Aurum Silver Royal National Lifeboat Institution Bowl

Engraved to base:

NUMBER 194 OF A LIMITED EDITION OF 750 MADE BY ORDER OF THE ROYAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION TO COMMEMORATE THEIR ONE HUNDRED & FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY IN 1974

The scene depicts the rescue of the crew of the ‘St George’ off Douglas, Isle of Man, on 20 November 1830 by volunteers led by Sir William Hillary, founder of the Institution

Booklet certificate signed by Captain Nigel Dixon RN Director of RNLI                                                                                

Edition of:                   750

Designer:                     Hector Miller & Ian Ribbons

Maker:                         Hector Miller - Stuart Devlin Workshop

Maker’s Mark:            HM

Weight:                       321 g

Diameter:                    19.5 cm                                   Cost new:        £118

Central silver gilt boss, carved by Ian Ribbons depicts: Hillary’s boat, launched from the bay behind the old lighthouse on the pier, is approaching between St.Mary’s Rock and the wreck which, bows down, is heeling over to starboard. Her foremast lies entangled across the starboard side. A ship’s boat, lowered from the starboard davits, has been crushed: a sailor is climbing back to the steamer’s poop. The reefed main sail has torn loose against the shrouds; the starboard paddle-case is awash; the crew shelter by the stern weather rail while heavy seas break over the wreck. Hillary is assisting coxswain Vondy at the stern steering oar; behind a crewman is paying out a stern anchor line; two others are fending off with oars from ridges of rocks to the right; in the bows a man is hailing the ‘St. George’