Each day in the run-up to the RNLI’s 200th birthday, a different voice will share a unique perspective on how the charity saves and changes lives. 200 Voices will transport you back in time, far out to sea and into the future.
201.A special message: Seth Lakeman
200 Voices has made the shortlist in the Listener's Choice category of the British Podcast Awards!
Hear this short message from one of the voices - folk artist Seth Lakeman - about how to vote and get the RNLI to the top spot. Or simply follow the link below and type '200 Voices' into the search bar. Voting closes on 29 August, so there's no time like the present!
Thank you for supporting the charity, its lifesavers, and this special podcast series, in our 200th anniversary year.
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200. A Lasting Honour: Mark Dowie
On the RNLI's 200th anniversary, the charity's Chief Executive reflects on his 5 years at the wheel
In the final episode of 200 Voices, hear from the person who has led the RNLI through some of its toughest challenges and into our 200th anniversary year: the charity's Chief Executive, Mark Dowie.
With a love for the RNLI that grew from helping with rescues as a young sailor and later signing up as a volunteer at a lifeboat station, Mark took the helm of the charity in 2019. He reflects on his f
199. Home and Dry: Jon Nicholls
200 Voices might be a podcast, but when the composer of the theme music created the soundtrack, it was a movie that played in his head
The sea doesn’t want for drama. And with its ever-changing moods - from blissful calm to surging swells - it has long inspired musicians. In it, Jon Nicholls, composer of the 200 Voices soundtrack, finds beauty and danger in equal measure. Jon reveals how he went about creating the music for the series, and shares some of the influences that shaped his choices, s
198. Righting History: Helen Doe
The writer of One Crew – an RNLI history book – recounts some of the names and stories that time forgot
Over 200 years the RNLI has saved more than 144,000 lives. Many rescues and achievements are rightly celebrated, but some sit below the horizon. So when maritime historian Helen Doe set about the daunting task of capturing 2 centuries’ worth of lifesaving and loss, the author decided that it was time some of the lesser-known examples of courage, commitment and sacrifice were included.
In her b
197. A Welsh Episode: Mali Parry-Jones
In Welsh, Porthdinllaen crew member and TV producer Mali Parry-Jones recalls the real-life drama of a call out to a sailor who’d suffered a stroke
Growing up on the Llyn Peninsula, Mali was always aware of her local lifeboat. Porthdinllaen RNLI was the constant backdrop to her childhood, whether she was hearing the maroons firing or pedalling her bike to spot the launch.
By 2012 Mali was a TV producer and new crew member, helping Welsh language channel S4C to document the departure of the stati
196. One Crew: Mark Smith
The force behind the launch - Mark Smith on powering his crew to a Silver Medal rescue
When his pager went off on 20 May 2021, Trearddur Bay RNLI Tractor Driver Mark Smith knew exactly what it was about. Moments before, he’d looked out of his window and spotted three surfers struggling in treacherous swell and waves.
Mark talks about the incredibly challenging shout, which led to his fellow volunteer crew members receiving Silver and Bronze Medals, and Mark himself receiving the Director of Op
195. Enduring Appeal: Hayley Whiting
The charity's founder was a man on a mission. In his words from 1823, we see the same guiding vision that’s saving lives 2 centuries later
On 28 February 1823, RNLI founder Sir William Hillary wrote his Appeal to the Nation. It set out his vision for a voluntary organisation, supported by charitable donations to save lives at sea. A vision so forward-thinking that its principles hold true today.
As Heritage Archive and Research Manager, it’s Hayley Whiting’s job to look after this document, and
194. Steep Seas: Keith Bower
Former Torbay RNLI Coxswain Keith Bower remembers a life-changing rescue
On December 6, 1976, just before 1am, when most were sleeping soundly, Torbay RNLI’s then Acting Coxswain Keith Bower was woken by an urgent call for help. It marked the start of a shout for which Keith was awarded a Gold Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry.
Faced with storm conditions, 12m waves and crew members suffering seasickness, Keith recalls the extreme challenges of rescuing the crew of the motor vessel, Lyrma. Despi
193. Manic Sunday: Dai Chant
It was anything but a day of rest – a legendary St Davids Coxswain on his greatest test
For local fisherman Dai Chant, volunteering on the St Davids lifeboat was perhaps inevitable. On 26 February 1989, the Mayday call came in for his most dangerous shout – to lead the rescue of four fellow fishermen, as their trawler Stephanie Jane dragged perilously towards South Bishop Lighthouse.
Coxswain Chant takes us out into the boiling seas and rocky islands off the Pembrokeshire coast. From screaming w
192. Talking Pictures: Jack Lowe
In an age of selfies, photographer Jack Lowe uses Victorian methods on his quest to capture lifeboat crew from every RNLI lifeboat station. He tells us why
For a 200-year-old institution, it’s fitting that photographer Jack Lowe’s Lifeboat Station Project allows us to see the modern work of the RNLI through a historical lens – quite literally. In 2015, Jack set out on a 10-year mission in his mobile darkroom – a converted ambulance he aptly named Neena – to photograph crew members at all 238 RNL
191. The Good of Humankind: Charles Hunter-Pease
The 20th Chairman of the RNLI reflects on why 200 years of lifesaving connects us all
What does it mean to be part of the RNLI? In his lifelong connection with our charity, Charles Hunter-Pease has been gathering stories to answer that question.
From his childhood hearing the maroons fire and awaiting the Filey lifeboat crew’s safe return, Charles has gone on to support the RNLI as both a businessman and a volunteer. When he became RNLI Chairman in 2013, his energy and enthusiasm was matched by
190. Always on Call: Alison Murphy
At the RNLI, we don’t just answer calls for help. Alison Murphy on the privilege of hearing from our supporters
Phone the RNLI to ask a question, make a donation or just have a chat, and you’ll speak to Alison or one of her 26-strong team. For more than 20 years, the Supporter Experience Manager has been one of the friendly, compassionate voices answering your calls.
From Christmas Day companionship to lunch with royalty, Alison explains why this is no ordinary call-centre job. She shares some o
189. In Cold Water: Michael Whiteley
When seasoned swimmer Michael got into difficulty, open-water safety training guided him - and his crew - onshore
Many of us have been discovering the joys of winter dips lately. Michael’s cold-water odyssey started with cold showers and learning the Wim Hof Method of breathing. Now you’ll find him dipping in Scarborough’s North or South Bay several times a week. For Michael, getting into chilly water and warming up onshore boosts his circulation and leaves him feeling sharper in his mind. But o
188. Plan B: Ellie Jackson
When Dom Jackson went missing while kayaking in 2017, a 5-day search ensued. Since his death, his sister Ellie has called on others to take vital steps to keep themselves safe at sea
It wasn’t unusual for Dom to head off on an outdoor adventure - he had an adventurous spirit - but when he failed to return home after a lone kayaking trip, Ellie knew it was serious. Lost at sea, in freezing conditions, his body was found by the RNLI after a massive search, bringing Ellie both despair and relief
187. Dressed for SOS: Oliver Flaser
Protection, layering, flexibility – the team behind our latest crew kit explain what makes the ultimate ‘cape’ for lifeboat heroes
Which reflective material shines through fog? How high should a jacket collar be to protect crew in the harshest conditions?
These questions – and more – have been put to the test by the Helly Hansen Pro team, who partnered with the RNLI to develop our new crew kit in 2018. Category Manager Oliver Flaser describes how, by working closely with crew members, Helly Han
186. Love You Lots: Benny Thomson
To survive for over 4 hours in freezing waters, two friends turn their thoughts to home
Benny Thomson remembers 25 November 2012 as the day that changed his life forever. It would set him on a new career path, and on a course to volunteer beside his rescuers at Broughty Ferry RNLI.
On an ill-fated jet ski trip, lifelong friends Benny and Gavin found themselves in the ‘washing machine’ waters of Abertay Sands.
In this emotional episode, Benny shares what went through their minds as hope of rescue
185. Fear Unleashed: Ruth Osborne
Ripped from her surfboard and alone in the waves, Ruth held on to advice that would save her life
For physio Ruth Osborne, a holiday in Cornwall sparked a move to Newquay and a sport that captured her heart. Learning beside competent surfers, she became more confident in the waves. But she always feared losing her board and being left out of her depth.
When the worst happened, Ruth had to catch her breath in the chaos of the impact zone. As crashing waves built around her, she drew on a chance c
184. Out of Tragedy: Val Nixon
After the Penlee lifeboat disaster, the RNLI’s collection boxes overflowed with donations. Val Nixon MBE fought through ice and snow to help keep up with the outpouring of generosity
The winter of 1981 was one of the coldest on record. Snow and ice meant the RNLI closed the north-east office early for Christmas. But, on the morning after the Penlee disaster on 19 December, Val Nixon managed to get through the severe weather to open the office and help.
Even though they were hundreds of miles f
183. Aquaphobia: Diane Allton
Diane Allton suffered from aquaphobia and couldn’t swim. At 55, she confronted her fears and took the plunge
The bravery of RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews is clear to see. But courage can come in other guises – and for Diane, confronting her fear of water has taken great strength.
A traumatic event when she was a teenager left Diane with aquaphobia. For years she avoided water until World Drowning Prevention Day 2023, when she heard about swimming lessons taking place. In this inspiring episode,
182. Anthony Sharp: In Honour of My Brother
The late John Sharp’s gift to the RNLI honours his remarkable family history in helping to save lives at sea
When John Sharp passed away in 2019, he left a generous gift to the Charities Aid Foundation and wrote a letter to his brother, Anthony, with a list of charities to consider as beneficiaries – one of which was the RNLI.
Anthony shares how, in his retirement, John had researched the Sharp family tree, which revealed that his ancestor (also named John Sharp) had commissioned one of Lionel
181. The Man Behind the Mic: Dan Holland
200 Voices producer and former Kessock RNLI volunteer Dan Holland on the day he knew he wanted to be a lifeboat crew member
In this episode, we turn the mic to one of the producers behind the series. At the age of 8, Dan Holland stood in awe watching Flamborough RNLI lifeboat launch into the waves, vowing that one day, he would volunteer. He literally had the T-shirt.
Dan made good on his wish, later joining the crew at Kessock for 14 years, 5 of them as helm. He recalls being on the lifeboat at
180. Picture This: David Constant
The RNLI’s Artwork Manager reveals the painstaking work that goes into colourising the charity’s archive photos, and reveals the stories behind three of them
Extraordinary stories from ordinary people deserve to be remembered. And 200 Voices is one way in which the RNLI is ensuring that these stories are not forgotten. But it’s not the only way. David Constant leads the RNLI's Artwork team - who usually lay out the charity's communications and campaigns and prepare them for print. But with a big
179. Pride and Peril: Mike Picknett
From polishing the lifeboat station brass as a child, to seeing his own son join the crew, Mike Picknett’s connection to the RNLI is lifelong
Man and boy – and beyond. That’s the way to describe Mike Picknett’s service with the RNLI. Currently Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar Lifeboat Station, Mike was sweeping the lifeboat station floor at the tender age of nine, and his family’s connection with the lifeboat goes back generations.
Mike recalls his work with the flood rescue team - rescui
178. Running Through Grief: Terri Peay
After losing her brother to the sea in 2020, Terri Peay is taking on a 200km challenge on behalf of the RNLI, which helped her family in an hour of need
Exercise as therapy is a strategy many of us are familiar with – and it’s her passion for running that helps Terri Peay cope with the death of her brother, Dan, whose body was recovered from the sea by the RNLI.
Determined to give something back to the organisation that brought her brother home to rest, Terri is running the London marathon as
177. A Welcome Sight: Simon Chrisp
When Evan Chrisp was pulled out to sea by a rip current his father feared for his son’s life – but a simple, powerful message Evan had seen at the cinema helped save him
It was every parent’s nightmare. Simon Chrisp had taken his son Evan and a group of his friends to the beach when disaster struck. Simon recalls the moment he realised Evan was in grave danger in the sea and recounts the turmoil he endured, fighting his instinct to jump in and try to rescue his son himself.
