Celebrations are set to kick off in Lyme Regis to commemorate two centuries of a life-saving charity.

Lifeboat volunteers from the Lyme Regis RNLI are celebrating the cause's 200th anniversary year in the town by hosting a public meeting on Thursday, January 18 at Lyme Regis Football Club clubhouse on Charmouth Road from 7pm.

The meeting called by the Lyme Regis Lifeboat Management Group (LMG) will see a selection of speeches take place and amongst speakers will be representatives of local coastguards, police and fire and ambulance services.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at sea Picture: Max RedwoodLyme Regis RNLI lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at sea Picture: Max Redwood (Image: Max Redwood)

Chairman of the LMG, Mark Houghton, said: “We have just had a record year with 55 calls for the lifeboat – including the first ever on a Christmas Day – and at the start of the RNLI anniversary year we thought it important to bring our emergency service friends together and invite the public with their questions.

“Many of the emergency calls we receive involve these other services as well, so, as we celebrate the RNLI anniversary with many events in the town, we thought it would be a good opportunity to explain our various roles and listen to the views of those people we all serve.”

Liquid refreshments will be available at the event.

A programme of events is being planned by both the lifeboat crew and the lifeboat supporters’ group throughout the year, including Lifeboat Week, which this year starts on July 27.