A century of saving lives of those in peril on the sea off Hayling Island

More than 250 guests including current and former crew and their partners recently celebrated 100 years of RNLI rescue at Hayling Island.
The Hayling Island lifeboat Charlie and Adrian, which saw service between 1888 and 1914, pictured in 1900The Hayling Island lifeboat Charlie and Adrian, which saw service between 1888 and 1914, pictured in 1900
The Hayling Island lifeboat Charlie and Adrian, which saw service between 1888 and 1914, pictured in 1900

About 40 boats took part in a sail-past and the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, led the rededication of the station and its crew.

The vice-chairman of the RNLI, Stuart Popham, who is a Hayling resident, marked the occasion with a certificate on vellum.

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He said: ‘As a local resident, a sailor, and the vice-chairman, it was a real honour to present the vellum recognising 100 years of life-saving service by so many dedicated Hayling Island volunteers.’

The crew of Charlie and AdrianThe crew of Charlie and Adrian
The crew of Charlie and Adrian

A 17th century cannon from the Fort Cumberland Guard re-enactment group set the sail-past into action.

In the past century the Hayling lifeboat has been launched 2,762 times and rescued 1,802 people of whom 543 were lives saved.