Unbeknownst to Simo
176. David Freeman on a Sole Survivor
In 1861, all but one of the RNLI Whitby crew died when their lifeboat capsized. David Freeman reveals what saved his ancestor, Henry Freeman
In Whitby, they’re planning to add a new statue to the Whitby Sculpture Trail – a series that depicts notable figures in homage to the heritage and history of the town. The new sculpture – part of a planned RNLI-themed garden – will be of a silver-medal-winning RNLI lifesaver by the name of Henry Freeman.
When his lifeboat capsized in a storm, Henry was
175. Making History: Anna Heslop
The first female helm in the 170-year history of RNLI Cullercoats, Anna Heslop has helped pave the way for other women to get onboard - including her mum
Anna joined Cullercoats Lifeboat Station at 17, and for a while, was the only female at the station. Now, there are nine women involved, including Anna’s partner, Jane, and Anna’s mother, who is Lifeboat Operations Manager.
Anna talks about her experience of being a female helm, and about how, in December 2022, the Cullercoats lifeboat launc
174. Friendly Neighbourhood Lifeboatman: Will Sliney
Sliney skills: The Spiderman illustrator on saving lives for real
Will Sliney is a man with a lot to live up to. In his day job as a graphic artist, he spends his time in the company of heroes such as Spider-Man. But the Marvel and Star Wars illustrator has an illustrious backstory himself. Will is a volunteer with the Ballycotton lifeboat crew, continuing a family tradition that dates back to at least great-grandfather Patsy Sliney, one of Ireland’s most decorated lifeboat volunteers.
Patsy was
173. Ted Luckin on the Best of Them
Cromer veteran Ted Luckin BEM shares his memories of Henry Blogg, the RNLI’s most decorated lifesaver
The word ‘legend’ is often used lightly. But Henry Blogg truly was one. During 53 years’ service at Cromer, the RNLI’s most decorated crew member helped to save 873 lives. Former Cromer Helm Ted Luckin knew Henry, and in this episode he shares his memories of the man.
Over 6 decades, Ted has performed almost every role at the station, so is a bit of a legend himself. It all started when he was i
172. The Mexico Mission: Eoin Bird
In 1914, nine Fethard volunteers lost their lives whilst saving others. Current Helm Eoin Bird on the family members who made the ultimate sacrifice
Selfless. Dependable. Trustworthy. Courageous. These are the values that RNLI crew members live by. And they were perhaps never more in evidence than in February 1914, when, in a vicious storm, Fethard volunteers went to the aid of the schooner, Mexico. What followed was an epic 3-day ordeal.
Present-day Fethard crew member Eoin Bird tells the story
171. Face to Face: John Connolly
Rain or shine, the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraisers are out talking to the public. John Connolly shares his experience of working on the front line - and a personal story of an RNLI rescue
John knows all too well the dangers of the sea. His son was once saved by a lifeguard in Cornwall, and that very same evening, John received the news that a close friend had been killed by a jet ski.
In this episode, the RNLI fundraiser talks about dealing with rejection and developing a thick skin. But also ab
170. Crime Wave: Martin Leach
When researching his family history, Martin Leach unearthed a fascinating story of convicts, a shipwreck and a lifeboat rescue
What do a barrister, teacher and research chemist have in common? All well-respected professions, and - in the case of the Leach family - descendants of a convict who was rescued by the RNLI in 1862.
Hear the colourful history Martin Leach discovered when he unpicked his family background - the star of the show being his grandmother’s grandfather who was transported to
169. World View: Kate Eardley
Somewhere around the world, drowning takes a life every other minute. Meet the woman striving to change that
The RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary, had a vision to save lives at sea, not just in the UK and Ireland, but across the globe – and the RNLI’s international team are helping his vision become a reality.
Kate Eardley, co-leader of the international team, talks about the RNLI’s work supporting drowning prevention in more than 40 countries across the world. She shares the humbling exper
168. My Second Family: Brad Johnson
When the Pride flag was raised at RNLI Skegness Lifeboat Station for the first time, it was a powerful moment for Brad Johnson
In an area where the Pride flag might not be flown as much as in a city location, Brad Johnson was keen to fly the flag to raise awareness of inclusion, equality and diversity and reach out to the LGBTQI+ community. It was something enthusiastically supported by fellow crew members.
Brad talks about how, from day one, he was open about his sexuality and warmly welcomed
167. The Princess Victoria: Jim Brown
Jim Brown on the boyhood tragedy that inspired his lifelong commitment to the RNLI
On 1 February 1953, a 10-year-old boy stood with his father and younger brother and watched as 13 bodies were brought to shore by the Sir Samuel Kelly lifeboat. The 13 recovered were among 133 lost in the Princess Victoria ferry disaster the day before, when more than 30 passengers were rescued by the lifeboat crew as the ferry sank 7 miles east of Belfast Lough.
The 10-year-old boy watching on was Jim Brown, who
166. Veronica Vondy on her History-Shaping Ancestor
When Veronica Vondy decided to research her family tree, it led to an ancestor with a surprising story – the saving of the man who founded the RNLI
Just 6 years after the RNLI was formed, its founder - Sir William Hillary - was himself thrown overboard whilst going to the aid of the steamer, St George, in Douglas Harbour, Isle of Man.
Veronica Vondy, from Peel on the Isle of Man’s west coast, tells the story of how her family research led her all the way back to the lifeboat that went to the aid
165. Great Scot: Anne Scott
When Anne Scott retired from her full-time job at the RNLI, Buckie lifeboat crew had other ideas. Now, RNLI stalwart Anne volunteers at the station – and sees the crew as family
One of Anne’s earliest memories is of being 4 or 5 and trying to stay awake, not for Santa Claus, but for her dad – the mechanic at Cromarty Lifeboat – to return home from a shout. Her uncle John was RNLI crew too, and her mother a passionate fundraiser.
Fittingly, Anne later became an RNLI Fundraising Manager and sup
164. A New Wave: Lucy Crichard
Lucy Crichard is the RNLI’s first sustainability apprentice. She shares what drew her to the role, and reveals her efforts to inspire others like her
The winner of the MAKE UK Business Apprentice Rising Star award for the South-West - Lucy Crichard - believes we can all be change-makers. Hear why she started a Sustainability Champions newsletter, and why she takes part in the RNLI’s annual Women in Engineering Day - an event that allows schoolgirls to take part in STEM activities.
Since this epi
163. Reaching Out: Dr Aminur Rahman
Dr Aminur Rahman on how his charity – supported by the RNLI – is tackling Bangladesh’s drowning problem
In Bangladesh, water gives life, but it also destroys it. A survey carried out by pioneering safety charity, the CIPRB, found that 40 children were drowning daily – the majority lost in inland ponds.
In this episode, the CIPRB’s Dr Aminur Rahman explains how the SwimSafe programme – delivered with the support of the RNLI – is tackling the horrifying loss of young lives in the country.
For more
162. The Blue Peter Effect: Janet Legrand OBE KC (Hon)
One year into her appointment as Chair of the RNLI, Janet Legrand shares her unique insight into the charity
Her earliest memories of the RNLI are from childhood - Blue Peter, and visits to the RNLI shop in Eastbourne to buy souvenirs with her pocket money. Now, Janet - a lawyer by profession - is Chair of the RNLI, which means she’s head of the board legally responsible for the charity’s affairs.
Janet talks about the highlights of her first year at the RNLI, from stepping on stage at her first
161. My Lifeline: Pamela Deasy
Pamela Deasy helped campaign for an RNLI lifeboat station at Union Hall – now she can see it from her window. Meet the woman who has been an RNLI volunteer for decades, through good times and bad
After tragedy struck Union Hall when a local trawler hit a rock in the harbour, Pamela Deasy determinedly campaigned for a local RNLI lifeboat station - which has now been operational for 10 years. Her determination has also been key in helping to organise local fundraising events, including the popular
160. It Takes a Village: Shona Thomson
The creator of Launch! - a film about Scotland’s RNLI lifeboat crews - on why sound was key to portraying what lifeboat stations mean to local communities
Film-maker Shona Thomson knows that it takes a whole community to launch a lifeboat. To underline the deep connection that locals have with their lifeboat station, Shona wanted an immersive score that would do justice to the archive footage she was unearthing for her film: Launch! On The Sea With Scotland’s Lifeboats.
Acclaimed musicians - Jas
159. Anchored in the Sea: Alice Higgins
When Alice Higgins isn’t saving lives she’s saving lives. Meet the Lead Lifeguard Supervisor who’s also on the crew at RNLI Weymouth
When she’s not working as Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Weymouth and Dorset, or volunteering as a crew member for Weymouth Lifeboat Station, Alice Higgins can be found in the sea. Whether it’s a daily dip during the winter months, or bodyboarding in the summer, the water is her happy place.
Alice talks about her lifelong connection to the sea, including how in chil
158. Our Last Goodbyes: Vicky Murphy
After Vicky Murphy and husband Marc were cut off by the tide at Chapel Porth Beach, St Agnes, they thought their time – and that of their unborn baby – was up
In 2009, a 34-weeks pregnant Vicky Murphy and her husband Marc were taking a stroll around the headland at Chapel Porth Beach in Cornwall. In no time, the incoming tide had cut them off. Soon, waves were crashing over their heads, and the only thing stopping Vicky from being dragged out to sea was the fact that Marc had hooked one of his a
157. Dizzy Heights: Polly Neate CBE
Clinging to the side of a cliff with a broken ankle and worrying she might faint, climber Polly couldn’t do anything but wait
Polly had gone climbing at Anvil Point in Dorset with her husband. Both were experienced climbers and things were all good until Polly had an accident and fractured her ankle. In pain and with no phone signal, she recalls how her husband had to go and get help while she was dangling off the cliff, trying not to move and injure herself further.
Polly, who’s the Chief Execu
156. Giving Back: Natasha Banks
Naval Architect Natasha Banks once thought engineering wasn’t for her. Now she’s inspiring the next generation
Having always enjoyed STEM subjects at school, Natasha went on to study Marine Technology at Newcastle University. Despite at one time wondering if engineering was for her, she found her niche at the RNLI. Now a Naval Architect, Natasha talks about what she enjoys about the role, the pivotal part her mentor played in setting her on her path, and about the prospect of becoming a mentor
155. Remembering the 13: Vic Sutherland
When all but one of the Fraserburgh lifeboat crew were lost in 1970, thousands attended the funeral. Vic Sutherland on the tragedy that sadly wasn’t the lifeboat station’s first
Outside Scotland’s first RNLI lifeboat station stands a statue of a lifeboat crew member watching over Fraserburgh harbour. The memorial – donations for which came from as far afield as Canada and Australia – stands as a tribute to the 13 lifesavers lost in three separate tragedies.
In 1919, two volunteers were swept ov
154. Daring to Dream: Geoff Holt
Disabled yachtsman and adventurer, Geoff Holt MBE, on achieving his seafaring dreams and inspiring disabled people to get out on the water
When Geoff was 18, he landed a dream job as First Mate on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean. On the first day there, he dived into the sea and broke his neck, suffering a devastating injury which meant he’s been in a wheelchair ever since.
Geoff talks about his personal journey, including marrying the nurse who helped care for him in hospital, and how – think
153. RNLI 200 Voices Interviews: Louise Minchin
Familiar to millions as the former face of BBC Breakfast, hear how RNLI supporter Louise Minchin surprised herself with a midlife love of – and talent for – outdoor swimming
It’s part of Louise’s family lore that she could swim before she could walk. Her passion for swimming shone during her childhood when she swam competitively until she was 15.
Louise talks about why she decided to stop racing as a teen, and how her passion for swimming challenges resurfaced with a vengeance in her mid-40s.
152. The Sound of Rescue: James Gaskin
Trapped under a sail after being thrown overboard in pitch darkness, James Gaskin thought it was the end. He transports us miles out to sea on a stormy night off The Lizard
Nearing the end of a solo sailing trip from Brittany to Ireland, James was enveloped by a foreboding darkness in the middle of a shipping lane. Caught in squalls, he battened down the hatches, but was thrown overboard. Utterly exhausted, and dreading that a giant tanker might run over him, he thought his time was up.
200 Voic
151. Dunkirk Stowaway: Stanley E Holtom
When school friends Stanley and Peter boarded a cabin cruiser in 1940, little did they know they’d play a part in the Dunkirk evacuation
It was the Second World War rescue mission that Winston Churchill called a ‘miracle of deliverance’. The port of Dunkirk was destroyed – its beaches the only escape route for nearly 340,000 retreating allied troops.
