RNLI 200th anniversary scroll reaches North East

Hartlepool RNLI chairman Malcolm Cook added his signature to the scroll

A scroll celebrating 200 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has reached the north east of England.

The charity is running relay-style event where representatives from lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches sign a scroll bearing the RNLI pledge to save lives at sea.

The scroll was in Redcar and then Hartlepool on Thursday.

It was in Sunderland and Cullercoats on Saturday, and will continue north to Oban and Aith over the coming months, reaching 240 locations in total.

The pledge reads: "Whoever we are, wherever we are from, we are one crew, ready to save lives."

At Hartlepool Lifeboat Station, the scroll was signed by local RNLI chairman Malcolm Cook who said: "I am very proud to sign the scroll at this significant moment in the history of the RNLI."

The box also contains a speaker for blind people

The handle of the 5m (16ft) scroll was made using wood from an old flagpole at Ramsey lifeboat station on the Isle of Man.

The scroll began its journey on 4 March at a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

When the seven-month-long journey is complete, the scroll will be displayed in the RNLI College in Poole.

Associate director Anjie Rook said: "By the end of the relay we will have an important document which will become part of the charity’s history and a significant snapshot of the charity as it stands at 200 years old."