To mark 200 years of the RNLI, 200 school pupils from the Isle of Wight have lined a lifeboat pier in tribute.

Students from two Island schools - Ryde School and Bembridge CE Primary School - showed their appreciation to the life-saving charity.

Watched by members of the public, the schoolchildren cheered and waved flags in windy conditions at the home of Bembridge RNLI.

The station, which has been part of the charity for 157 years having been founded in 1867, has, to date, launched lifeboats 2,398 times and saved 948 lives.

For the first 60 years, the station had rowing lifeboats (City of Worcester, Queen Victoria and Queen Victoria II), which were kept ashore on the site of the current Inshore Boathouse and launched down the current slipway and across the beach until they floated.

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight schoolchildren pay their respects to the RNLI on the charity's 200th anniversary.Isle of Wight schoolchildren pay their respects to the RNLI on the charity's 200th anniversary. (Image: IWCP)

Isle of Wight County Press: Isle of Wight schoolchildren pay their respects to the RNLI on the charity's 200th anniversary.Isle of Wight schoolchildren pay their respects to the RNLI on the charity's 200th anniversary. (Image: IWCP)

That was until 1922, when the first offshore boathouse was built to house the motor powered RNLB Langham.

The old boathouse and walkway survived with different lifeboats until 2009 when it was knocked down and rebuilt to house the current Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat, RNLB Alfred Albert Williams.

Since the mid 1960s the station has also had a smaller Inshore Lifeboat (currently RNLB Norman Harvey D-778) which is stored in the Inshore Lifeboat Station.

Today, onlookers got the chance to see the lifeboats launch to mark the occasion.

As part of celebrations, lifeboat operations manager for Bembridge RNLI, John Keyworth, has visited Westminster Abbey for a thanksgiving ceremony.

It will also be attended by other representatives from the charity.

John said: "Representing the Bembridge RNLI family which has been part of the larger RNLI family since 1867 is an honour.

"Representing all those who have gone before and carried out such sterling work in helping and saving those in trouble at sea is humbling to say the least. It's what we do."

Isle of Wight County Press: Lifeboat goes under the pier and bunting on the pier to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI.Lifeboat goes under the pier and bunting on the pier to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI. (Image: IWCP)

As a discovery lifeboat station, Bembridge RNLI's Offshore Boathouse and Shop are open to the general public every day from 2pm to 4pm (11am to 4pm during the summer and school holidays).