Shallow waters meant that big ships couldn’t get close enough for a mass evacuation. Only the smallest of vessels could reach the shattered soldie
150. Radio Drama: David O’Driscoll
David, a Watch Officer with the Irish Coast Guard, knows exactly how it feels to listen to the radio for news of a loved one who’s out at sea. As a boy, he was the one listening
When David O’Driscoll was a child, he and his family would gather round his grandmother’s kitchen table to listen to radio exchanges between the Coast Guard and his father, who – as an RNLI coxswain – was out on another rescue. Looking back, he is reminded of a line from the Phil Coulter song Home from the Sea: ‘They gat
149. The Prince and the Lifesaver: Mark Criddle OBE
The RNLI’s most decorated serving coxswain on launching to a Greek Prince, and meeting a real one
On the night of 13 January 2008, the crew of the Greek-registered cargo ship Ice Prince was in serious trouble 31 miles off Portland Bill. Arriving on scene in atrocious conditions, the crew of the Torbay lifeboat found the Ice Prince taking on water and listing badly – she was destined to sink beneath the waves. Torbay Coxswain Mark Criddle reflects on the rescue that would earn him an RNLI Silver
148. Lifesaving Legacy: Jamie Robson White
In the case of Jamie Robson White – descendant of famous lifesavers – the apple didn’t fall far from the tree
With a heritage like Jamie Robson White’s, it’s no wonder he’s passionate about saving lives at sea – lifesaving is tightly woven into his family history. In this episode, Jamie – full-time Second Coxswain at Humber Lifeboat Station and volunteer at Whitby Lifeboat Station – shares memories of his grandmother first showing him the family tree.
Jamie is a distant relative of Grace Darling
147. Neigh Problem: Jonathan Connor
A horse is trapped in an oyster bed. The tide is coming in. Kinsale Helm Jonathan Connor on galloping to the rescue
When the pager goes off, RNLI crew never know what to expect. But a horse trapped in an oyster bed? That was a first. Kinsale crew member Jonathan Connor recalls the crisp February morning when the RNLI were called to the rescue of Paddy the horse, whose owner couldn’t swim.
An unusual call out, but Jonathan isn’t new to drama. When he was 17, and a trainee at Kinsale, he was in t
146. River Rescue: Michael Swan
Meet the man helping to cut the number of river drownings in Galway
The River Corrib in Galway is fast-flowing and dangerous. In the past, because of a lack of communication and co-ordination between local agencies, when a person entered the river, the RNLI couldn’t get there in time. Galway RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Michael Swan was determined to change that.
He talks about working with other local emergency services and agencies to put an effective, co-ordinated search and rescue plan i
145. Calm Hands on Deck: Aroop Mozumder
The RNLI’s Medical Director on the unique challenges crew face, from performing casualty care on the deck of a lifeboat to coping with traumatic shouts
Aroop Mozumder is the RNLI’s first Medical Director – and he’s a busy man. Having previously put his medical skills to use in war zones and humanitarian disaster zones, Aroop talks about how his experiences as a military doctor have prepared him well for life in the RNLI.
Acknowledging the difficult conditions in which RNLI crew treat injured a
144. Women in Engineering: Holly Phillips MBE
A to E – Principal Engineer Holly Phillips on designing the fastest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet
Holly Phillips has always loved boats, spending most of her life being in them, on them or under them. Having joined the RNLI Poole crew in 1992, and starting as Senior Naval Architect 10 years later, she shaped the evolution of lifeboat engineering during her impressive 21-year career at the RNLI.
In particular, she was instrumental in the design of the fast and manoeuvrable E class lifeboat, and was
143. A Fish in Water: Idi Ndiaye
The ripple effect – thanks to Poole’s 2022 RNLI Lifeguard of the Year, Sandbanks’ gain is also Senegal’s
Poole lifeguard Idi Ndiaye is so much at home in the water that his nickname is ‘The Waterman’. Idi, a former military firefighter, ambulance driver and rescue diver, is from Dakar in Senegal – a place where drowning is all too common.
While working as a lifeguard on the beaches there, he once saved three boys at once from a riptide – an act performed without any lifesaving equipment. It led
142. Joseph Conrad: Hearts of Kindness
In 1923, Joseph Conrad wrote the foreword for Britain’s Life-Boats: The Story of a Century of Heroic Service. Toby Harper shares the author’s thoughts
The author Joseph Conrad’s fascination with the sea began when he was just 13. Inspired by a book he’d read about the search for Sir John Franklin’s lost ships, Erebus and Terror, he spent 19 years in the merchant navy before turning to writing, often penning tales about the sea and those who sail on it. His travels gave rise to some of the storie
141. Doggy Paddle: Reverend William Docherty
When Shaddah the dog chased a ball into the sea, he was quickly swept out. His owner relives the anxious wait for a dog with no off-switch
Shaddah is a cross between a Labrador and a Springer Spaniel. And as anyone who knows Springers knows, they love the water. One March day at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland, Shaddah’s enthusiastic nature got him into trouble.
Determined to retrieve an elusive ball, the black dog was the same colour as the water he was swept out by. And his owner, Reverend Wil
140. A Way of Life: Dupre Strutt
Being part of a lifeboat crew is not a nine to five job – something that RNLI mechanic Dupre Strutt takes in his stride
For RNLI lifesavers, days – and nights – are unpredictable. Crew never know when the pager will go off, or what emergency they’ll be called to. For Dupre Strutt, mechanic at Kirkwall Lifeboat Station in Orkney, it’s a way of life. He grew up with the lifeboat – his father was previously the mechanic – and himself joined the crew at 17 years old. He’s been there ever since, for
139. Rooms with a View: Debbie Corke
Wake up overlooking the second largest natural harbour in the world – take a tour of the RNLI College
Don’t let the name fool you. The RNLI College is more than a college. Frequently voted one of the best places to stay in Poole, Dorset, the RNLI College includes 60 en suite bedrooms, all with sea views.
Debbie Corke, who sadly passed away in 2023, was the RNLI’s Volunteer Development Coordinator, and in this episode Debbie explains the visionary idea behind the College. Guests can even take a
138. International Rescue: Agustin Lanzavecchia
The RNLI’s Newquay lifeguard team includes lifesavers from eight nations. Agustin reveals why Cornwall’s gain is also Argentina’s
The lifeguards who patrol the Newquay beaches are an eclectic bunch, coming from places as far afield as Greece, Austria and Brazil. Agustin, who is from Argentina, talks about what drew him to join the multinational team at Mawgan Porth, and about some of the RNLI’s ideas and methods that he has shared with lifeguards back home in Argentina.
200 Voices is produced
137. HRH The Duke of Kent: Being President
HRH The Duke of Kent reflects on 55 years as President of the charity
Since becoming President of the RNLI in 1969, HRH The Duke of Kent has supported the organisation through some of the charity’s greatest milestones – including the opening of the RNLI College, the introduction of the lifeguard service, and the development of faster, safer lifeboats that have helped save more lives.
In this episode, The Duke speaks with Chief Executive of the RNLI, Mark Dowie, about being President, recalling t
136. Lawrie Grove: For the Sake of William, George and Billy
On New Year’s Day, 1916, Horton and Port Eynon lifeboat volunteers paid a heavy price after braving conditions some called the worst in living memory
When a steamer ran aground near Pennard Cliffs on the Glamorgan coast, Horton and Port Eynon volunteers launched their rowing lifeboat into the teeth of a gale. Unable to reach the steamer due to the conditions, the lifeboat – Janet – began to head back. But it was too late. The lifeboat capsized twice. And after she was righted for the second time
135. Dover Disaster: Tony Hawkins
When a cross-channel hovercraft with hundreds of passengers onboard crashed into the breakwater in Dover, the RNLI launched to the rescue
On the 30 March 1985, Dover RNLI Coxswain Tony Hawkins was in the bath when the maroons were fired. He leapt out of the bath to go to the aid of those aboard cross-channel hovercraft, the Princess Margaret, which had collided with the breakwater on entering the harbour.
Tony, now Boathouse Manager at Dover RNLI, recalls how the hovercraft had a hole ripped int
134. Ready Player, Save Every One: Nick Roberts
Less shoot 'em up, more round 'em up – why the RNLI’s new video game is a refreshing departure
In an era in which children and young people are more likely to tap away on small screens rather than gather around the TV, how can the RNLI achieve the 'Blue Peter effect' that once planted a seed of support?
To help the charity reach a new generation, the RNLI has been working with a video games developer to produce an exciting mobile and tablet app: Storm Force Rescue. Players will be able to become
133. Courage and Loss: Pat Abram
RNLI volunteer Pat Abram knows only too well the devastating power of the sea
Pat has a lifelong awareness of the dangers of the sea. His father drowned at sea before Pat was born, and on the 5 January 1983, while working as a police officer in Blackpool, Pat and three colleagues went to the rescue of a man struggling in the sea – a courageous act that ended in tragedy.
Four lives were lost, leaving the local community devastated, and every year those people are remembered in a memorial service
132. Unwavering Commitment: Alex Barthe
He had a life-changing accident while surfing – but Alex’s RNLI training helped save his life
Working as a RNLI lifeguard in Scarborough, Alex was passionate about saving lives at sea and loved the water. But, on the 28 March 2013, while surfing on holiday in Argentina, he hit his head on the sea floor and was left face down in the water, unable to move his arms or legs.
He puts his survival down to two main factors: the man who first came to help him in the water – and his own RNLI training. He
131. Boxing Day Dip: Daniel Wanna
The first Boxing Day Dip at Southend’s Jubilee Beach attracted 87 people. Last year, there were 400. Daniel Wanna from RNLI Southend-on-Sea explains what makes folks swap the sofa for the surf
For some, the perfect Boxing Day is about a dip in the sea, followed by a hot drink and a mince pie on the beach. Daniel Wanna – Lifeboat Helm at Southend-on-Sea – talks about what draws a growing number to take the plunge in the annual Boxing Day Dip at Jubilee Beach. The event attracts all ages. Some don
130. Christmas Vigil: Siobhan Murphy
The sea doesn’t take a day off – neither do the lifeguards at Crosby Beach. Siobhan Murphy explains why
Crosby Beach is unique, and in more ways than one. It’s the only beach patrolled by RNLI lifeguards 365 days a year. And on Christmas Day, Senior Lifeguard Siobhan Murphy will be one of them.
They’re kept busy by the tourists who come to see the 100 Antony Gormley sculptures – titled Another Place – that span the length of the beach. Siobhan explains the dangers that catch some visitors out. D
129. Good Tidings: Dermot Ryan
Christmas 2021: paraglider Dermot Ryan explains why his best present was from Newhaven RNLI
It’s Christmas Eve, and paraglider Dermot has the scary realisation that he is about to swap the sky for the sea. After landing at the foot of a cliff with fellow paraglider, Trevor, both are soon cut off by the incoming tide.
Soaked by the crashing waves, Dermot’s body temperature plummets. Newhaven RNLI volunteers are tantalisingly close, but due to the conditions, can’t get close enough. Should Dermot
128. One Plus Eight: Martin Stephen
Martin Stephen has three sons and five grandchildren. He reveals why none of them would be here without the RNLI
Martin Stephen and his two younger cousins, Angus and Davy, loved visiting Dunbar Harbour. When the wind blew strong, they’d pull on their welly boots and head down to watch the water crash onto the rocks. But on 23 December 1970, their windy-day ritual was never to be the same again.
With the wind blowing gale force 10, Davy got caught by a freak wave. Martin jumped in to try to save
127. Voice of the Sea: Tom MacSweeney
Ireland’s voice of the sea – Tom MacSweeney – on the crew member who made the ultimate sacrifice on Christmas Eve
It was a false alarm with tragic consequences. Tom MacSweeney – maritime journalist and former presenter of RTE’s radio show, Seascapes – tells the story of what happened when RNLI Kilmore Quay volunteers left their loved ones on Christmas Eve 1977 to respond to a call out in their lifeboat, Lady Murphy.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RN
126. Full Circle: Tom McGuire
It’s often said that the RNLI is a family. That’s certainly how former priest Tom McGuire feels – the Lough Ree Lifeboat Press Officer has even christened some of the crew
When his wife spotted an advert for Lifeboat Press Officer at Lough Ree RNLI, Tom didn’t hesitate to volunteer. Having previously worked in the area as a priest, he was welcomed into the role by crew he’d married, christened, or played football with.
