The work of our lifeboat crews in Selsey, Littlehampton and Shoreham will be celebrated today.
It’s the 200th anniversary of the RNLI today.
In Selsey the Lifeboat Station was established in 1861 and the following account appears in the Institution's Journal for 1 July of that year. "Selsey - The National Lifeboat Institution has recently placed a lifeboat at Selsey, in Sussex, for the protection of the crew of vessels which get stranded on the Owers Bank, and other shoals in the neighbourhood of Selsey Bill.
Selsey, being only a poor fishing village, a branch of the Institution has been formed at Chichester to aid in supporting this establishment, with the total of the Chichester and West Sussex Branch of the National Lifeboat Institution. A double-banked lifeboat, 35 feet long and rowing 12 oars was forwarded to Chichester, together with a transporting-carriage, on the 5th June whence, after a public exhibition of some of her properties, she was drawn to her station on her own carriage. The cost (£180) of this boat was presented to the Institution by some members of the Society of Friends."
A Service of thanksgiving will take place at West Minster Abbey in London marking the major milestone in its history.
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