The chief of the RNLI joined volunteers and supporters from Lyme Regis for a special photo moment to commemorate its 200th anniversary year.
Lyme Regis RNLI’s current lifeboat crew, lifeguards, water safety volunteers, fundraisers, shop volunteers and their families joined with volunteers from previous generations at Lyme Regis Powerboat Club for a reunion and a traditional cream tea.
This was followed by a group photograph taken at precisely 6.24pm titled 'One Moment for One Crew'. The photo will be included in a montage of similar images from RNLI groups across the UK and Ireland.
The charity, founded in 1824, asked its volunteers and staff from around the UK and Ireland to take a photo of themselves, their crew or their team, at as close to 18:24 (6.24pm) on 1.8.24 as possible.
Whether lifeguards on a beach, lifeboat crew at a station, fundraisers at an event, or volunteers in a museum – all involved with the charity have been encouraged to submit a photo.
Read more: Huge crowds enjoy Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week celebrations
Lyme Regis RNLI volunteers were joined by new RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes who attended the event with his wife Karen.
This was his first official RNLI 200 event. Mr Sparkes said: "It is a real privilege to be invited to take part in this special 200th anniversary gathering in Lyme Regis. I am very pleased to meet volunteers past and present and to hear some of their stories about their time volunteering with the RNLI.
"It is also good to meet the families who do so much to support our volunteers as they do their vital lifesaving work, including your strong team of potential future volunteers."
The RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary on March 4, and this event was one of a range of events and programmes which the charity has organised to mark its bicentenary.
Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, said: "The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for 200 years thanks to its incredible people.
"We have encouraged anyone who has some form of involvement with the RNLI to participate in this special One Moment for One Crew photographic event, to capture a record of everyone who, at this moment in time, is playing some part in the RNLI’s lifesaving work, continuing its legacy and securing its future.
"One Moment for One Crew is very much about celebrating the people of today’s RNLI and, we hope, inspiring those future generations who will take the RNLI into its third century of lifesaving."
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.
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