Historic moment as RNLI bicentenary scroll comes to Lyme Regis

Representatives from Lyme Regis lifeboat station took part in the next stage of the RNLI’s ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024.

The event sees a scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, being passed through lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches around the UK and Ireland and being signed by representatives at each location on its route.

Sam Ellis, the youngest member of the sea-going crew at 22, the manager of the lifeboat shop Krys Lavery, lifeboat station visits officer Petrina Muscroft and water safety team representative Ian Marshall signed the scroll on behalf of Lyme Regis RNLI.

Sam said: “I am delighted, and honoured to be signing this historic scroll on behalf of all our volunteers. It’s a team effort and everyone has an important role to play in our aim to save lives at sea.”

The pledge reads: ‘Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives. We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of 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. Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible. That is what has always driven us to save every one we can. It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.’

The five-metre-long scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations around the UK and Ireland during the course of seven months, before ending up at Douglas on the Isle of Man which was home to the RNLI's founder, Sir William Hillary.