Scarborough RNLI lifeboat crew celebrate charity's 200th anniversary

Scarborough lifeboat station is in the seaside town's South Bay

RNLI volunteers in North Yorkshire have spoken about how important they regard the charity's work and their pride in being part of it.

It comes as the charity, which has saved more than 144,000 lives across the UK and Ireland, marks its 200th anniversary.

The RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824 by Sir William Hillary.

It has continued to be funded by donations and legacies and relies on volunteers to undertake its valuable work at sea.

There's been a lifeboat station in Scarborough since 1801, 20 years before the charity's creation, and the modern crew have been sharing their thoughts on the RNLI in its anniversary year.

'Really special'

David Huntley joined the RNLI after moving to Scarborough from Hull in the 1990s

Father-of-three David Huntley said he would "never forget" the difficult rescues and sea searches he has been involved in off the east coast.

The volunteer second coxswain, 60, said: "You know there's someone out there who's really in trouble.

"You really want to find them and bring them home, that's it."

Mr Huntley was part of the crew called to a crashed US Air Force jetfighter in 2020.

"It was 76 miles [122km] straight out to sea from Scarborough.

"We were at sea 13 hours. Sadly the pilot was not recovered alive."

Mr Huntley, whose day job is driving a boat for a seaweed farm, said: "I absolutely love the life.

"I love being at sea, I love being in boats."

He said for everyone who volunteers with the RNLI there is always the chance you will be part of something "that brings someone home".

"To be able to give that to somebody, to be able to give that back, that's something really, really special."

He said volunteering does have an impact on their families and the sea can often "not be a nice place to be" in poor weather.

"But coming back to the motive, it's always because there's somebody out there.

"There'll always be a lifeboat and there'll always be the sea."

'Very, very proud'

Volunteer crew Huggins said as a father he is a "massive advocate" of the charity's educational work

Electrician Paul Huggins said he is "prouder than ever" to have been part of the charity for 20 years, but said the RNLI has changed in that period.

"As a charity we rely on voluntary donations, but the RLNI has to keep up with the times and evolve", he said.

"I am a massive advocate of the education side of what the RNLI do.

"Trying to teach the next generation about the hazards of the sea, to respect the water, always check the tide times and the weather, always let people know where you're going and when you'll be back."

He said being a volunteer was about "going and helping" people in trouble.

"That's inbuilt in most [humans], I just happen to do it on the lifeboat, others do it on land.

"And I enjoy being out here. The sea is a beautiful place to be, and if I can help someone I will."

"It's something I'm really proud to be part of," he added.

'Desire to help'

Phil Martindale joined the RNLI after moving to Scarborough last year

Retired aircraft technician Phil Martindale joined the RNLI after moving to Yorkshire from Hampshire last year.

"I've always admired the RNLI, it's something I've always wanted to do," the 52-year-old said.

"Each seat [on a lifeboat] has its own job to do and we're all cross-trained to do those jobs.

"There's a lot of training but it's for our safety and the safety of the casualty, too."

Mr Martindale said he has always had a desire to help people.

"I've always been part of something that's bigger than me," he said referring to his military career.

"Nowadays a lot of people are very self-centred but [RNLI volunteers] are people who like to help other people."

Mr Martindale said Scarborough has a long tradition of saving lives at sea even before the RNLI was formed and the town should be "very proud" of its record.

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