RNLI team members from Portrush participated in a special photo moment – One Moment for One Crew – earlier this week (Thursday 1 August) to create a photographic record of those involved with the lifesaving charity in this, its 200th anniversary year.
The charity, which was founded in 1824, asked its volunteers and staff from around Ireland and the UK to take a photo of themselves, their crew or their team, at as close to 18:24 on 1.8.24 as possible.
Representatives including volunteer crew, Operations Team, Fundraisers, Shop Volunteers, RNLI Lifeguardsfrom RNLI communities in Portrush have taken part. The photos have been uploaded to an online portal and will be used to create a montage image.
As part of this historic event the volunteer crew organised a beach BBQ and invited all the RNLI representatives to take part as well as the crew families who do so much to support the crew to Save Lives At Sea. Local photographer Lauren Chambers, and wife of helm Jason Chambers, took photos which were uploaded to the RNLI 200 portal.
The RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary on 4 March this, and this photographic moment is one of a range of events and programmes which the charity has organised to mark its bicentenary.
Beni McAllister, Lifeboat Operations Manager of Portrush RNLI said
“This was a perfect opportunity to celebrate our RNLI family and our own families and to thank them for all they do to support us. It was a super night and the weather held for us too.”
Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, says:
“The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for 200 years thanks to its incredible people – the courageous lifeboat crews and lifeguards who put their own lives at risk to save others; the dedicated fundraisers who raise the income to power those rescues; the committed volunteers who give their own time in a range of other roles such as giving out water safety advice or helping to run our retail shops and museums, and the staff who provide vital support to our volunteers.
“We have encouraged anyone who has some form of involvement with the RNLI to participate in this special One Moment for One Crew photographic event, to capture a record of everyone who, at this moment in time, is playing some part in the RNLI’s lifesaving work, continuing its legacy and securing its future.
“During our 200th anniversary year we have been remembering our past, celebrating the lifesaving service we provide today, and aiming to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters. One Moment for One Crew is very much about celebrating the people of today’s RNLI and, we hope, inspiring those future generations who will take the RNLI into its third century of lifesaving.”
For further information about the RNLI’s 200thanniversary, visit RNLI.org/200.