With a career in broadcast journalism under his belt, Tom talks of his pas
125. Swim Safe: Ashley Jones
From the sea to Spaghetti Junction, Swim Safe’s Ashley Jones teaches children all over the UK to stay safe in and around open water
Most children learn to swim in an indoor pool, but swimming in open water is very different – and it's often when accidents happen. That’s why Swim England and the RNLI partnered to form the Swim Safe programme, which delivers fun and free water safety sessions to children at inland and coastal locations.
Heading up the campaign, Ashley Jones shares top tips to
124. Solomon Browne: Seth Lakeman
Folk singer Seth Lakeman on what inspired him to write the song Solomon Browne in tribute to the Penlee lifeboat crew lost at sea
Seth Lakeman grew up surrounded by remarkable stories – whether that be through his father’s career as a journalist, or spending weekends with his family immersed in music at local folk clubs. It was his passion for great stories – and tunes from the folk music community – that inspired his career as a singer-songwriter.
Hear Seth talk about how he came to write Solom
123. Cornish to the Core: Helen Glover
She’s admired for being a history-making Olympian, but Helen Glover’s own admiration goes to RNLI crews. The Cornish rower explains why
Having lived by the sea in Cornwall all her life, Olympic rower Helen Glover has loved the water for as long as she can remember. So it's no surprise that she's long admired the RNLI crews that put their lives on the line to save others. In particular, she singles out the volunteers from Penzance – where Helen grew up – who were tragically lost in the 1981 Penle
122. Young Lifesaver: Theo Pulman
When 12-year-old Theo Pulman spotted a friend struggling in the water, he remembered the RNLI’s float-to-live advice
It was the school summer holidays. Theo and his friends were enjoying a day at Burry Port Beach, when one of Theo’s friends got into difficulty in the sea. Dashing into the water to help the boy, Theo asked another friend to call 999.
Theo talks about the advice he gave the boy: stay calm and float like a starfish – lifesaving advice his grandfather, Deputy Launch Authority at
121. One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Allen Stevens
Meet the man who helped develop the first lifejacket to fit both male and female crew
Male. Female. Tall. Short. Light. Heavy. RNLI crew come in every size and shape – and it was RNLI Senior Engineer Allen Steven’s job to work on a lifejacket design to fit every crew member. The first person to acknowledge that one size doesn’t fit all, Allen explains how crew input influenced the lifejacket’s evolution – and the ultimate lifejacket design.
Allen also shares his pride in founding the RNLI Di
120. Linda Izquierdo-Ross on the Other Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness may hold a sense of mystery, but tour guide Linda Izquierdo-Ross is in no doubt about its dangers
Loch Ness most definitely is home to at least one monster, says RNLI Deputy Launch Authority Linda Izquierdo-Ross. But the one Linda has in mind is not the kind of monster we imagine.
The loch is very cold all year round. It provides less buoyancy than salt water, and, due to the peat particles, visibility is next to zero. All of which means, in Linda’s words, that ‘it keeps what it’s give
119. Walls of Water: Michael Scales
In December, 1981, the St Peter Port lifeboat crew braved 15m waves to go to the aid of stricken cargo ship, the Bonita. The late coxswain – Michael Scales – relives a momentous rescue
In the second of two episodes dedicated to one of the RNLI’s finest rescues, the late coxswain of the Sir William Arnold lifeboat – Michael Scales – recalls battling 3-storey swells to help save 29 lives. Arriving at the scene between Guernsey and Devon, the lifeboat was dwarfed by the 8,000-tonne cargo ship, Boni
118. Remembering the Bonita: Nils Fosstveit
Nils Fosstveit takes us back to the night he’ll never forget – and to what was, at the time, the biggest Channel rescue since the Second World War
13 December, 1981: in hurricane-force winds, cargo ship – the Bonita – was sinking off the Channel Islands. 27-year-old Nils Fosstveit was one of 36 crew on board. Not all would survive. Nils did, but in his own words, it was by ‘very small margins’.
At one point, losing hope, he and other crew members had thought about voluntarily sliding down the ba
117. Moonless Rescue: Robin Fitzgerald
A sailor’s boat was sinking on a pitch-black night. As RNLI volunteers searched the waters off Jersey, their only hope was a flicker of light in the distance
St Catherine’s Robin Fitzgerald was brushing his teeth when his pager went off. It was a starless, moonless night and with the sailor in the water, time was of the essence.
Duty Helm that night, Robin talks about launching to the rescue in total darkness, navigating the looming black shadow of the Ecrehous reef. The rescue was one that Robi
116. Home from Home: Nora Flanagan
Having lived in a former boathouse, Nora Flanagan was destined to join the RNLI. In Gaelic, we hear from Arranmore’s first female crew member
Speaking in Gaelic, Nora Flanagan describes the old boathouse she grew up in, with the Arranmore lifeboat anchored just outside the door. Though she trained as a nurse in Edinburgh and worked in London, Nora was an islander at heart and returned to Arranmore in 1982.
There she joined the all-male lifeboat crew and wasn’t sure what she could offer, until a
115. Darkest Day: David Forshaw
It remains the biggest loss of lifeboat crew in the RNLI’s history – David Forshaw on the 1886 Mexico disaster, and why it was a pivotal moment for the charity
On 10 December 1886, 27 lifeboatmen from Lytham St. Annes and Southport tragically lost their lives while attempting to rescue the crew from the German barque Mexico, which had run aground after getting caught in perilous conditions.
Those who died left behind 16 widows and 50 children without fathers. A public relief fund was launched to
114. Michele Jagger: Remembering My Daughter
Michele Jagger explains why having her daughter’s name on the Whitby lifeboat is so special
Three weeks before Michele’s daughter, Shannon, sadly passed away, they enjoyed some mother-daughter time in Whitby – one of Michele’s favourite places. As well as having a soft spot for the beautiful seaside town, Michele has always been in awe of the RNLI volunteers that risk their lives to save others. So, when the opportunity arose to add Shannon’s name to the Launch a Memory lifeboat in Whitby – whic
113. Twist of Fate: Robin Smith
When the RNLI lifeboat Mona capsized, all eight crew members were lost. Robin Smith should’ve been on it
In 1959, Robin Smith - who at the time was on the crew at Broughty Ferry RNLI - was due to go out on the Mona lifeboat. As he was getting the lifeboat ready for launch, the ex-coxswain arrived. But as it was the new coxswain’s first call out, it was tradition for the ex-coxswain to go with the crew. So Robin stepped back. And it was that tradition that saved his life.
Tragically, the Mona cap
112. Floating Like a Starfish: Tina Powsey
Tina Powsey on how she floated to live
It was a chilly July morning in Anglesey when Tina and her friend, Mags, headed down to the water for a swim. As they were having fun jumping through the waves, they suddenly realised that the ground had disappeared beneath their feet. They had drifted worryingly far from where they entered the sea. And the next thing they knew, they started drifting from each other.
It was only thanks to Tina remembering what she learned in her children’s swimming lessons
111. Beacon of Decency: Linda Martin
The RNLI’s busiest lifeboat station isn’t on the coast – it’s on the Thames. And when Linda Martin collapsed while on a boat trip, Tower lifesavers launched for the sixth time in one day
Linda Martin was with her daughter and grandson on a pleasure boat trip on the Thames when Linda felt faint and collapsed on the floor of the boat. She talks about her memories of that day, the calming presence of the RNLI crew who came to help – and the sense of security they gave her.
In a world where it can f
110. The Price of Charity: George Davidson
In his book, The Price of Charity, JP Gallagher calls the RNLI a unique organisation. In this 1970s recording a former Kirkcudbright coxswain explains why
What makes lifeboat volunteers leave their beds in the middle of the night to go to the aid of someone they don’t even know? Former Kirkcudbright RNLI Coxswain George Davidson gets to the root of the ethos shared by all those responsible for a lifeboat’s launch. And reminds us that this dedicated group extends way beyond the lifeboat station.
109. Baptism by Hurricane: Graham Drinkwater
Holyhead volunteer Graham Drinkwater MBE on helping to save 19 lives at 19-years-old
Graham Drinkwater’s first ever lifeboat rescue takes some beating. On 2 December 1966, at just 19-years-old, the Holyhead lifeboat volunteer went to the aid of the crew aboard the stricken Nafsiporos Greek cargo ship in a raging storm and 100mph winds.
Graham shares his memories of the rescue, being on the lifeboat alongside Harold ‘Hurricane’ Harvey – and bringing the survivors ashore in time for a Christmas pa
108. Defying the Odds: Natasha Lambert
The sailor who overcomes cerebral palsy to raise thousands for the RNLI
Determined. Courageous. Dedicated. All words that describe Natasha – a sailor from the Isle of Wight, born with athetoid cerebral palsy – whose sailing adventures have helped raise an incredible £28K for the RNLI.
Natasha’s condition means she needs help 24 hours a day, but sailing gives her a great sense of freedom. It’s something she can make decisions about independently – and we hear why it means so much to her. Learn ab
107. A Rare Breed: Dic Evans
RNLI Gold Medals don’t come along very often. Nor do men like Dic Evans, who earned two of them. Travel back to 1966 and angry Anglesey seas
In this archive recording, RNLI lifeboat volunteers recall the dramatic rescue of the crew who were on board the Greek cargo ship Nafsiporos during a violent storm on 2 December 1966. One of the lifesavers was the late Moelfre Coxswain Richard ‘Dic’ Evans, who received a Gold Medal for Gallantry for the rescue – the highest accolade awarded by the RNLI.
Als
106. A Beautiful Thing: Ronnie Delany
Ireland’s legendary Olympian says the RNLI really is about saving every one
In December 1956, Ronnie Delany won a gold medal in the 1500m race at the Olympics in Melbourne. Now 87, and a Vice President of the RNLI, Ronnie takes pride in how he competed for an all-Ireland country as an athlete, and in how, through his work with the RNLI, he’s supporting an all-Ireland charity.
He talks of how the RNLI is apolitical in Ireland, of extraordinary friendships he’s made, and says the charity’s commitm
105. A Scots Gaelic Story: Michael Ian Currie
Speaking in Scots Gaelic, a Mallaig RNLI crew member reminds us that not all who need saving are in the water. Welcome to Na Garbh Chriochan (The Rough Bounds)
The train line in these parts – on Scotland’s west coast – is known as the Harry Potter line, and is considered one of the most scenic in the world. It’s where film-makers shot the Hogwarts Express scenes. The area – opposite the Isle of Skye – is a remote wilderness with a daunting landscape. Hence the name it goes by: The Rough Bounds.
104. Where I Belong: Pip Hare
There are more men that have walked on the moon than there are women who have completed the world’s toughest solo sailing race. Pip Hare is one of those women
The Vendée Globe sailing race is as much about mental strength as physical strength. It requires participants to race around the world, non-stop and alone. And Pip Hare is just the eighth woman on Earth to have completed it. In this episode, the speed-sailing record-holder reveals what it takes to get through it.
Pip may have been alone ab
103. Trained and Trusted: Dagfinn Paust
Captain of the student rescue service at Atlantic College from 1971 to 1972, Dagfinn Paust recalls the teenagers who saved lives on a treacherous stretch of coast
The old RNLI lifeboat station at the innovative Atlantic College in South Wales was run by a student crew for 50 years. Dagfinn Paust, a student at the college from 1970 to 1972, shares his memories of college life, about which he’s co-written a book with fellow ex-students Phil Green and Anne Perkins, called ‘Trained and Trusted – wh
102. Facing Fear: Matias Wapinski
Putting lifeboat crew through their paces in thunder, lightning, and rain – it’s all in a day’s work for RNLI Sea Survival Centre trainer Matias Wapinski
From training as a rescue swimmer in Argentina, to being a dive instructor in Iceland and a lifeguard in the UK, Matias Wapinski’s credentials are impressive.
