'Amazing vision' of RNLI founder commemorated on Isle of Man

The "amazing vision" of the founder of the RNLI has been marked at an event in the organisation's birth place.

Sir William Hillary founded the charity after being inspired to take action after witnessing several shipwrecks of the Manx coast while living in Douglas.

A service at St George's Church, where he was buried in 1847, marked the start of the charity's 200th anniversary.

RNLI chief executive Mark Dowie said the island would "always have that very special place" in its history.

Mr Dowie said the island remained a "critical element" of the service and Sir William "would recognise today the service that he intended to create in 1824".

He said: "We've come on an awfully long way obviously in terms of technology and the way we do things, but essentially the service is the same and that is an amazing achievement within 200 years."

The church service featured hymns and readings, including the Lifeboat Prayer, which was read by representatives of the island's five lifeboat stations, followed by a wreath laying at Sir William's tomb.

The service was organised by volunteer Emily Heaton, who passed out as Douglas lifeboat station's first female coxswain on an all-weather lifeboat late last year.

She said to be the first female to take on the position at the founding station was "truly quite special".

"To be doing it in the same waters is that really special link to the birthplace of the RNLI," she added.

The event was part of a series of events to mark the anniversary on the island, which will continue in with a year-long exhibition at the House of Manannan, which is due to be opened in February.

Chairman of the island's 200th panel Allan Corlett said the commemorations were designed to "inspire future generations to involve themselves with the RNLI".

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