IT’S the charity that’s been saving the lives of those in need at sea for almost two centuries.
The National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck – forerunners of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute – was founded March 4, 1824 and has been rescuing those in danger ever since.
The RNLI, whose main base is in Poole, Dorset, has 238 lifeboat stations and utilises 444 lifeboats.
These pictures were taken at an RNLI drill on September 23, 1978.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here