NORTHWICH volunteers dedicated to saving lives at sea joined in a national event to mark RNLI’s 200th anniversary.

While Northwich has no lifeboat itself, it does have a thriving fundraising branch, which has been collecting vital donations from residents for 100 years.

The RNLI itself was formed in 1824, and to mark this, lifeboat stations and branches all over the UK held gatherings at 6.24pm (or 18:24) on August 1 (or 1.8.24).  

The event was called ‘One Moment, One Crew’ to symbolise the common purpose which unites all volunteers, wherever they are, and whatever their role in the organisation.

Members of the Northwich fundraising branch held theirs at the Clock Tower pub on Chester Road, where they also held their own 100th anniversary back in May.

Northwich RNLI branch secretary and treasurer, John Nattrass, said: “We had such a great time, as we always do when we get together as a branch. 

“It was a relatively low-key affair, but everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The staff at the Clock Tower looked after us extremely well.”

RNLI 200 comes at a time when the charity, which receives no statutory funding, is experiencing a drop in cash donations in its familiar lifeboat-shaped collection boxes nationwide.

Northwich committee member and ‘box secretary’ of some 44 years standing, Connie Curzon, said: “RNLI 200 is a great way for us to raise our profile.

We’ve seen a drop off in the funds we raise in recent years, which is quite sad.

“With fewer people using cash these days, we’ve started putting QR code stickers on the collection boats. We try to move with the times.

“If people don’t have cash, they can scan them with their phones which takes them to a page were they can chose how much they want to donate.”