The crew from Tenby lifeboat station were honoured to be visited by the RNLI's ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024.

The Connecting our Communities scroll, bearing the RNLI pledge, is making its way around RNLI communities throughout the UK and Ireland, where at each station, the scroll is being signed by representatives of the team.

Tenby RNLI scroll
The crew from Tenby lifeboat station were honoured to be visited by the RNLI's ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay-style event – one of the ways in which the charity is marking its 200th anniversary in 2024. (Tenby RNLI)

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.’

In Tenby, the scroll which arrived on the evening of Monday, September 23 was signed by coxswain Lisa Viggars, Ben James as crew member and press officer, Shan Thomas as fundraising president, Beth McBurnie as shop volunteer and Dave Sulwyn Rees as visits officer.

Tenby RNLI Lisa Viggars
In Tenby, the scroll which arrived on the evening of Monday, September 23 was signed by coxswain Lisa Viggars (Tenby RNLI)

After the signing, which was witnessed by members of the public, Rev Steven Brett read the lifeboat prayer, before the reading of the RNLI's ‘One Crew’ pledge by Nicole Evans. Everyone present to witness this historic occasion was then treated to a performance by the amazing Tenby Male Voice Choir.

Over the course of seven months, the five-metre-long scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations 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.

Ben James Tenby RNLI
Tenby RNLI crew member and press officer Ben James signing the scroll (Tenby RNLI)

The scroll which has been made bespoke by RNLI craftspeople using materials of significance to the charity, began its journey on Monday, March 4 at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to mark the charity’s official 200th anniversary, where it was signed by RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dean of Westminster, the RNLI’s Chair and the RNLI’s Chief Executive.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director 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.”