They’re skills he puts into practice to train volunteer RNLI crew from all over the UK and Ireland, in the Sea Survival Centre at the RNLI College. He talks about the determination and co
101. The Old Man and the Loch: John Maclennan MBE
How do you find a lone rower who’s in a small boat? In the Outer Hebrides? At night?
During John Maclennan’s 25 years as an RNLI crew member, Stornoway volunteers saved 122 lives. He has battled hurricanes, and knows how it feels to be on a boat when it falls the height of a house. But one rescue in particular has stayed with him.
An 80-year-old man was missing after he had gone out alone in a small boat on Loch Shell. The crew had searched all night, and their hopes were fading. Then John decid
100. A Christmas Story: Chris Jarvis
There's a reindeer in the kitchen – what are we going to do?! Settle down for The Big Christmas Rescue, read by Chris Jarvis
It's Christmas Eve, and Santa's in trouble. Before a reindeer and the RNLI can save the day, they're going to need the help of a very special child.
Make your child’s bedtime extra magical by ordering a personalised copy of this beautifully illustrated story book and transform them into the main character of an exciting lifeboat adventure.
When you order the book, you can
99. Shining Light: Grace Darling
In 1838, Grace Darling became the first woman to be awarded an RNLI medal. Descendant Ken Skehan shares her story
Ken Skehan is immensely proud of his internationally famous ancestor, Grace Darling. He shares stories of her life, from her hard existence living in a lighthouse, to her rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838.
Grace’s part in the rescue thrust her into the spotlight and even gained her the attention of Queen Victoria, but it wasn’t recognition Grace cared for.
98. Ben Shephard: Humble Heroes
Broadcaster and journalist Ben Shephard talks about what inspired him to write the book Humble Heroes: Inspirational stories of hope, heart and humanity
Fascinated by ordinary people who quietly take it upon themselves to make the world a better place, Ben Shephard has written a book to record their stories.
Among the humble heroes celebrated by Ben are RNLI crew from Port Isaac, where Ben spent much of his childhood. To Ben, the lifeboat station and volunteers are the heart and soul of the vill
97. Golden Boy: Richard Adams
Meet the man who has served the RNLI for 50 years – a quarter of its existence
Richard Adams joined the RNLI on the 29 May 1973. He left school on a Thursday, started at the RNLI the following Tuesday, and has been at the charity ever since!
He talks about the changes he’s seen, and about the things that have remained the same – such as the stapler he has kept on his desk since 1974.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by RNLI’s Eleanor Driscoll
Soundtrack com
96. Sir Ben Ainslie: Gold, Silver and Steel
The most successful sailor in Olympic history on the importance of never giving up
He might have won multiple Olympic medals, but British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie still gets caught out by the sea. Hear him talk about being rescued by the RNLI, and the necessity of having grit and determination to get through challenging conditions – traits he shares with lifeboat crew.
An RNLI ambassador, Sir Ben also reflects on his lifelong connection to the charity, from being rescued with his family as a
95. Gone Kayaking: Elaine Gray
Meet the Devon fundraiser who’s been sailing for nearly 100 years
Elaine Gray began sailing when she was just 3 years old. Her love of the water remains a constant, and even at 100, Elaine still paddles in her kayak around Salcombe Harbour. Generations have followed in her footsteps – her daughter is a keen sailor, and her grandson is part of the crew at Salcombe Lifeboat Station.
In 2022, Elaine had planned to do a kayaking challenge to raise funds for the RNLI, but was thwarted by bad weather
94. The 85ers: Paul Weston
Paul Weston, lifesaver and singer with RNLI Portishead’s sea shanty band, on singing for HM King Charles III
When Paul Weston joined the Portishead crew 15 years ago, he thought it would be a great way to get out on the water and meet some new people. But he never imagined that it would lead to representing the RNLI at the Coronation Concert.
During lockdown, six sea-going Portishead volunteers separately sang and recorded a sea shanty in hope of lifting their spirits. When they edited their p
93. Megan and Brogan Griffiths: Haydn’s Legacy
Losing a family member to drowning is shocking enough. But it’s even more shocking when the person is fit, prepared and confident around the water. Two sisters explain what happened to their younger brother
Haydn was no novice around the water. The 23-year-old was a sailor, a scuba diver and a paddleboarder, and knew about the tides. Which made things all the more unbelievable for sisters Megan and Brogan Griffiths when they received the news that their younger brother had drowned near Hoylake.
92. 140 too many: Guy Addington
Around 140 people drown in UK and Irish waters each year. Guy Addington MBE explains the RNLI’s efforts to reduce that number
Sadly, drowning isn’t something that only happens at sea – rivers and inland waterways claim lives too. Which is why the RNLI has five inland lifeboat stations and another four on the Thames. Regional Water Safety Lead – and RNLI Margate Helm – Guy Addington highlights the charity’s measures to reduce the number of fatalities, such as the throwline initiative.
Guy atte
91. Moving Pictures: Nigel Millard
The photographer who’s also a crew member – Nigel Millard on knowing when to put down his camera and pick up a rope
There’s a reason why Nigel Millard’s photos of lifeboat rescues capture just what it’s like to be a crew member – Nigel is one of them. The award-winning photographer has been capturing the selfless work of RNLI volunteers for over 25 years, but wearing two ‘helmets’ takes careful judgement. Hear why sometimes the camera has to stay in the bag.
Nigel’s dramatic shots and candid stu
90. Lifeboat Lady: Betty Broocks
The lady with RNLI blood in her veins – Rye fundraiser Betty Broocks on why she devoted 55 years to the charity
15 November marks the anniversary of the 1928 Rye Harbour lifeboat tragedy, in which the 17-strong crew of the Mary Stanford lifeboat drowned. A memorial service in honour of the crew takes place every year – the church packed with people, with more spilling outside.
200 Voices hears from Betty Broocks, 91, who lost family members in the tragedy. She was born just 3 years later, an
89. The Shape of Courage: Sam Holland
How do you design a memorial that symbolises 200 years of sacrifice? Sculptor Sam Holland shares the inspiration for her beacon of hope
There are numerous local memorials that pay tribute to those who have lost their lives at sea in the cause of saving others. But until 2009, there was no single memorial.
The brief for the RNLI Memorial sculpture in Poole stated that it should celebrate those both lost and saved, along with those who go to the rescue. Sam Holland - the sculptor behind the memori
88. Saved from the Deep at 11: Howard Goddard
40 years on from the helicopter crash in which he lost his family, Howard Goddard remembers the man who helped save six lives, including his own
In 1983, 11-year-old Howard Goddard lost his entire family when, in thick fog, the helicopter they were flying in crashed into the sea off the Scilly Isles. Howard reveals how he and five others survived the crash, how the St. Mary’s RNLI lifeboat crew found them, and what the RNLI means to him and his two sons.
Matt Lethbridge, the highly decorated cox
87. Connor Freeman: Losing My Best Friend
Connor Freeman remembers Tyler Westlake
When the sea started to get choppy while Tyler Westlake and his two friends were fishing, they decided to move to a better spot. But before they had the chance to, out of nowhere, a huge wave crashed on top of them. Tyler’s friends managed to stay on the rocks. But when they looked around, Tyler was gone.
RNLI crews did everything they could to find Tyler. But after a 2-day search, Tyler’s best friend, Connor Freeman, received the heartbreaking news that n
86. For Pop: Dennis Lendrem
In 1942, a quirk of fate helped Dennis Lendrem survive a torpedo attack that his two friends did not. 81 years on, his son reveals how he reunited Dennis, Jack and Jock
When, during the Second World War, the call of nature led Able Seaman Dennis Lendrem to the upper deck of HMS Medway, it turned out to be a moment of chance that would save his life. After two torpedoes hit, the order was given to abandon ship. Dennis jumped into the water, but survived. His two friends – ‘Jack’ and ‘Jock’ – did
85. Home from the Sea: Phil Coulter
Acclaimed musician Phil Coulter on the writing of an RNLI anthem
When his brother tragically drowned while windsurfing in Lough Swilly, Ireland, in 1984, musician Phil Coulter was determined to make a change. He was instrumental in the setting up of Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station. And through raising funds and spreading awareness of the devastating drowning tragedies that had happened at the lough – tragedies that also included his sister – the station opened 3 years later.
In 1989, Phil wrote hi
84. Longhope Legacy: Kevin Kirkpatrick
Kevin Kirkpatrick’s family have been volunteering at Longhope RNLI for 150 years. How does he feel about his daughter carrying on the tradition?
2024 won’t just be a big year for the RNLI – it’ll be a big year for Longhope Lifeboat Station too, as it reaches its 150th ‘birthday’. In all that time, a member of the Kirkpatrick family has been among the crew.
For former Longhope Coxswain Kevin Kirkpatrick, the RNLI has been a huge part of his life ever since he started volunteering in his early twe
83. Destination Whitby: Neil Williamson
Not all museums are musty and dusty. Since its renovation, Whitby Lifeboat Museum has been drawing a crowd. Its curator tells us why
In the first year after its renovation, Whitby Lifeboat Museum saw over 20,000 visitors. New audiences have been drawn by visual and interactive storytelling as well as painstakingly restored artefacts.
Museum Curator Neil Williamson reveals his three favourite exhibits, including a suitcase that belonged to Mary Roberts, a survivor of the Titanic. It wouldn’t be t
82. Cold and Alone: Sheena Thompson
When winds pushed paddleboarder Sheena Thompson further and further out to sea, she shouted to her husband, who was on shore. Worryingly, he couldn’t hear her cries for help
While at the beach near Wick in Scotland, Sheena Thompson took her new paddleboard into the water, with the intention of staying in for just a few minutes. But the wind was much stronger than she anticipated, and she quickly started drifting out to sea. With no lifejacket or mobile phone, and too far out for her husband to h
81. Then and Now: Michael Vlasto
In 200 years, the RNLI has seen many changes. We hear from the man who played a key role in transforming it into the organisation we know today
From launching the concept of prevention to pushing for cutting-edge technology, Michael Vlasto OBE made his mark on the RNLI during his 38-year career, which included 16 years as Operations Director.
In this episode, Michael reflects on how the organisation evolved under his watch – a period that would see the introduction of the charity’s lifeguard ser
80. An Artist’s Impression: Mark Taylor
Tynemouth artist and Coxswain Mark Taylor on his twin inspirations – his late father and the north-east coastline
For artist and Coxswain Mark Taylor, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He takes great inspiration from his late father, who was a successful artist and helped save lives at sea on Blyth lifeboat.
Not only did Mark grow up watching his father race down to the lifeboat station, he also enjoyed watching him paint. This ignited Mark’s love for the sea and north-east coastline –
79. Keeping Watch: Peter Dawes
Since RNLI lifeguards started patrolling in 2001, they’ve saved over 1,900 lives. Peter Dawes explains how he helped them do it
RNLI lifeguards patrol over 240 beaches around Britain, Ireland and the islands that surround us. But this wasn’t always the case.
The charity’s General Manager for Lifeguard Operations, Peter Dawes, reveals how the service came about, and explains how the RNLI has evolved from a position of importing expertise to exporting it. Many lifeguards work the fabled ‘endless s
78. On a Wing and a Prayer: Duncan Laisney
When his plane’s engine lost power, Duncan Laisney had to ditch into the sea
Former RAF Tornado pilot Duncan Laisney had never trained to ditch an aircraft. So, when an engine failure during a training flight meant he had to ditch into the sea near Jersey, he faced a scary realisation.
After Duncan – and co-pilot Paul – started their descent, everything happened incredibly quickly. In 2½ minutes they were in the water. A surge of waves enveloped the plane, and after they climbed into their lifer
77. Island Life: Janine Groves
Why working in the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre has given Janine Groves the confidence to tackle any job. Apart from catching spiders
When Janine Groves joined the RNLI at 19, she had no idea about what’s involved in building a boat. But she quickly learned the ropes, working her way up to Section Leader and now Production Support Manager on the Isle of Wight, where she leads the team who build, repair, and maintain our inshore fleet.
