April 8 to welcome the lord-lieutenant for East Sussex, Andrew Blackman, to acknowledge that milestone and to help celebrate the RNLI’s two centuries of service. The crew, fundraisers and shop staff welcomed him, chatting about the rôles that they play in the charity and Martin Bruce, chairman of the station, sang Saving Lives at Sea, the institution’s 200th anniversary shanty which he has written.
Paul Bolton, lifeboat operations manager, took the lord-lieutenant to see the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and tractor and Luke Bishop, helm, explained how it all works.
The lord-lieutenant commented after his visit: “I enjoyed a very happy hour at Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station, and learnt so much from talking to volunteers. Rye Harbour remains a close-knit community, and it’s heartening to see second and third generation volunteers sharing with new recruits their passion for saving lives at sea. In this 200th anniversary year for the RNLI, the sense of compassion and service to others that were the founding principles of the charity are alive and well at Rye Harbour; sentiments expressed perfectly in Martin Bruce’s shanty! Many thanks to all for the very warm welcome.”
These are some of the other institutions and businesses that are celebrating 200 years in 2024:
Cadbury
Scotch Distilleries
RSPCA
University of Manchester
Braille
The Commons Library
Samuel Plimsoll’s birthday
National Gallery
Image Credits: Kt bruce .