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Royal National Lifeboat Institute Collection

A glimpse into the past and present of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): November 1951, at Runswick Bay, a large crowd gathers as the new lifeboat

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: RNLI lookout

RNLI lookout
This is an image of a member of the Scarborough RNLI team who is looking out from the boathouse to the sea where the rest of his crew were training

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: 'The Ramsgate Life-boat: Morning after a Heavy Gale - Weather Moderating'...by E.W Cooke

"The Ramsgate Life-boat: Morning after a Heavy Gale - Weather Moderating"...by E.W Cooke
"The Ramsgate Life-boat: Morning after a Heavy Gale - Weather Moderating" - from the picture by E.W Cooke. R.A., 1864. Engraving of a painting

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned:...Silvester's method of inducing respiration, 1864

Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned:...Silvester's method of inducing respiration, 1864
Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned: Dr Silvester's method of inducing respiration, 1864. Illustrations for '...instructions for the revival of persons apparently drowned

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned: Dr...Hall's method of inducing respiration, 1864

Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned: Dr...Hall's method of inducing respiration, 1864
Restorative treatment of the apparently drowned: Dr. Marshal Hall's method of inducing respiration, 1864. 'Inspiration; expiration...At this season

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Plan and Sections of the Life-boats adopted by the Royal National Life-boat Institution... 1858

Plan and Sections of the Life-boats adopted by the Royal National Life-boat Institution... 1858. Creator: Unknown
Plan and Sections of the Life-boats adopted by the Royal National Life-boat Institution, designed by James Peake, Esq... 1858

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Messrs. Forrestt's Life-Boat Building Yard, Limehouse, 1860. Creator: Unknown

Messrs. Forrestt's Life-Boat Building Yard, Limehouse, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Messrs. Forrestt's Life-Boat Building Yard, Limehouse, [London], 1860. The accompanying Engraving represents the building establishment...known as Norway Yard...where the boats of the Royal

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Barometers for life-boat stations, 1860. Creator: Unknown

Barometers for life-boat stations, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Barometers for life-boat stations, 1860. Public attention has frequently been called to the invaluable use of a barometer for indicating a coming storm

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: The Red White and Blue Bazaar at the Agricultural Hall, 1886. Creator: Unknown

The Red White and Blue Bazaar at the Agricultural Hall, 1886. Creator: Unknown
The Red White and Blue Bazaar at the Agricultural Hall, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Blessing the Life-boat, 1886. Creator: Unknown

Blessing the Life-boat, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Blessing the Life-boat, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: The launch of the Ipswich Life-Boat, 1862. Creator: Unknown

The launch of the Ipswich Life-Boat, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The launch of the Ipswich Life-Boat, 1862. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Dixon Piper. It is calculated that from 30, 000 to 40, 000 persons attended...The life-boat

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: The Southwold Life-boat making for the rescue of a ship's crew on the outer shoal, 1862

The Southwold Life-boat making for the rescue of a ship's crew on the outer shoal, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Southwold Life-boat making for the rescue of a ship's crew on the outer shoal, 1862. View of...a very gallant and prompt service rendered on the 28th January by the Southwold life-boat

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: A lifeboat at Runswick. November 1951

A lifeboat at Runswick. November 1951

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Runswicks new lifeboat, the Royal Thames is hauled up the beach watched by a large

Runswicks new lifeboat, the Royal Thames is hauled up the beach watched by a large crowd, after her arrival the day before. 21st September 1970

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Holidaymakers and local residents join a seashore service to rededicate Runswick Bay

Holidaymakers and local residents join a seashore service to rededicate Runswick Bays 37ft lifeboat, the Royal Thames. Conducted by the Venerable Stanley Linsley

Background imageRoyal National Lifeboat Institute Collection: Throwing the Life-Line, 1890. Creator: Unknown

Throwing the Life-Line, 1890. Creator: Unknown
Throwing the Life-Line, 1890. Lifeboatmen in sou westers carrying out a rescue in rough seas - the man in the centre preparing to throw the rope wears a belt of buoyancy aids



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A glimpse into the past and present of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): November 1951, at Runswick Bay, a large crowd gathers as the new lifeboat, the Royal Thames, is hauled up the beach. Decades earlier, in 1890, a life-line was thrown in a similar scene, captured in the painting "Throwing the Life-Line." Today, dedicated volunteers continue to risk their lives, as seen here in Sheringham, Norfolk, standing by during operational flights over the North Sea. The RNLI's unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea remains a beacon of hope for holidaymakers and local residents alike.