1790 1824 1838 1861 HISTORY Henry Greathead invents Grace Darling lives in a lighthouse on the Original – the first ever the rocky with her father. OF THE . She saves lives in She becomes a national heroine when for 40 years. she risks her life to rescue survivors FACT: William Hillary of a shipwreck in stormy seas. RNLI Before steam, the first lifeboats LEARN: RNLI.org/GraceDarling only had oars to power them, so starts the charity at a the crew had to be really strong! time when there are 1939–45 a whopping 1,800 FACT: shipwrecks every year A lifeboat capsizes in , Yorkshire, 1935 In the beginning, the RNLI around our coasts. killing 12 crew members! Only one man, was called The National Henry Freeman, survives. He was TIP: Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck the only one wearing a lifejacket. Always wear a lifejacket! During the Second World War, lifeboats save 6,376 lives. And, 1905 in a rescue mission to 1914–18 France with a fleet of The last time a lifeboat 1907 700 small , two is launched by horses. RNLI lifeboat crews save Horses were replaced with 3,400 soldiers from the caterpillar tractors. beaches of Dunkirk. FACT: We still use special tractors today to LEARN: RNLI.org/WW2 1947 launch our Shannon class lifeboats The first motor lifeboats are tested. They are less heavy than steam lifeboats, more powerful 1972 During the First World War, lifeboats Major rescue! 456 people are and easier to control. launch 1,808 times and save 5,332 lives. saved from a cruise ship by four FACT: Some of the most amazing rescues in lifeboat crews in Cornwall. Tynemouth was the first RNLI history happen in this time. FACT: station to get a motor lifeboat National hero, This is the most people ever retires LEARN: RNLI.org/WW1 rescued by the RNLI in one day as coxswain of 2002 Cromer lifeboat The super-fast B class 1988 2001 Atlantic 21 enters service, having saved 873 with a maximum speed of 32 Four lifeboat stations people (and one dog) knots and a tougher design open on the River TIP: Thames, where Tower is in 53 years. than the inflatable lifeboats. TIP: FACT: Always swim at a now the RNLI’s busiest The Atlantic 21 was lifeguarded beach station. Three are crewed Call 999 or 112 VISIT: The Henry Blogg Museum used 1972–2006 24 hours a day and and ask for the The Mersey class all-weather 365 days a year. in Cromer, Norfolk lifeboat launches! It is ideal coastguard RNLI.org/HenryBlogg for shallow water and beach FACT: Tower, Chiswick launches. Top speed: 17 knots. RNLI start saving and Gravesend can beachgoers in south west . launch in 90 seconds! 2012 LEARN: RNLI.org/Mersey They now patrol more than 250 2016 beaches in the UK and Channel Islands. 2013 LEARN: RNLI.org/BeachSafety 2005 2002

We begin working with the community An amazing new ‘bottle buoy’ The Shannon class lifeboat in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh to help is developed that can be used launches to rescue! Propelled by eliminate global drowning. First female crew member awarded in places where it’s hard to waterjets it is super fast, with a top an RNLI medal! Helm Aileen Jones’ get rescue equipment. crew saved a fisherman in gale force Hovercraft arrive at the RNLI! They FACT: speed of 25 knots, and is now made winds and big waves. are used in places where the water It uses three plastic bottles by RNLI boatbuilders in Dorset. FACT: is too shallow for boats or the screwed into a special hub LEARN: RNLI.org/Shannon Grace Darling was awarded a Silver Medal beach is too soft for tractor wheels. for Gallantry in 1838, but she wasn’t crew FACT: There are four lifeboat The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) stations with hovercraft and Scotland (SC037736). Registered charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland