Hundreds of people helped Workington RNLI celebrate the charity’s 200th birthday at the weekend.
The RNLI and Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners hosted the blue light event in the town on Saturday to highlight the work of the emergency services and volunteers in West Cumbria.
People got the chance to have a tour of Workington RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, Dorothy May White, meet the crew and find out what volunteering for the charity is all about.
Volunteers also gave out essential water safety advice as the temperatures rise and thoughts turn to beach and lakeside activities.
Also attending were volunteers from St Bees RNLI, Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team, Maryport Rescue and Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.
The fire service, ambulance service and police were also in attendance to highlight their work.
A display of the history of the RNLI in the area, curated by Workington RNLI chairman Bob McLaughlin was held in the Beacon Portal and entertainment was provided by sea shanty group Nobody’s Friends.
Whitehaven town crier Marc Goodwin added flair to the proceedings as compere for the event.
Representatives from Tesco, the Haven Club and Whitehaven’s Crosby’s Fish and Chips – who have raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI for over 30 years, 40 years and 50 years respectively, were presented with special plaques from John Stobbart, of Workington RNLI to thank them for their support. The plaques were organised by Mr McLaughlin.
New Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister and Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen also visited the event.
Among the highlights of the afternoon was a training exercise carried out by the Workington crew, St Bees crew and Coastguard volunteers in the harbour.
Unfortunately, it had to be cut short as the Coastguard and St Bees RNLI were called out after an unattended inflatable boat was found off the coast of St Bees.
Tim Chittenden, Workington RNLI lifeboat operations manager, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the turnout – thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the charity’s 200th anniversary.
“We are grateful to our colleagues from other volunteer organisations and other emergency services who also attended.
“Thanks also go to Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners who made the event possible. It as a great day.”
The county has been part of the RNLI from the very start. In 1866 the charity, known as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute since 1854, took over the Whitehaven Lifeboat and started a continuous series of RNLI all-weather lifeboats on this coast which has lasted to the present day.
The duty has passed between Whitehaven (total 59 years), Maryport (total 83 years), and Workington (total 95 years) and still counting.
In 2023, Workington’s volunteer crew responded to 21 callouts off the west coast.
