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COLOURISED A centenary treat for school children at Southend on Sea. Over a thousand children watched a special launch of the lifeboat as part of the celebrations . . 31 July 1935 ENGLAND, IMAGES HAVE BEEN COLOURISED to celebrate the 200 Year Anniversary of the founding of the RNLI on the 4th March 1824. Images show proud past members of the RNLI receiving medals for bravery, meeting the Duke of Kent and doing what they do best, heading to sea to save those in need. Sir William Hillary’s vision for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea became a reality in Bishopsgate’s trendy City of London Tavern on 4 March 1824. Living in Douglas on the Isle of Man, Hillary saw the treacherous nature of the sea first-hand. He witnessed dozens of shipwrecks around the Manx coast and saved many lives with the help of locals. In the early 19th century there was an average of 1,800 shipwrecks a year around our coasts. And the danger of shipwreck was an accepted way of life at sea. But Hillary refused to sit by and watch people drown. A year earlier on 28 February 1823, Sir William Hillary made an impassioned appeal to the nation. He published a pamphlet detailing his plans for a lifeboat service manned by trained crews for all of the UK and Ireland. He sent the pamphlet to the British Navy, ministers and prominent citizens, appealing for the formation of a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck. At the heart of this institution would be ‘a large body of men … in constant readiness to risk their own lives for the preservation of those whom they have never known or seen, perhaps of another nation, merely because they are fellow creatures in extreme peril.’ The priorities of the institution would be ‘first, the preservation of human life from shipwreck …, secondly (provide) assistance to vessels in distress …, thirdly the preservation of vessels and property …, fourthly the prevention of plunder and depredations in case of shipwreck, fifthly the succour and support of those persons who may be rescued …, sixthly the bestowing of suitable rewards on those who rescue the lives of others from shipwreck or who assist vessels in distress …’ But Hillary’s noble idea fell on deaf ears – the Admiralty refused to help. Sir William Hillary didn’t give up. Instead he rebranded his appeal for the more philanthropic members of London society. And this time it worked. The idea caught the eye of Thomas Wilson, energetic Liberal MP for Southwark, and shipping magnate George Hibbert, Whig MP for Seaford and Chairman of the West Indies Merchants. Despite some personal differences, the three men became a formidable force and the campaign rapidly gathered momentum. An interim committee was appointed while plans were made for a public meeting. More and more benefactors came onboard, inspired by the committee’s rigorous face-to-face lobbying and advertising of the public meeting. King George lV assured royal patronage and the Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, agreed to be President. Over 30 eminent gentlemen put their names to the fledgling RNLI at the inaugural public meeting. Vice-president and Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Charles Manners-Sutton, presided over the meeting. And among the aristocrats, clerics, politicians, naval officers, brokers, bankers, merchants and philanthropists were anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce and sea safety guru Captain George Manby. The crowd unanimously passed 12 resolutions, including: ‘That an Institution can now be formed … to be supported by donations and annual subscriptions. ‘That such immediate assistance be afforded to persons rescued as their necessities may require. ‘That the subjects of all nations be equally objects of the Institution, as well in war as in peace [and] that medallions or pecuniary rewards be given to those who rescue lives …’ Little did they know that these 12 resolutions would still stand as part of the RNLI’s charter 200 years later. A further nine resolutions, mainly recognising the efforts of the key players, were also met with eager approval. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. The RNLI is a charity in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland and has enjoyed royal patronage since its foundation, the most recent being Queen Elizabeth II until her death in 2022. The RNLI is principally funded by legacies (65%) and donations (28%), with the remainder from merchandising and investment. Most of the members of its lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers. As of 2021 the RNLI had 2,398 staff members and 32,382 volunteers.