Volunteers and sea-goers praise ‘vital’ RNLI as charity marks 200th anniversary

Volunteers, fundraisers and those rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have spoken of its “vital” role in saving thousands of lives on our shores as the charity celebrates its 200th anniversary.

A service of thanksgiving is being held at Westminster Abbey on Monday, attended by representatives of the charity from across the UK and Ireland, to mark the milestone.

Lifeboatman Jonathan Marr works as a seafarer for a living so knows personally the importance of the charity’s