St Magnus Cathedral welcomes RNLI to celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea

Lifeboats News Release 

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will mark 200 years of lifesaving at a service of thanksgiving at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall this Sunday (24 March). Volunteers from around Orkney will form a guard of honour and join the public service to mark the charity’s bicentenary. 

Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars. 

Since 1824, RNLI lifeboats in Scotland have launched 45,853 times, saving 11,878, meaning that over a quarter (25.9%) of all rescues in Scotland have resulted in a life saved. In Orkney, lifeboats have launched 1,822 and saved 1,019 lives since the RNLI first established a station at Longhope in 1874. 

For 150 years, volunteers at Longhope RNLI have selflessly risked their lives to save others. The volunteer crews have been honoured with 26 awards for gallantry, but the station has also witnessed tragedy. In 1969, eight crew members sadly lost their lives when saving others at sea. 

On Sunday 17 March, RNLI volunteers remembered those who selflessly gave their lives 55 years ago trying to save others. 

Retired Longhope RNLI Coxswain, Kevin Kirkpatrick said: ‘It's important that we keep their memory alive. I’m sure they would have been so proud to witness the support of our community and the ongoing commitment of the volunteer RNLI service here in Longhope, who continue to bravely serve our coastal waters.’ 

To mark the charity’s significant milestone, a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday 24 March and will be attended by representatives from the local RNLI lifesaving community. 

Ahead of the service of thanksgiving on Sunday, Orkney Council will be lighting up St Magnus Cathedral from dusk to dawn to recognise the RNLI’s 200th anniversary. 

On Sunday, RNLI volunteers from the 3 lifeboat stations in Orkney will gather at Kirkwall RNLI Lifeboat Station before heading to the cathedral. 

RNLI volunteers will make up a guard of honour before the Service of Thanksgiving at St Magnus in Kirkwall. During the service, readings will be given by 3 RNLI volunteers – Katie Irving-Lewis, a volunteer at Kirkwall RNLI, Roz Ware, a volunteer at Longhope RNLI, and James Burgon, a volunteer at Stromness RNLI. 

James Burgon follows a long line of RNLI supporters that began with fisherman, Peter Burgon, who served on the crew at Berwick and Eyemouth, from 1876. His son William followed in his footsteps, becoming coxswain of Berwick lifeboat from 1899. Now James volunteers alongside his son, Lewis, at Stromness RNLI Lifeboat Station. 

Orkney Islands Council Convener Graham Bevan says: 

In this, the bicentenary year of the RNLI, on behalf of Orkney I express our admiration and thanks to the volunteer lifeboat crews, fundraisers and lifeboat service for all the work they have done over many years of association with our islands. 

Our communities hold the RNLI in the highest regard and widespread support is shown at the numerous fundraising events held throughout the county to ensure that there is a steady flow of funding to assist the service to continue its lifesaving work. 

We are incredibly lucky to have three volunteer lifeboat crews – in Kirkwall, Stromness and Longhope – who are willing to go to the aid of others in distress at sea, saving 1,019 lives over the years. 

The RNLI forms an intrinsic part of our communities, and we celebrate 200 years of its welcome existence with a service of celebration in St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday. The Cathedral will also be lit up yellow for the occasion and the Council will be flying the RNLI flag at the Kirkwall Town Hall over the weekend as a mark of our respect. 

We must also pay tribute to those volunteers who have perished at sea in service of others. Only last Sunday – 17 March 2024 – we remembered those eight men of the Longhope lifeboat TGB who tragically gave their lives 55 years ago whilst on a rescue mission in horrendous conditions. This serves as a timely reminder of the immense dangers faced by these brave volunteers every day of service.