Remembering past sacrifice to inspire future generations
Many brave and selfless RNLI crew members and fundraisers are remembered proudly in their local communities. However, we have no one memorial that celebrates all those who have served the RNLI over the past 180-plus years - especially those 438 who have died while saving lives at sea.
We are planning such a tribute, to share the site of the RNLI's headquarters at Poole, Dorset, opposite The Lifeboat College, the 'home of the RNLI'. An area of land will be put aside for a sculpture and a garden. RNLI volunteers, staff and members of the public will be able to sit and contemplate the extraordinary self sacrifice of the many people involved with the charity since its foundation in 1824.
The design
We will hold a public competition to find a design that will be both appropriate and insprirational. Once the winning design has been chosen, and funding secured, we hope that the sculpture can be erected in 2008-9.
This project is being managed by the RNLI Heritage Trust, which was set up to preserve the archives and artefacts of the RNLI for future generations. The Trust can fundraise for projects like this, unlike the RNLI, which can only fundraise to save lives at sea.
Can you help?
Although we won't know the exact cost until we have finalised the design, it is likely that the sculpture and garden will cost more than £150,000 - clearly a large sum to find. We hope that volunteers and staff, both current and retired, with supporters throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, will be able to raise the money and allow this worthwhile project to go ahead.
Update
August 2007:
- Andrew Freemantle preparing for his epic fundraising cycle ride from Poole to Rome,
sponsor him today. - Adverts running for artist entries, hopefully a final decision will be made in January 2008.
