RNLI scroll marking 200 years is signed by islands

The scroll is being taken to more than 250 locations around the UK over the next 10 months.

Its journey around the RNLI regions began in March when the scroll was signed by the Duke of Kent, Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster.

The scroll was brought over on the ferry from Jersey on Saturday, before going to Alderney and heading back to Poole.

‘There has been one driver for the entire trip, but so he could have a break I offered to take the scroll to the Channel Islands as I have a connection with the islands – I am originally from Alderney,’ said Katie Beney of the RNLI.

The scroll is signed by three representatives in each location, one from the lifeboat, one from the RNLI shop, and one from the fundraising team.

‘It celebrates that we are one crew, which is our pledge,’ said Ms Beney.

‘Without every cog of the wheel the RNLI wouldn’t work and the signing is a really nice way of getting everyone together.’

Most of the scroll and its casing was made in-house at the RNLI. The case was made in the inshore lifeboat centre in Cowes out of the same material that is used to build the lifeboats, and the spindles are made in the lifeboat centre in Poole from a flag pole that stood in Ramsey, Isle of Man.

Fundraising committee chairwoman Celia Allen signed the scroll as fundraising representative.

‘I am extremely proud to have signed it,’ she said.

‘It is a big moment, I come from a lifeboating family and it is really nice to be a part of this,’ she said.

Jason Norman, RNLI Guernsey coxswain also signed the scroll.

‘I feel very honoured and privileged,’ he said.

Jenny Ridley represented the RNLI shop as its manager.

‘I am very honoured and it has been really special to be a part of it,’ she said.

The scroll has now gone back to the UK to continue its journey around RNLI regions.

The last signature will be signed in Douglas, Isle of Man, before it is put on display at the RNLI college in Poole.