Lough Derg RNLI volunteers attend 200th anniversary garden party at Buckingham Palace
Lough Derg RNLI volunteers attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 23 May in celebration of the charity’s 200th anniversary.
Around 2,500 of the RNLI’s long-serving volunteers, staff and their families attended the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and RNLI President HRH The Duke of Kent.
Volunteers attending from Lough Derg RNLI were Liam Maloney, former Lifeboat Operations Manager and now Launching Authority, and his wife Deirdre, Dr Peter Hooker, Lifeboat Medical Advisor and Eleanor Hooker, Helm and Lifeboat Press Officer, as recipients of 20 year Long Service Awards.
Liam Maloney said ‘Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat has been a positive presence on the lake for water users for its first 20 years in service, with many people rescued and several lives saved. The RNLI’s safety messages are having a favourable impact as people respect the water’.
Volunteers from across the charity attending the garden party included lifeboat crew, lifeguards, water safety volunteers, fundraisers and recent recipients of meritorious service awards and The King’s Birthday and New Year Honours.
Speaking of the garden party, RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: ‘It was an honour to meet so many of our long-serving volunteers, staff and their families and to thank them personally for their unwavering commitment. They are all lifesavers.
‘We thank our Patron, His Majesty The King, for granting permission for the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party to take place at Buckingham Palace in celebration of 200 years of saving lives at sea, and The Duke of Kent who has been hugely supportive of our charity throughout the past 55 years as our President.’
Head of Volunteering at the RNLI Donna McReath said: ‘I would like to thank each and every one of our incredible volunteers.
‘We couldn’t do what we do without their vital support and the time and effort they generously dedicate in a wide variety of roles, from lifesaving crew to fundraisers and those who volunteer in our shops, museums or by sharing our water safety messaging.
‘They are all lifesavers, and this special Garden Party is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the joy and impact of volunteering for the RNLI. We are always looking for new volunteers to join our charity to help us continue saving lives at sea.’
Since the RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824, the charity has saved more than 146,277 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years. Today, the RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland.