Celebrate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary at Weston Library

Discover the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Weston-super-Mare and help celebrate the charity’s 200th anniversary during a free exhibition next month.

People can pop along to Weston Library in the Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, throughout May to visit the exhibition as part of Local and Community History Month.

Large-scale images selected from the Local Studies Archive and local history books will be on display to tell the story of the RNLI in Weston, including its long relationship with Birnbeck Pier.

The RNLI is the charity which saves lives at sea. The RNLI Weston-super-Mare currently operates from a temporary station on the plaza next to Marine Lake. The lower walkway around the lake provides the launch route for the RNLI at low tide.

Once Birnbeck Pier is restored, the RNLI plans to reinstate its lifeboat station on Birnbeck Island. A lifeboat station in Weston-super-Mare, at this point in the Bristol Channel, is a key lifesaving asset. Since 2000, the volunteer crew at Weston have launched 1,064 times, aided 572 people and saved the lives of 85 people.

Councillor Mark Canniford, the council's executive member responsible for placemaking, as well as local ward member, said: “We have a strong relationship with the RNLI and are working with them closely on the project to restore Birnbeck Pier and Island. This exhibition – running throughout May – comes at an exciting time for the project, as the first planning application has been submitted.

“If approved, work is proposed to start later this year on the landside buildings so that they could reopen to the public next year. It would also enable subsequent phases of the project to take place, including restoring the pier itself and re-establishing the RNLI’s lifeboat station back where it belongs, on Birnbeck Island.”

Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member responsible for culture and leisure, as well as seafronts, added: “I’m delighted that Weston Library is hosting this free exhibition for people to learn more about the history of the RNLI in Weston as the organisation celebrates its bicentenary and also discover the history of Birnbeck Pier. Our local studies archive is a fantastic resource. It’s so important to preserve records for future generations and I encourage people to visit the exhibition to find out more about the rich history of our town. This is just one example of the fantastic range of events hosted by our libraries service, and goes to highlight the importance that libraries play in our communities.”

Emily Gale, RNLI Community Manager covering Weston-super-Mare, said: “The exhibition, running during the RNLI’s 200th year, is a wonderful chance for local people to learn more about the RNLI and long connection to the community in Weston. Throughout the anniversary year, the charity is commemorating how far we’ve come, celebrating the work our volunteers do to save lives now and hoping to inspire the next generation of lifesavers. I’d encourage anyone to go along and immerse yourself in a fascinating glimpse into the history of the RNLI in Weston as we work towards an ambition to return our lifesaving to Birnbeck in the future.”

This exhibition belongs to a series of community engagement events that form part of the Birnbeck Pier and Island restoration project. This is being funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Opening on Wednesday 1 May and closing on Friday 31 May, the exhibition will open to the public during usual library opening hours. These can be found on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/directories/libraries/weston-super-mare-library.

Keep up with the latest news about North Somerset libraries at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/libraries or on Facebook (facebook.com/nslibraries), X (formerly Twitter) (twitter.com/NSomLibraries) and Instagram (instagram.com/northsomersetlibraries).

To find out more about the Birnbeck Pier project, visit the information hub next to the pier or the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject.