VOLUNTEERS from two Wigtownshire rescue crews were in London earlier this week to mark the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The service took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and attended by representatives from every RNLI community, including Stranraer and Portpatrick, as well as the Duke of Kent and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Representing the region on Monday were William Dougan and Chris Rice, above, from the Stranraer crew, as well as Kim Stevenson and Marc Trafford from the Portpatrick station.
Following the service both crews took to social media to share their delight at being part of the anniversary, a spokesperson for the Portpatrick station said: “Portpatrick Lifeboat are proud to be represented at the service by volunteer crew members Kim Stevenson and Marc Trafford.”
A spokesperson from the Stranraer lifeboat added: “Two of our volunteer helms William Dougan and Chris Rice are in attendance as representatives of Stranraer RNLI Lifeboat along with a mixture of volunteers and staff from all areas of the RNLI including lifeboat stations, lifeguards, water safety, and fundraising, alongside donors, partners, a number of VIPs and dignitaries.”
The RNLI was founded on Monday March 4 1824 in a London tavern by Sir William Hillary. Now 200 years later the service has 238 lifeboat stations and operates 448 lifeboats and hovercrafts.
