RNLI Lifeboats 200
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In landlocked Leicestershire it seems strange to be writing about the RNLI. This volunteer organisation not only looks after our shoreline it also often oversees some of our inland lakes and water holes. There are 40,000 water holes. Saddington Reservoir is just one.
200 years ago the RNLI was created. It is still fully-supported by donations and bequests. The lifeboat crews are mostly volunteers, more than 9,700 of them.
RNLI began life on 8 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. It soon afterwards became the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck because of the patronage of King George IV. King Charles III is the current patron.
It does what it says in the slogan ‘To Save lives at sea.’
The door -to door collections which used to take place every year have now been suspended so I urge you, dear readers that next time you see someone collecting for the RNLI give generously. Every lifeboat launch, and every life saved, is only possible thanks to the generosity of people like you.
Visit the website RNLI.org where in real time you will see the number of lives saved, the number of lifeboats launched. And the average number of people rescued every single day. It is astonishing!