Hear Janine talk about how proud she feels to be part of an
76. Defying Expectations: Chris Lewis
The 72-year-old RNLI lifeguard who’s still going strong
Meet Chris Lewis MBE, the RNLI’s oldest lifeguard. When Chris tried to become an RNLI lifeguard, the rules of the day meant that he was too old. Undeterred, Chris passed the RNLI’s stringent fitness tests and has never looked back.
At 72, why does he still do it? And what advice would he give to other aspiring lifeguards who might like to do ‘the best job in the world'?
Chris has been keeping people safe on Bournemouth Beach for 58 years. F
75. A Lesson for Life: Professor Mike Tipton
Should you suddenly find yourself in very cold water, your survival could be determined within the first few seconds. Pioneering researcher Professor Mike Tipton MBE explains why
Since the Titanic sank in 1912, hypothermia has largely been considered the main danger facing those exposed to very cold water. But sea-survival expert Mike Tipton’s research has revealed that the prime threat is actually cold water shock.
Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breat
74. Lifesaving in Wartime: Pete Thomson
In 1914, the WW1 hospital ship Rohilla was wrecked off the Whitby coast. Pete Thomson MBE tells us about one of the biggest rescues in RNLI history
When a World War One hospital ship broke into three off the Yorkshire coast, the weather was so bad that lifeboats couldn’t launch directly into the sea. Not to be defeated, RNLI volunteers dragged one lifeboat a quarter of a mile, and lowered another down a 60m cliff.
Ex-coxswain and former Whitby Lifeboat Museum Curator Pete Thomson – whose father
73. Searching Blind: Ben James
How do you search for someone in the middle of the sea in the middle of the night? We asked Tenby lifeboat crew member, Ben James
Research has shown that when one of our senses is compromised, others become more heightened. Tenby crew member Ben James talks about the challenges of finding someone at night, and about how the kit that crews rely on includes eyes and ears adjusting to the inky blackness.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtr
72. New Lifeboat, Old Hand: Nicky King
Veteran lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic Nicky King on why Wells RNLI is set to save lives well into the future
At the last station to launch boats using horses, there’s a brand new lifeboat in town. And it’s in the care of Nicky King, who’s served at Wells-next-the-Sea for 34 years.
Nicky introduces us to the Shanonn class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh that bears thousands of loved ones’ names – part of the RNLI’s Launch a Memory initiative.
Life in Norfolk may move at a gentle pace (or so Nicky says),
71. Future Lifeguard: Finley Hassall
Meet the 11-year-old lifeguard-in-the-making who saved a boy from drowning
Proud RNLI member Finley loves the stack of Storm Force magazines in his bedroom. But it was on the beach in Cornwall that our water safety tips really leapt off the page.
Remembering the Float to Live message shared by Stormy Stan and his cartoon gang, Finley was able to spot the signs of someone in danger and calmly work out what to do.
In this episode, Finley tells us what it means to be part of the RNLI’s club for kid
70. Write Her Name With Pride: Tanni Grey-Thompson
Why Cardigan RNLI’s lifeboat was named after the Paralympian
Gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson can’t remember a time when she didn’t know about the lifeboats. So, when she prepared to race in the London Marathon, family connections and childhood memories made the RNLI the obvious choice for fundraising.
Before long, a letter would arrive with an unforgettable invitation. From the streets of London to the Ceredigion coast, Tanni explains why she feels in awe of the crews and proud of th
69. Nick McCaffrey: 60 Degrees North
Nick McCaffrey – aerial videographer for TV’s Wild Isles – on life at the RNLI’s most northerly lifeboat station
Sometimes, the wild weather around the Shetlands is a sight to see, and can make Aith Lifeboat Crew Member Nick McCaffrey feel like he is in the middle of Armageddon. Nick has experienced 100mph winds, and even on a calm, flat day, he warns, it’s easy to get caught out.
The weather isn’t the only spectacle though, and sightings of dolphins, basking sharks and even killer whales are no
68. Part of the Family: Doug Grant
RNLI crews have been saving lives for two hundred years. For more than half of that time, a member of the Grant family has been among them
In 2024, Doug Grant’s family will have served with the RNLI for a grand total of 125 years – a history decorated with award-winning rescues. Kessock volunteer Doug talks about a proud family tradition spanning four generations, starting with his grandfather, Jack.
If Jack were alive today, how would he react if he were to learn that his grandson Johnny is now
67. A Marriage of Inconvenience: Rose Skelton
Meet the former Tobermory volunteer called away from her own wedding
RNLI crew drop everything at a moment’s notice to answer the call for help – even on their wedding day. Former Tobermory volunteer Rose Skelton reflects on her big day.
Her wife’s family had travelled 4,000 miles for the occasion. RNLI crew members formed a guard of honour. And pipers escorted the newlyweds down the Mull streets. Then, just as she was getting ready for her wedding ceilidh, Rose’s pager went off…
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66. The Night Before Kitting Up: Ken Gollop
Former Lyme Regis lifesaver Ken Gollop on the pre-launch adrenaline felt by every crew member
Some things are just in the blood. Like many RNLI volunteers, Ken Gollop is one of a long line of lifesavers from the same family. His great-grandfather, grandfather and father were all members of the old pulling lifeboat in Lyme until 1932. So when Ken and his brother joined up, they were doing what came naturally.
Hear about his instinctive nightly ritual – a habit he couldn’t shake even after he left
65. Bill Dewsbury: A Family Affair
How does it feel to send your own daughter on a rescue mission? Bill Dewsbury should know – both his daughters are on the RNLI Flint crew
When the pager goes off at 3am, Flint Lifeboat Deputy Launch Authority Bill Dewsbury isn’t the only one who has to get out the door as fast as possible – both of his daughters do too. Bill talks about his family’s commitment to the RNLI, and of having to leave the dad/daughter relationship at home.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
In
64. Paddy McLaughlin: Stronger Together
The sports stars who save lives: Paddy McLaughlin, the man behind the RNLI’s partnership with Ireland’s GAA, on the impact it’s made
After a devastating drowning in County Cork, RNLI Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin devised a way to reach young people with vital water safety messages. Hear Paddy talk about the power of partnering with the Gaelic Athletics Association, life as crew and how community engagement is helping to inspire the next generation of lifesavers.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous
63. Grand Designs: Peter Eyre
The RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats are all named after rivers. Naval Architect Peter Eyre explains what’s so special about the Shannon
Peter Eyre talks about the challenges of designing a lifeboat capable of heading into extreme conditions – a lifeboat that can even self-right. Above all, he tells us, it’s about engineering the safety of the crew.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNL
62. Trapped Underwater: Frank Smith
A former Salcombe coxswain recalls the day his lifeboat capsized
A big sea. Huge, breaking waves. When former RNLI Coxswain Frank Smith and crew went to the rescue of divers in distress, sea conditions were dire. Frank relives the hair-raising, disorientating moment that the lifeboat turned upside down in the waves, and recounts the search for a man washed overboard…
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a cha
61. Lifesaving in Wartime: Mark Hudson
Three years after the Titanic, 1200 lives were lost when the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed. 200 Voices talks to the grandson of the last living survivor
On 7 May, 1915, en route from New York to Liverpool, the luxury passenger liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Cork. Lusitania sank within 18 minutes. Yet, against the odds, 3-month-old Audrey Lawson Johnston survived.
Audrey’s grandson, Mark Hudson, recounts what happened that day. When RNLI Courtmacsherry voluntee
60. Changing Tack: Dee Caffari
No stranger to mammoth challenges, globe-trotting sailor Dee Caffari reveals how the RNLI is planning to move to a more sustainable future
Not all of us live close to the sea. But we are all connected to it. Hear about the RNLI’s aims to lessen its environmental impact from professional sailor Dee Caffari, who is Chair of the RNLI’s Sustainability Special Interest Group.
As the RNLI looks to the next 200 years, Dee talks about the charity’s ambitious plans. What will future search and rescue s
59. Antique Roadshow: Harry Bott
There are 238 RNLI lifeboat stations, and Harry Bott set out to visit all of them on a 96-year-old Sunbeam motorcycle
Like all the best adventures, it started with a treasure map. This map just happened to be printed on a tea towel. The map – pinpointing all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations – led fundraiser Harry Bott to a granite barn in Cornwall. Inside, rested his great-grandfather’s 1926 Sunbeam Model 1 motorcycle – untouched for 67 years, and almost half as old as the RNLI itself.
Harry, with hel
58. RNLI Cornwall: Kurt Jackson
Artist Kurt Jackson on what moved him to celebrate the work of the RNLI
Ever since 8 members of the Penlee Lifeboat crew were lost at sea in 1981, the original Penlee RNLI boathouse has been left just as it was. Cornwall-based artist Kurt Jackson shares what it was like to step inside the listed building as he set out to portray the poignant scene inside.
His paintings formed part of the RNLI Cornwall exhibition, 75 pieces that capture lifeboats nestled into the coastline, as well as lifeguards
57. Saving Lives Overseas: Dave Whiddon
RNLI lifeboats venture up to 100 miles offshore. But some reach as far as Uruguay
Dave Whiddon has rowed the Atlantic, spending 60 days in a cramped boat to raise funds for the RNLI. But he's always looking for the next challenge. After 6 years in the Royal Marines, life landed him on Dorset shores as he helped to design the first training courses at the RNLI College.
Listen as Dave takes you through his fascinating career. His changing roles chart the development of the RNLI’s international wor
56. Float to Live: Eleanor Hooker
Poet and Lough Derg Lifeboat Helm Eleanor Hooker reads her 200th anniversary poem, and reveals the inspiration behind it
When Eleanor Hooker was invited to write a poem to mark the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, she knew a sugary tribute wasn’t her style. It couldn’t capture the tangle of raw emotions she’d witnessed first-hand on lifeboat rescues. Instead, she drew on her own experience of being saved.
Find a quiet moment to listen to this episode; let Eleanor’s evocative storytelling transport you
55. The Road to Zanzibar: Khadija Shariff
Khadija Shariff explains how the RNLI’s mission to save every one has helped save lives as far away as East Africa
Made up of two main islands – Unguya and Pemba – Zanzibar is a country where daily life and livelihoods are focused around the sea. Khadija Shariff explains why so many lives here are touched by drowning, whether in headline disasters like the sinking of the Spice Islander ferry, or by the private family tragedies that go unrecorded.
As Chair of the Panje Project, Khadija shares the
54. We Are Family: Steve Harris
‘The crew saved a life – and it was mine.’ A Newbiggin volunteer on the camaraderie to be found down at the lifeboat station
When Steve Harris first walked through the doors of the oldest operational lifeboat boathouse in the UK, it felt like coming home. Steve explains how the strong bonds between the crew have helped him through difficult times. And shares how it feels to be a custodian of a lifesaving legacy.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Au
53. The Finest 16 Hours: Galen Bartholomew
Five years before the Titanic, the biggest rescue in RNLI history resulted in 456 lives saved. A descendant of one survivor plunges us into towering seas
Galen Bartholomew sometimes worries his family will get bored of his research into their ancestors. But when he began to investigate a long-forgotten family story of shipwreck, he made a fascinating discovery.
Galen’s great-aunt and great-grandmother had been survivors of the Suevic, a White Star Line steamship wrecked off Lizard Point in 1907.
52. The Black Swimming Association: Danielle Obe
Why are black children three times more likely to drown than white children?
Discover how a personal realisation about protecting family sparked a movement to save countless lives. A drowning tragedy on Christmas Eve 2019 made Danielle Obe realise she had to educate her own family about the risks.
Black and Asian communities have largely been excluded from swimming sports – and even the basic survival skills to stay safe around water. Now the Black Swimming Association (BSA) is changing the narr
51. Motley Crew: Maria Barbashina
Artist Maria Barbashina on the different strokes it takes to run a lifeboat station. Despite diverse backgrounds, it’s all about the mission
When Maria Barbashina settled in Lyme Regis, painting portraits of the town’s RNLI volunteers was her first introduction to the lifeboat community. Maria talks about her creative approach, and the stories that reveal themselves when subjects sit for a portrait.
The resulting exhibition showed the whole supporting cast that stands behind each rescue. But it
50. William Ivory on The Great Escaper
The true story of the Second World War veteran who went absent without leave to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day
Bernard Jordan survived not only Dunkirk, but D-Day too. So when, aged 89, and living in a care home in Hove, he was told that he couldn’t attend the event marking the 70-year anniversary of D-Day in France, Bernard had other ideas.
