Passing the scroll to mark RNLI’S 200 years
Lifeboatteamsfromlittlehampton helped marked the RNLI’S 200th anniversary on Saturday by taking part in a relay event dubbed ‘Connecting Our Communities’.
The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, passed through communities served by theorganisationbyservingmembersallacrosstheukandireland, being signed by representatives at each location on its route.
The pledge reads: “Whoever weare,whereverwearefrom,we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’repoweredbypassion,talent andkindness,likegenerationsof selfless lifesavers before us.
"This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together. Knowingthat,withcourage,nothingis impossible. That is what has always driven us to save every one wecan.it'swhatmakeseveryone of us a lifesaver."
The pledge reads: “Whoever weare,whereverwearefrom,we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’repoweredbypassion,talent andkindness,likegenerationsof selfless lifesavers before us. This isourwatch,weleadtheway,valuing each other, trusting each other,dependingononeanother, volunteeringtofacethestormtogether. Knowing that, with courage,nothingisimpossible.thatis whathasalwaysdrivenustosave everyonewecan.it'swhatmakes every one of us a lifesaver.”
Beneath the pledge, printed insevenlanguages(english,irish Gaelic,welsh,scottishgaelic,ulster Scots, Manx, and Cornish), it says: ‘Signed in 2024 by representativesofthernli’slifesaving communities,onbehalfofallwho strive to save every one.’
At Littlehampton lifeboat station, the scroll was signed in order of signing by Lynn Spillett (Deputy Chair, Fundraising), Monicadibble(shopvolunteer), Phil Hetherington (Water Safety
Adviser), John Phipps (Visits Guide),nickwhite(lifeboatoperations Manager).
Nick White said: "Receiving the scroll at Littlehampton lifeboat station as it travels around theukandirelandissymbolicof the continuity of the RNLI over time. For today’s crews this is their watch, preceded by others over the last two hundred years and to be succeeded by new volunteers as the responsibility for saving lives at sea is passed on in to the future.”
Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-longscroll will pass through 240 locations around the UK and Ireland beforefinishingitsjourneyinoctober on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’S founder, Sirwilliamhillary.bythispoint, thernlisaid,thescrollisexpected to have some 700 signatures.
The scroll was handmade by RNLI craftspeople using materials of significance to the charity. The wooden handle was made by a carpenter from the RNLI’S All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, where the charity builds and maintains its all-weather lifeboats, and using wood from an old flagpole taken from the Ramsey Lifeboat Station on the
Isle of Man.
The spindles on the scroll, meanwhile, were made by an ex-littlehampton lifeboat crew member.
The protective fibreglass casing, meanwhile, was made by apprentices from the RNLI’S Inshore Lifeboat Centre on the Isle of Wight, who also set the scroll spindles and accessories into place.