The Hereford Lifeboat on Lifeboat Saturday launched from the Castle Green October

A sea of Edwardian spectators lines the banks of the River Wye as the Hereford Lifeboat is ceremoniously launched during Lifeboat Saturday, October 1908. These parades were held across Britain to raise awareness and funds for the RNLI, a vital institution protecting lives at sea.

In the foreground, the volunteer crew rows with pride, while the townsfolk — dressed in their Sunday best — look on in admiration. For an inland town like Hereford, this was a rare spectacle, blending public charity, maritime spirit, and community pride.

📌 SEO tags: Hereford Lifeboat 1908, Lifeboat Saturday Castle Green, RNLI Edwardian era, River Wye history, historic lifeboat parades UK, rowing ceremony Edwardian Britain

🕰️ Do you have old photos of local parades or community events? 📷 Upload them to Oldpik.com — every memory contributes to the living mosaic of our shared history.