A SCROLL marking the RNLI’s 200th anniversary has stopped off in Dunbar as it makes its way around the country.

Coxswain Gary Fairbairn, fundraising committee chair Veronica Davies and shop manager Marie Headley added their signatures to the ‘Connecting our Communities’ scroll.

Dunbar was the 152nd stop on the scroll’s tour, which is taking in lifeboat stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches around the UK and Ireland.

Several of the station’s volunteers – from the crew, fundraising and shop – were on hand to meet scroll driver Elliot Leech and hear of its remarkable journey so far.

Ian Wilson, Dunbar RNLI lifeboat operations manager, said: “All of our amazing lifeboat communities at Dunbar (the operations team and crew, the fundraisers and the shop volunteers) were delighted to welcome the visit of the scroll commemorating 200 years of the RNLI to the station.

“It was fascinating to hear the story of the scroll, how it has been made, and where its journey will take it next.”

The 7.5-metre-long bespoke scroll involved RNLI craftspeople, using materials of significance to the charity.

The scroll has passed the halfway mark as it tours the country before reaching the finish line in the Isle of Man. Image: Dunbar RNLI/Alex Williams

The orange casing comes from an all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, the handles were made from deck cleats, and the wooden handle was 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 charity’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.

The scroll bears the RNLI pledge, which 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 everyone we can.

“It’s what makes every one of us a lifesaver.”

Dunbar RNLI fundraising committee chair Veronica Davies, coxswain Gary Fairbairn and shop manager Marie Headley after signing the scroll. Image: Dunbar RNLI/Alex Williams

Beneath the pledge, printed in seven languages (English, Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Ulster Scots, Manx and Cornish), it reads: “Signed in 2024 by representatives of the RNLI’s lifesaving communities, on behalf of all who strive to save every one.”

Over the course of seven months, the scroll will pass through 240 RNLI locations before finishing its journey in October at Douglas, on the Isle of Man, home to the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary.

By this time, it will carry about 700 signatures.

The Dunbar signatures were the 479th, 480th and 481st names to be added.

Anjie Rook, RNLI associate director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, said: “The Connecting our Communities relay is one of the most significant events of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary year, as it’s all about our people.

“For 200 years, it is people who have made the RNLI what it is – from our brave lifesavers who risk their lives to save others, to the committed fundraisers and generous donors who fund our lifesaving work.

“We asked our communities to express interest in participating in this event and we have been overwhelmed by the response – we’re thrilled to have representation from our stations, lifeguard units and fundraising branches across the UK and Ireland.”