Latest news with #WilliamHillary
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Busier than ever' year for RNLI in Manx waters
Four lives were saved in a "busier than ever" year for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which saw 40 callouts in Manx waters in 2024. The organisation its number of launches around the island's coast increase from 31 in 2023, when two lives were saved. The majority of the callouts involved power boats, sailing boats, or other leisure crafts like paddle boards or kayaks. An RNLI spokesman said across the whole of the British Isles lifeboats were launched over 9,100 times last year, making it the fourth-busiest year in its 201-year history. The lifesaving organisation celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024 with a number of events on the Isle of Man, which is considered the birthplace of the charity. Douglas and Port St Mary received the most callouts, with each of the island's five stations seeing a rise in launches. The RNLI also said more than three-quarters of callouts were to incidents less than five nautical miles from land and the number of people helped rose from 27 in 2023 to 53 last year. As part of local fundraising efforts, the annual guided walkout to the Tower of Refuge takes place on 27 April. The landmark on Conister Rock was built in 1832 and was the idea of RNLI founder Sir William Hillary, who lived in Douglas, to offer shelter to crews of vessels wrecked on the nearby reef. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Tower of Refuge walk set to return in April RNLI celebrates 200 years of 'saving lives at sea' Anniversary celebrations gave RNLI 'big boost' RNLI's 18,000-mile scroll relay ends on island Royal National Lifeboat Institution
BBC News
08-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Busier than ever' year for RNLI in Manx waters with 40 callouts
Four lives were saved in a "busier than ever" year for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which saw 40 callouts in Manx waters in organisation its number of launches around the island's coast increase from 31 in 2023, when two lives were saved. The majority of the callouts involved power boats, sailing boats, or other leisure crafts like paddle boards or RNLI spokesman said across the whole of the British Isles lifeboats were launched over 9,100 times last year, making it the fourth-busiest year in its 201-year history. The lifesaving organisation celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024 with a number of events on the Isle of Man, which is considered the birthplace of the and Port St Mary received the most callouts, with each of the island's five stations seeing a rise in launches. The RNLI also said more than three-quarters of callouts were to incidents less than five nautical miles from land and the number of people helped rose from 27 in 2023 to 53 last year. As part of local fundraising efforts, the annual guided walkout to the Tower of Refuge takes place on 27 April. The landmark on Conister Rock was built in 1832 and was the idea of RNLI founder Sir William Hillary, who lived in Douglas, to offer shelter to crews of vessels wrecked on the nearby reef. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Douglas lifeboat station awarded Freedom of the City
Awarding the Freedom of the City to the Douglas RNLI station acknowledged "200 years of courage and commitment" by crews past and present, the mayor has Council conferred the accolade on the branch at a ceremony at City Hall recognising the lifeboat volunteers' dedication to the lifesaving Byron-Teare said the honour paid tribute to an "unwavering dedication" to the community and reflected the appreciation felt for the "first class contribution" by Sir William Hillary after he witnessed several shipwrecks off the Manx coast while living in Douglas, the organisation celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024. The award is given to those considered to have made an outstanding contribution or service to the City of Douglas and the Isle of recipients include UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, comedian Sir Norman Wisdom, pop group the Bee Gees, and cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish. Byron-Teare said the efforts of the crews illustrated "the power of volunteering, which in this case quite literally saves lives".During the proceedings, she acknowledged all volunteers from rescuers "who brave all conditions" to those who sell merchandise and shake buckets."You carry out this work not for personal gain, but for the benefit and protection of others", which meant the honour was "richly deserved", the Mayor said."We salute all past and present RNLI volunteers for their efforts." Speaking after the service, RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes said the station's efforts over the centuries had been "deservedly recognised".He said the distinction acknowledged the "selflessness and kindness of crews going out to rescue people they have never met, responding to Sir William Hillary's plea of 200 years ago".Lifeboat operations manager for the Douglas station Peter Washington said when things got "tough" the volunteers would be able look at the certificate and be reminded of the "respect shown to the branch by the city".It was an "massive thank you" that mean "so much to the crew", he the RNLI was founded, its crews across the British Isles have saved the lives of over 146,000 people. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Council to honour Douglas RNLI station with Freedom of the City
The RNLI lifeboat station in the Isle of Man's capital is set to be awarded the Freedom of the City, the highest honour the local authority can Council will confer the accolade on the local branch at a ceremony at the city hall on Thursday, in recognition of its commitment to saving lives at Natalie Byron-Teare said the crew members at the RNLI station were the "embodiment of courage, selflessness and dedication".The organisation, which was founded by Sir William Hillary after he witnessed several shipwrecks off the Manx coast while living in Douglas, recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. The award is given to those considered to have made an outstanding contribution or service to the City of Douglas and the Isle of recipients include UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, comedian Sir Norman Wisdom, pop group the Bee Gees, and cyclist Sir Mark Cavendish. 'Rich nautical heritage' Byron-Teare said since being founded in 1824 "our island and particularly Douglas has been the foundation for what has followed and has had an inextricable link to saving lives at sea"."This award reflects our deep gratitude, commemorating all who have gone before, celebrating the lifesavers of today, and hopefully inspiring the next generation who have pledged to continue lifesaving for years to come," she of Douglas RNLI Peter Cain said the council had been "very supportive" of the branch and recognised "the work that crews and dedicated fundraisers carry out island-wide to keep our coastlines safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year", he said."The rich nautical heritage of the island cannot be better summed up than the lifesaving and fundraising work the RNLI carries out in Manx seas and the countless hours given by loyal volunteer lifeboat crews in our community", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
08-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Douglas RNLI lifeboat to be replaced amid talks on station's future
Douglas RNLI is to get a new lifeboat as a "interim solution" while talks continue over station's future.A Trent class all-weather lifeboat will replace the current Mersey class - a vessel that was introduced in 1988 and is set to be withdrawn from service later this decision follows a review launched in October to determine the most appropriate lifeboat to serve the Manx head Jo Partner said move would ensure the "continuity" of the service while discussions with the government about the long-term future of the branch continued. The update follows longstanding infrastructure issues at the organisation's Douglas boathouse and ongoing negotiations over new one.A decision to allocate a faster Shannon class lifeboat to the station to replace the "aging Mersey" had been made in then the lifeboat station has operated beyond life expectancy, leaving the crew to use a temporary facility on the current vessel is based on a liner berth because of a safety issue with a winch in the boathouse the interim measures, the RNLI said it hoped the new vessel would be operational in the spring after the formal licence for the liner berth had been issued by the Department of Infrastructure. 'Longer-term solution' The creation of the RNLI, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, was first proposed by Douglas resident Sir William Hillary in Partner said the organisation recognised the historic significance of Douglas "alongside the current lifesaving impact the lifeboat station had" in the area.
