Whitby RNLI lifeboat station welcomes RNLI200 anniversary scroll

The scroll, which contains the RNLI pledge, is touring the UK and Ireland and is currently passing through the East Coast region.

Whitby Station manager Barry Brown, Water Safety Officer Gemma Scire, Fundraiser Hazel Thomas and shop volunteer Di Payne signed the scroll which begins with the RNLI's pledge to save lives at sea.

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

‘We’re powered by passion, talent and kindness, like generations of selfless lifesavers before us.

‘This is our watch, we lead the way, valuing each other, trusting each other, depending on one another, volunteering to face the storm together.

‘Knowing that, with courage, nothing is impossible.

‘That is what has always driven us to save every one we can.

‘It's what makes every one of us a lifesaver.’

Gemma Scire said: “I am quite new to the role of water safety officer at Whitby so it was a real honour to add my name to the list of volunteers from around the country.

“There is a strong community spirit between the volunteers which is driven by a shared goal, to keep saving lives at sea.”

Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-long scroll will have passed through 240 RNLI locations around the UK and Ireland before finishing its journey in October at Douglas on the Isle of Man, which was home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary. By this time it will carry around 700 signatures.

The scroll has been made bespoke, involving RNLI craftspeople and using materials of significance to the charity.

The wooden handle has been made by a carpenter from the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole (where the charity builds and maintains its all-weather lifeboats), using wood from an old flagpole from Ramsey lifeboat station on the Isle of Man.

Apprentices from the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre on the Isle of Wight have made the protective fibreglass casing and set the scroll spindles and accessories into the case.

When the seven-month-long journey is complete, the scroll will be displayed in the RNLI College in Poole, where the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards are trained.