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Motion · S6M-12484 · 12 Mar 2024

RNLI Celebrates 200 Years of Saving Lives at Sea

Lodged by Finlay Carson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 41 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea, thanks to volunteers, such as those at Portpatrick lifeboat station and others within the Galloway and West Dumfries constituency, giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations; understands that the charity has saved a remarkable 146,277 lives during its two centuries in existence; recognises that Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station was founded in 1877, and understands that, during that time, its crews have launched the lifeboats 777 times and saved 306 lives; acknowledges with pride that crews from Portpatrick have been honoured with five awards for gallantry, including a bronze medal for a launch to what it considers to be one of the worst peacetime disasters involving a British merchant vessel, the Orion, that left Liverpool for Glasgow on 18 June 1850 with a crew of 40 and 170 passengers, before striking rocks off the lighthouse at Portpatrick Harbour at 1.15 am, with the loss of 60 lives as the ship sank in a matter of minutes; notes that two volunteer crew members, Kim Stevenson and Marc Trafford, from Portpatrick, attended a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London, while a drinks reception was staged locally and attended by crew, fundraisers and shop volunteers past and present; believes that, while much has changed operationally in 200 years, two things have remained the same, namely the charity’s dependence on volunteers who give their time and commitment to save others, and the voluntary contributions from the public that have funded the service, and wishes the RNLI continued success in the coming years as it looks to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters who will take it into the next century and beyond.

Supporters (41)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.