The Great Escaper, a new film starring Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson, is the moving story of a Second World War veteran’s last hurrah. The
49. Never Alone: Barry Gourlay
The three ‘T’s: The Anstruther RNLI volunteer on why saving lives is about teamwork, training and trust
In the early hours of 1 August 2012, RNLI crew member Barry Gourlay’s pager went off, alerting him to two men whose boat was being battered against rocks in rough seas.
In this dramatic rescue, for which Barry was awarded a Bronze Medal for Gallantry, teamwork was vital. Hear how the crew worked together in wild weather and pitch darkness – and why mutual trust is key.
200 Voices is produc
48. Storms and Teacups: Mary McAleese
When the sea swells, Mary McAleese’s admiration for lifeboat volunteers swells with it. Ireland’s former president talks duvet days and bucket lists
If Mary McAleese could have her life over again, being part of the RNLI would be on her wish list. Discover why her visits to RNLI lifeboat stations are entrenched in her mind. And hear about Mary’s respect for the courageous crews who go up against the worst the weather can throw at them.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
47. Unswerving Loyalty: Thomas Cocking
For most of the RNLI’s existence, a member of the Cocking family has been in it – sometimes paying the ultimate sacrifice
The RNLI has been at the heart of the Cocking family for over 150 years. In 1939, tragedy stuck the family when former St Ives Coxswain Thomas Cocking’s great-grandfather perished at sea, along with the great-grandfather’s son and son-in-law. Despite this, the family’s commitment to the RNLI continued.
In this archive recording, Thomas talks about the strong RNLI family trad
46. The Outer Limits: Dr. Marion Broderick
The Aran Islands doctor on the challenges of saving lives in a remote place
Retired GP Dr Marion Broderick has been the RNLI’s Lifeboat Medical Officer on Inis Mór for 40 years. Marion opens up about the dangers of transferring patients from the islands to the mainland in atrocious conditions, and highlights the lifeboat crew’s pivotal role in helping to guarantee patients’ safety come what may, night and day.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous
45. Turning the Tide: Alice Dearing
Team GB’s first black female Olympian swimmer on the sport that can save your life
95% of black adults and 80% of black children in England don’t swim. The co-founder of The Black Swimming Association, Alice Dearing, is on a mission to change that. Hear why seeing people take their first few steps into water, often fighting deep-seated fears, sometimes moves her to tears.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI’s Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and perf
44. The Man Behind the Bucket: David Crowden
Meet the man who has been fundraising for the RNLI for 62 years. At 80, why does he still do it?
When a London Lifeboat Week fundraiser knocked on the door of the Crowden family home, David Crowden’s mother volunteered her 17-year-old son’s services before David could say a word. Hear why it was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to fundraising for the RNLI – and why he’ll never stop.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack compo
43. Groundbreaker: Ella Du Breuil
Chiswick volunteer and Antarctic explorer Ella Du Breuil on becoming the youngest female helm at just 18
Since she was knee-high to a bee, Ella Du Breuil was always interested in boats. From a young age, Ella was set on joining the RNLI, and by 18 had become the charity’s youngest female helm.
Her sense of adventure didn’t stop there however, and Ella went on to become the Boating Officer for the British Antarctic Survey. Hear her reflections on a groundbreaking – and icebreaking – career.
200
42. Action Stations: Duncan Barbour
Whether he’s co-ordinating Hollywood chase sequences or launching a lifeboat, Duncan Barbour is no stranger to action
Behind every dependable lifeboat crew there’s a dependable shore crew. A launch couldn’t happen without total teamwork, says North Berwick RNLI shore crew member, Duncan Barbour.
Hear how Duncan’s precision-driving work on films such as Braveheart, Goldeneye and Gladiator has put him in good stead when it comes to driving North Berwick’s launch vehicle. Whether he’s driving a
41. Born to Save: Salim Mohammad
The lifeguard saved by lifeguarding – a Bangladesh lifesaver reveals the impact of the RNLI’s work in Cox’s Bazar
With more than 120km of unbroken sands, Cox’s Bazar is home to the world’s longest beach. Water is everywhere in Bangladesh, and every day, 40 children drown there.
RNLI-trained lifeguard Salim Mohammad talks about what inspired him to help save lives in a country where children are frequently only steps away from danger. And he explains why lifeguarding has made a positive impact no
40. Sarah Patterson: Punching Through
Peterhead’s Sarah Patterson on being crowned Miss European and the reactions she gets when people discover she’s a lifeboat crew member
Sarah Patterson isn’t your average beauty queen. The youngest member of Peterhead’s lifeboat crew won the title of Miss European Global in 2022. Hear how the competition involved Sarah stepping out of her comfort zone and how she hopes her story will inspire other young women thinking about joining the RNLI to go for it.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous A
39. Rich Rewards: Olivia Davison
RNLI crew member Olivia Davison on mucking in, coming out and enjoying being part of one crew
When Olivia Davison moved to Brighton to train as a paramedic, her life changed in more ways than one. Olivia shares her personal journey of being in Brighton, where not only did she join the RNLI lifeboat crew but felt she could accept and embrace her sexuality.
Now a lifeboat crew member in Kessock, hear how Olivia’s pride in joining the RNLI grew hand in hand with her pride in her sexuality, helpi
38. Andrea Corrie: For James
After her son drowned, Andrea Corrie worked with the RNLI to help bereaved families. Her two books offer comfort to anyone living with loss
In July 2005, 19-year-old James Clark drowned after spending an evening in Kingston with friends. His mother Andrea shares her deeply moving story of how losing James prompted her tireless work to campaign for water safety and drowning prevention.
Finding solace in writing, hear how Andrea wrote two books about dealing with grief to support bereaved peop
37. Chatham Dockyard: Paul Severns
Each boat in the RNLI’s Historic Lifeboat Collection has a tale to tell. We meet the man who ensures their stories aren’t lost to time or tide
The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent holds the UK’s largest collection of historic lifeboats, which in decades past have saved hundreds of lives. With a lifelong interest in the RNLI, Paul Severns shares his passion for helping to protect and preserve the lifeboats, so that they can be enjoyed by the public for generations to come.
200 Voices is prod
36. 200 Voices Interviews: Ruth Jones
Gavin & Stacey’s Ruth Jones gives a shout-out to RNLI stations at Barry, Porthcawl and Lochinver
Welsh actress and writer Ruth Jones grew up with the sea on her doorstep. Raised in Porthcawl, where her family still live, Ruth shares her personal connection with the RNLI and its place at the heart of the coastal communities she knows and loves.
It’s a connection she feels deeply – members of her family are crew and when her father died, the RNLI lowered their flag to half-mast. Hear how R
35. Pay it Forward: Lise Vittrup
There’s more than one way to save a life – RNLI Shop manager Lise Vittrup on why she’s giving back
Lise Vittrup grew up with a healthy respect for the sea. Yet in 1995, when she was a student in Brighton, she was taken off guard by powerful waves. Swept out to sea and unable to swim to shore, she clung to the struts of Brighton pier, smashed by unrelenting waves.
Hear how Lise’s rescue unfolded – and how her gratitude to the crew led her to join the RNLI’s lifesaving family.
200 Voices is p
34. A Buddy Story: Jeff Everett
When Jeff Everett’s diving buddy signalled that something was wrong, their dive on a WW1 shipwreck quickly became an emergency
They were 29m underwater, diving the wreck of the St Dunstan, when Jeff Everett’s diving buddy Robin suddenly indicated that he had a problem and needed to ascend. To avoid the ‘bends’, which can be fatal, this must be done slowly.
Connected by a ‘buddy line’ to prevent either diver from getting lost, they started their ascent, but it was dangerously fast. Jeff recal
33. Forever Proud: Janet Madron
When Janet Madron attended the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, she wore something special – the medal awarded to her husband Stephen, who was lost in the 1981 Penlee tragedy
Stephen Madron would do anything for anyone. He even came to Janet’s rescue on the bus to the fair. Years later, she listened as the Coastguard called into the silence for the lost Solomon Browne and her crew.
Hear Janet’s deeply personal account of the Penlee lifeboat disaster – a story of one village’s lost sons
32. Maurice Hutchens: To the End
Hear how courage, selflessness and sheer determination helped Sennen Cove lifesavers rescue the crew of the Tungufoss
Having been born and bred in Sennen Cove, Maurice had always had a close affinity with the lifeboat community. After completing his National Service, he became a member of the Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat crew himself.
In this archive recording, Maurice - who sadly passed away in 2022 - recalls the time he helped rescue the crew of Icelandic ship Tungufoss, the reason he was awarded
31. Omar Javed: Seeing is Believing
‘I never dreamed someone like me would be on the crew’ – Tower volunteer Omar Javed on what being an RNLI crew member means to him
Aged just 16, Omar was out on the water with the Sea Scouts when their boat suddenly capsized. Despite the shock, Omar didn’t hesitate to help save the lives of two of his peers. Afterwards, Skegness RNLI Coxswain Paul Martin visited Omar in hospital. He told him that when he was old enough, there was a place on their lifeboat crew waiting for him. It was just the st
30. Blazing a Trail: Di Bush
As the charity’s first female coxswain, Di Bush made RNLI history. She’s also made a vow to encourage more women to follow in her footsteps
Having spent much of her time at sea, Di Bush knows that every day on the water is different. It’s an environment that changes all the time. But change isn’t something that fazes Di, having herself made an incredible change in the RNLI’s history by becoming our charity’s first full-time female coxswain.
As coxswain, Di leads her crew at Harwich Lifeboat Stat
29. Road to Recovery: Annie Jagoe
After Portrush lifeguard Annie Jagoe helped rescue a man with spinal injuries, he was told he would never walk again. But 1 year on, the story took a twist
When Portrush lifeguard Annie Jagoe heard the words: ‘Unconscious body in the water’ over her VHF radio, she scanned Benone Beach. Hearing that the casualty couldn’t move, Annie grabbed her spinal board.
Matthew, the surfer that Annie and her fellow lifeguards aided that day, was told that he’d never walk again. Yet, on the anniversary of th
28. Dr. Joanna Bellis: The Tankard with a Tale
RNLI Heritage Officer Dr Joanna Bellis on fundraising chickens, and her favourite object in the RNLI Museum collection
When you have 200 years’ worth of stories scattered around an organisation as far-flung as the RNLI, sometimes some detective work is in order. RNLI Heritage Officer Joanna Bellis reveals how the tales behind some her favourite artefacts in the RNLI’s collection came to light.
Hear why donors couldn’t say no to a fundraising chicken. And learn why a certain silver tankard proved
27. Always In Concert: Mark Pusey
When he’s not on stage with Ed Sheeran, he’s on duty at Chiswick RNLI. Mark Pusey on the unlikely similarities between both
When Mark Pusey discovered there were RNLI lifeboats on the River Thames, suddenly a lifelong dream of volunteering on the crew could become a reality – without leaving London. Session drummer Mark takes a break from Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics tour to talk about the realities of lifesaving on a powerful tidal river. From the buzz of Boat Race day to the camaraderie of crewmat
26. The Last of the Pirates: Nick Richards
The day the RNLI rescued pirates – former Radio Caroline DJ Nick Richards reflects on the event that inspired a lifelong affinity with the charity
The Mi Amigo was a rusting hulk. She had a seized engine, no ship’s wheel, and somebody had even made off with the compass. Yet, in the 1960s, this was a boat with legions of fans, including the DJs who called the Mi Amigo home.
Nick Richards takes us back to the days of Radio Caroline, the pirate radio station that broadened musical horizons from a s
25. A WW1 Rescue: Fraserburgh Sea Cadets
In 1915, seas carried extra danger. After a steamer is sunk by a submarine, RNLI lifeboat Lady Rothes is launched. Fraserburgh Sea Cadets pick up the story
The champagne had barely dried on Fraserburgh’s newly named lifeboat, when her crew were called into the fray of a First World War rescue. The Lady Rothes had just been donated to the town by the Countess of Rothes’ father, grateful that his daughter had survived the 1912 Titanic disaster.
