IN PICTURES: Hundreds of boats gather on Thames to celebrate RNLI’s 200th anniversary
By Oliver Monk 14th Jul 2024
Crowds of motorboats, kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards all gathered in the River Thames outside Hampton Court Palace on Sunday (6 July) to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Roughly 250 people in 160 craft attended the celebration despite losing some attendees to the Euros' highly-anticipated England-Switzerland game taking place at the same time.
Even with the setback, the event raised £1,600 for the RNLI, which will be used to fund their day-to-day costs and life-saving operations up-and-down the country.
The gathering's main organisers, 1st Cuddington Sea Scouts (otherwise known as 'Warspite') were out in full-force, with dozens of scouts seen across the river.
Richard Hunt, Group Scout Leader of Warspite, said: "Community is at the heart of both the RNLI and Sea Scouting, so it was fantastic to see hundreds of young people on the water on Saturday, celebrating and recognising two centuries of service by the RNLI.
"For me though the individual memory will always be the bright orange lifeboat surrounded by a sea of multi-coloured Scout canoes, kayaks and paddle boards; and the wide smiles on all sides."
More images of the celebration can be seen in our gallery, displayed at the top of this article.
Donations to the RNLI can be made here.
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