National Maritime and RNLI to host charity ball celebrating 200 years of RNLI

National Maritime and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are hosting a black-tie charity ball on the evening of 9 September 2024. The event celebrates 200 years of the RNLI and will raise vital funds for this life-saving organisation.

The ball will take place on board the Woods’ Silver Fleet flagship river yacht Silver Sturgeon, embarking and disembarking within the beautiful historic riverscape at Greenwich Pier, London. Guests will enjoy fine dining and live entertainment, while cruising through London’s spectacular sights and bridges lit with the ‘Illuminated River’ artwork. The event is a rare opportunity to experience being aboard the Silver Sturgeon as the vessel is normally only available for private hire.

This year sees the RNLI celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea. Since the charity was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews have launched the lifeboats 380,328 times, saving 144,277 lives – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.

Ryan Hall, Head of Region South East, RNLI said:
“I am really looking forward to spending the evening with everyone as we see the sights of the Thames. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, and it is apt that we will be seeing the UK’s busiest lifeboat station during our cruise, and of course we hope that the Lifeboat can pay us a visit as well. The support everyone offers across the maritime sector is amazing and we are forever grateful for the continued support as we strive to save everyone. Your support for this event will ensure we can set up a legacy for the future ensuring we remain sustainable, fit for purpose and support our team of over 35,000 volunteers in saving lives at sea.”

Guests at the ball will enjoy fine dining, with a menu curated with sustainability at its heart by Woods’ Silver Fleet Executive Head Chef Marcus Cunningham. The food will be sustainably grown and responsibly sourced with a focus on fish and plant-based ingredients, accompanied by sustainably sourced wines and non-alcoholic alternatives. Live entertainment will be provided by Temple Band. Temple performs regularly on the main stage at some of London’s biggest venues and members have performed with some of the world’s top names. The evening will conclude with a charity auction and a boat drive-by from the Tower Bridge RNLI crew. Guests can purchase either individual tickets or a whole table, allowing attendees to share the spectacular evening.

The SOCSEA Grand Maritime Charity Ball is the official dinner of the 4th Society and The Sea international conference delivered by National Maritime and the University of Greenwich, held at Greenwich Maritime on the 9th and 10th of September 2024. The theme of SOCSEA24 is ‘To be truly blue, we must also think green’.

Peter Green, CEO, National Maritime, said:

“We can’t think of a better way to conclude our conference than by supporting the vital work of the RNLI as they celebrate their 200th anniversary. As well as being a fantastic cause, this is a wonderful opportunity for the maritime sector to unite and celebrate our achievements as we work together for a greener future.”