On 8 August 1915, the lifeboat’s volunteer crew laun
24. Weathering the Storm: Dr Sam Jones
Wild weather and forbidding seas aren’t the only challenges the RNLI has faced – Dr Sam Jones reveals how the charity we know today came about
As with so many good beginnings, it all started in a pub. On 4 March, 1824, Sir William Hillary met Thomas Wilson in Bishopsgate’s London Tavern to establish the National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck. But after an auspicious start, the charity we know today as the RNLI hit choppier waters.
RNLI Tobermory’s Dr Sam J
23. The Sound that Stops the World: Paul Fisher
The RNLI’s Senior Operations Manager explains how a lifeboat crew comes together
How were lifeboat crews alerted in the days before pagers? What if a crew member’s pager goes off during Christmas dinner? Or a wedding? And why is a shout called a shout? The RNLI’s Paul Fisher reveals the surprising ways in which volunteer crews have been called into action to save those they’ve never met. The methods may have changed, but the lifesavers' commitment and selflessness remain.
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22. Flying High: Leesa Espley
She flies a hovercraft for the RNLI. And flies the flag for female volunteers. Meet Leesa Espley
In 2007, RNLI Hunstanton’s Leesa Espley became the first woman to gain a pilot’s licence to fly an RNLI hovercraft. But she had to do it the hard way – needing laser eye-surgery before she could take flight. Hear how times have changed for RNLI crews, and about what it’s like to pilot something with no brakes.
Learn more about the hovercraft.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
21. Sophie Dixon on the People’s Darling
Visual artist Sophie Dixon on a Northumberland heroine and the film she inspired
On 7 September, 1838, a lighthouse-keeper’s daughter – Grace Darling – spotted shipwrecked survivors clinging to the rocks of the Farne Islands, Northumberland. After Grace and her father defied a raging storm to rescue them in an open rowing boat, Grace became a national – and international – celebrity, and was awarded the RNLI’s Silver Medal for Gallantry.
Visual artist Sophie Dixon talks to 200 Voices about how s
20. Surviving the Surf: Sophie Grant-Crookston
After saving a surfer at Perranporth, Sophie became the first female RNLI lifeguard to be awarded a medal. She wishes her Dad had lived to see it
Growing up in Cornwall, keeping vigil over those in the sea was a way of life for Sophie Grant-Crookston. When a relentless swell trapped a surfer in one of Perranporth’s notoriously dangerous Bat Caves, her years of training paid off. Sophie and her fellow lifeguards had to time their rescue perfectly to get everyone out alive.
Listen to her memories
19. 200 Voices Interviews: Griff Rhys Jones
Actor and sailor Griff Rhys Jones on why he feels safer on stage than on water. The sea doesn’t stick to a script, he warns
Griff Rhys Jones is no stranger to water. Hear why to this day he still gets a nagging feeling about the sea – a place he regards at times as a place of frenzy. His appreciation for the RNLI goes all the way back to his early trips to West Mersea, where his father once tied a man upside down to a ladder – Griff explains why it was a kinder act than it sounds! And says tha
18. Rescuing Minnie Mouse: Ronnie Copeland
Stories from the veteran Largs lifeboatman who was instrumental in saving 296 lives
The 49er – wearing different hats, Ronnie Copeland served Largs RNLI for almost half a century. He still can’t walk away, visiting local primary schools to teach water safety. Discover how the RNLI has come on leaps and bounds. And hear about an unusual rescue.
From Minnie Mouse to Spider-Man and Winnie the Pooh, watch this video see some of our most unusual rescues.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio fo
17. The Power of Padstow: Mary Taylor
Legendary RNLI fundraiser Mary Taylor on the pull of the lifeboat station
The smell of the boathouse; the roar of the engine – for the late Mary Taylor, otherwise known as Lifeboat Mary, Padstow Lifeboat Station had a very special appeal. For one thing, her family’s RNLI connections reach all the way back to 1883. To Mary, the lifeboat was more than a boat – it was a friend.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a
16. The Lyrical Lifesaver: Kate Craven
Who doesn’t love a singalong? Meet the RNLI Water Safety Officer whose talks enthral adults as much as kids
Surprisingly, around 50% of those who get into trouble in the water never intend to get wet in the first place. So education is key. Hunstanton RNLI’s Lifeboat Visits Officer Kate Craven reveals how the Hunstanton volunteers draw in a crowd, why you can’t beat a catchy song, and why, after the children have left the station, some lifesavers are left with a tear in their eye.
Watch the Seas
15. Lifesaving in Wartime: John Ray
We shall save them on the beaches: RNLI Archivist John Ray on the Ramsgate crew who braved bombs and bullets at Dunkirk
The sea is daunting enough. But perhaps never more so than in May, 1940, when two RNLI lifeboat crews launched into the Second World War. Joining an armada of 700 ‘little ships’, the volunteers embarked on Operation Dynamo. Evading enemy submarines, bursting shells and raging fires, the two crews ferried 3,400 troops to safety. When people talk of Dunkirk spirit, they are talk
14. Ann Cleeves: A True Story
Best-selling author Ann Cleeves on the real-life drama that earned the RNLI a place close to her heart
It’s no coincidence that Ilfracombe RNLI makes an appearance in Ann Cleeves’s latest book, The Raging Storm (published in August 2023). Learn why Ann will always be grateful to the RNLI. And hear about the book, set in a remote fishing village in a part of Devon where both the lead character – Matthew Venn – and Ann herself grew up.
To find out more about The Raging Storm visit anncleeves.com
13. The Calm Before the Force 10: Kieran Cotter
It was the race that changed yacht racing. RNLI Baltimore’s Kieran Cotter on the Fastnet tragedy of 1979
Former Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Kieran Cotter joined the RNLI when he was just 19, and would go on to receive an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry. In August 1979, Kieran and his fellow crew members were called to aid sailors competing in the Fastnet Race, in which 5 yachts sank and 15 lives were lost. The shout to the yacht Regardless was just the start of what would be a 22-hour mission.
For
12. Pulled Across the Pond: JoJo Mains
The RNLI is what happens to you when you’re making other plans – an ex-US-Coast-Guarder reveals why he dropped anchor in the UK
After 24 years with the United States Coast Guard, JoJo Mains gave up chasing drug-smugglers and chased a new adventure instead – joining the RNLI. Castles, he expected. Self-righting boats and volunteers, he didn’t. Find out why the RNLI holds a little magical place in his life.
Another RNLI staff member has crossed the Atlantic – but in the opposite direction, and un
11. Acting on a Dream: Timothy Spall
After being given days to live, Timothy Spall vowed that if he ever recovered he would get a boat – he did both. Hear about his close encounters
Actor Timothy Spall isn’t short of maritime material. He once almost tethered his boat to a WW2 wreck housing 1,400 tonnes of high explosives. And once navigated what Admiral Nelson regarded as the most dangerous stretch of water he’d ever encountered. Whatever the sea throws at them, Tim and his wife – Shane – have a tried-and-tested way of keeping the
10. Pulling Together: Father Tom Dalton
Irish priest – and Courtown crew member – Father Tom Dalton on his role when rescue turns to recovery
RNLI lifesavers are an eclectic bunch with a common goal – saving lives. But how do they feel when a life can’t be saved? Wexford priest and Courtown volunteer Father Tom shares his perspective on the importance of listening and closure. And says there’s always a place for what he calls ‘the medicine for all things’.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventur
9. Niamh Fitzpatrick Remembers One of Our Own
After losing her sister Dara at sea, Niamh Fitzpatrick reveals what the RNLI means to her
On 14 March, 2017, Irish Coast Guard helicopter 116 crashed into the sea off County Mayo, resulting in the loss of four crew members. One of those lost was Niamh Fitzpatrick’s sister, Dara. The RNLI recovered Dara’s body. Niamh explains how the RNLI helped her through the loss of her sister, and why the family’s bond with Achill Island RNLI, in particular, is so close. Niamh later drew on her experience to
8. Digging for Gold: Chris Beardshaw
Chris Beardshaw on the inspiration behind his medal-winning RNLI Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
To help him create the RNLI’s Chelsea Flower Show Garden, Chris Beardshaw visited Portishead RNLI as well as the charity’s all-weather lifeboat centre. Hear him talk about what inspired him, and get an insight into why he thinks the charity provides ‘the gold standard of rescue services’.
Chris Beardshaw's garden design was the perfect tribute to our Georgian roots, while reflecting the forwar
7. Porthcawl Pioneer: Aileen Jones
Volunteer Helm Aileen Jones recalls the day she and her crew saved two lives, which resulted in an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry
RNLI Porthcawl’s first female Helm – Aileen Jones – takes us back to 24 August 2004, and the day she helped to save two lives. The rescue resulted in Aileen becoming the charity’s first female crew member to be awarded an RNLI Gallantry Medal. What advice would she give to aspiring lifesavers?
200 Voices is home to a range of inspiring stories from women who have l
6. Moment of Dread: Milena Smith
There’s only one thing worse than seeing your children in trouble in the water – not seeing them. A mum recalls the day her daughters were swept out at Barmouth
We all hope we’ll never have to make a 999 call. But in August 2022, Milena – mother of 10-year-old Elsie and 12-year-old Mabel – had to do just that. Playing in the surf one minute, the girls were suddenly swept out to sea. As the two sisters drifted apart, Elsie instructed Mabel to float like a starfish. Milena explains what happened n
5. Jim Moir – AKA Vic Reeves – on His Favourite Sketches
Jim Moir, otherwise known as Vic Reeves, on the perils of the sea. And charcoal
Best known for his comedy, Jim Moir’s twin passions are actually art and birds, which led to the Sky Arts show Painting Birds with Jim and Nancy Moir. His latest exhibition – ‘Comestibles Sir?’ – runs until 26 August at the Cornwall Contemporary Gallery. He talks to 200 Voices about getting his hands – and face – dirty for the RNLI.
Find out more about Jim's latest exhibition at jimmoir.com or visit cornwallcontemp
4. Saving Lives at Sea: Corinna Gallop
Behind the scenes of Saving Lives at Sea: what is it about the RNLI series that keeps us watching?
At once heart-warming and heartbreaking, the BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea has had us hooked for eight series. Senior Producer Corinna Gallop shares why she thinks we keep watching and explains how the programme has changed her. Hear why it’s the series she’s most proud of.
Series 8 of Saving Lives at Sea is available here and on BBC iPlayer.
Several RNLI folk have been involved in bringing our stori
3. Daddy’s Gone - Hannah Williamson
Hannah Williamson describes the stomach-churning moment when she realised husband Ben had been taken by a rip
Beautiful August sunshine, a BBQ, and a bit of bodyboarding – the recipe for a perfect day at the beach. But when Hannah Williamson suddenly loses sight of husband Ben while he’s out on his board at Perran Sands, panic sets in. With no phone signal to call the Coastguard, Hannah starts to think Ben won’t be coming back.
Know the risks and find out what to do if you're caught in a rip cu
2. Joanna Scanlan Talks to 200 Voices
Bafta-winning actor Joanna Scanlan on the cast-members she has the greatest admiration for
Actress and open-water swimmer Joanna Scanlan on pushing herself out of her depth, why she included an RNLI rescue in an episode of the TV comedy Puppy Love, and why one day she needed the RNLI for real.
Hear from another RNLI ambassador who's starred onscreen, Ruth Jones (Episode 36).
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI’s Ollie Wrynne-Simpson
Soundtrack compose
1. Launching an Institution: Edd Christian
In 1824, Sir William Hillary founded what is now the RNLI. Coxswain Edd Christian takes us back to where it all started
On 10 October, 1822, HMS Vigilant foundered on St Mary’s Rock in Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man. A bystander urged others to help him row out to rescue those in peril. That man was Sir William Hillary. And, as a result of this and further shipwrecks, he went on to form what we know today as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. One of Douglas RNLI’s current coxswains explain
200 Voices trailer
How do you describe what it’s like to encounter waves the size of buildings? How do you convey what that moment of rescue feels like? How do you tell the story of 200 years of lifesaving? With so many examples of courage, selflessness, heart-breaking loss and heartfelt relief in its long history, the RNLI has left it to those who know best.
In 200 Voices you’ll hear from people whose lives have been touched by the charity. Not just crew members and casualties, but fundraisers, lifeguards, shore