HRH Duke of Kent joined the Bishop of Sherborne, Dr Graham Kings for a minute’s silence to commemorate the heroism of the RNLI volunteers who have lost their lives rescuing others at sea at a ceremony held at the organisation’s Poole HQ this afternoon.

A new sculpture was commissioned and unveiled for the occasion inscribed with the names of 778 volunteers from all corners of the UK and Ireland who have been lost in service.

The video below shows the sculptor Sam Holland at work designing, building and installing the 5.4m metal memorial.