Lough Ree RNLI represented at Buckingham Palace garden party

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) celebrated its 200th anniversary in style with a special garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday last.

Lough Ree RNLI was represented at the celebration by founding volunteer and Launch Authority Damien Delaney.

Around 2,500 of the RNLI’s long-serving volunteers, staff and their families attended the RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and RNLI President HRH The Duke of Kent.

Speaking in London, Damien said: "It was great to see the variety of volunteers from Ireland, the UK and internationally gathered in a special place to mark the charity’s bicentenary."

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a presentation by The Princess Royal of a Silver Medal for Gallantry to Penlee RNLI coxswain Patrick ‘Patch’ Harvey for his pivotal role in saving eight French sailors during a hurricane off Cornwall in October 2022.

RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: "Patch’s courage, leadership and determination, and that of his entire crew that night, personified the dedication and commitment RNLI volunteers have displayed throughout our charity’s 200 years of lifesaving.

"It was an honour to meet so many of our long-serving volunteers, staff and their families and to thank them personally for their unwavering commitment. They are all lifesavers."

Since the RNLI was founded on March 4, 1824, following an appeal to the nation from Sir William Hillary, the charity has saved over 146,277 lives, this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Today, the RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland, including four on the River Thames, and has seasonal lifeguards on around 240 lifeguarded beaches around the UK.