Proud history of RNLI at Looe

As the RNLI marks its 200th anniversary, Clare Ainsworth takes a look at the history of the lifeboat station at Looe

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REPRESENTATIVES of Looe RNLI lifeboat station were among those at a Service of Thanksgiving to mark 200 years of the RNLI held earlier this week at Westminster Abbey.

Looe’s station was founded in 1866 and closed in 1930, only to be re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992. Between 1866 and 1930 its crews launched 31 times, saving 74 lives and, since 1992, volunteer crews have launched 1,004 times, saving 65 lives. Cumulanatively the station’s volunteers have launched the lifeboats 1,035 times, saving 139 lives.

Monday’s service was attended by representatives from RNLI lifesaving communities around the UK and Ireland, including Looe’s Lifeboat Operations Manager David Haines, Inshore Lifeboat Helm David Jackman, Lifeboat Press Officer Ian Foster, Lifeboat Visits Officer Carol Foster, volunteer Shop Manager Sue Bungey and her assistant Patricia Calloway.

Brothers Charlie and Beau Gillett, who are both senior lifeguard supervisors with the RNLI’s South East Cornwall Lifeguard Team, were also in attendence.

Ian Foster, Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station’s press officer, said: “It was an honour for us to be asked to represent the community of Looe and the station’s current and former crews at the Westminster Abbey Service of Thanksgiving.