Year of special events to mark anniversary of Britain's only full-time station at Spurn Point in East Yorkshire

THEY have been saving lives for two centuries.

And now Britain’s only full-time lifeboat crew is looking forward to marking its 200th anniversary year with a series of special events.

Hull Trinity House stationed the first lifeboat – a rowing boat manhandled into the surf – at Spurn Point in 1810. The RNLI took over the running of the lifeboat station in 1911.

Today's lifeboatmen and their families – the youngest is just four – join a long line of men who have saved lives in the dangerous waters surrounding the point.

The anniversary will be marked by events starting with a dinner on January 21 and includes a Service of Thanksgiving on April 25 at Hull’s Holy Trinity Church, when the 10 crew will turn out in their dress uniform of navy-blue Guernseys, medals and caps.

Superintendent Coxswain Dave Steenvoorden, a former fisherman who became a lifeboatman 17 years ago, has been heavily involved in preparations for the year.

He said: “We have a number of events planned throughout the year and I know RNLI supporters will also be planning special fundraising opportunities on behalf of our station during 2010.

“Every member of the crew and their families are very proud to have a part in the history of lifesaving at Spurn Point and are looking forward to a very special year for Humber RNLI lifeboat station.”

On September 3 the station will be enjoying “a picnic, a concert and a whale of a time” at Camerton Hall, hosted by long-time supporter Richard Marriott. The crew also hope to host a barbecue, games and music for supporters in the summer.

Mr Steenvoorden added: “The way I look at it is, to thank fundraisers and supporters for supporting us so very well.”

The past 200 years have seen immense changes. In the first six years lifeboatmen had to travel to Spurn Point from Kilnsea before launching the boat. Now it takes just six minutes from the alarm sounding to the lifeboat getting under way.

Once huge seas would sweep through their houses and the men would supplement their wages by tending their potato fields, growing vegetables to sell to passing ships, and loading cobbles onto the vessels on the Binks.

They carried on fishing until the early 1990s, but that stopped once they were given a decent, living wage. Having their own water and electricity supply is a relatively recent innovation.

Life on the Point is still precarious – and the sea washing over the road and burying it under sand and boulders is becoming more and more frequent. The highest tides are nervously anticipated.

Over the years, the station has been the focus of several books and TV documentaries, as well as a play, On A Shout. The crew will feature in the second series of Trawlers, Rigs and Rescues, on satellite and cable channel Bravo from next month.

RNLI Divisional Inspector North Andy Clift said 2010 would be a very special year for everyone associated with the station. He added: “The remote location of Spurn Point means it is crucial we have a lifeboat crew there around the clock, ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice to board the lifeboat and rescue those in difficulty at sea.

“It takes a certain sort of person to be able to live in such a place, and of course we rely on the crews’ families as well to support the lifeboatmen in their vital role.

“I wish the crew and all their families and supporters the very best wishes for the 200th anniversary year.”

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