RNLI Marks 200 Years of Lifesaving in Blyth With Our Town, Our Story Exhibition

Two hundred years of volunteers putting to sea to save lives off the Northumberland coast will be celebrated this September, as a community exhibition telling the story of Blyth's lifeboat comes to the town's Market Pavilion.

Best for: Blyth Lifeboat 200: Our Town, Our Story runs from 15 to 20 September at the Market Pavilion on Blyth Market Place, presented by Blyth RNLI in partnership with Fresh Creative Aspirations CIC.

A Bicentenary Worth Marking

Lifesaving in Blyth stretches back two centuries, and the exhibition marks that milestone by putting the town's own people at the heart of the story. Rather than a distant institutional history, Our Town, Our Story draws on local film, photography and personal recollections to show what the lifeboat has meant to Blyth across the generations.

The display includes portraits of crew members and volunteers, past and present, alongside a short film created by local young people exploring the remarkable history of the RNLI in the town. It is a chance to see familiar faces and hear local voices telling a story that belongs to the whole community.

Part of the Blyth Celebrates Season

The exhibition forms part of the wider Blyth Celebrates cultural programme and includes community exhibitions, film screenings and schools' activities across its week at the Market Pavilion, the new venue on Blyth Market Place. Bringing the RNLI story into a town-centre space makes it easy for residents to drop in and reflect on a proud local tradition.

Why It Matters to Blyth

For a town whose identity is bound up with the sea, honouring 200 years of the lifeboat is more than a history lesson. It recognises the ongoing commitment of local volunteers, and gives younger residents a hand in telling that story themselves. Blyth's maritime heritage is also preserved at Blyth Battery on South Beach.

Find Out More

The exhibition was announced as part of the Blyth Celebrates programme by Northumberland County Council.

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