Shows
RNLI 200 Voices200. A Lasting Honour: Mark DowieOn 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 favourite 200 Voices episodes, guiding the RNLI...2024-03-0417 minRNLI 200 Voices198. Righting History: Helen DoeThe 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 book – One Crew: The RNLI’s Official 200-Year History – Helen charts the course of the charity...2024-03-0211 minRNLI 200 Voices195. Enduring Appeal: Hayley WhitingThe 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 the thousands of others that chart the RNLI’s evolving response to the ‘...2024-02-2815 minRNLI 200 Voices194. Steep Seas: Keith BowerFormer 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. Despite the recognition that followed the rescue, which included an invitation to Buckingham Palace, the thing that ...2024-02-2719 minRNLI 200 Voices192. Talking Pictures: Jack LoweIn 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 RNLI lifeboat stations. Eschewing contemporary methods, he uses a 170-year-old process known as wet collodion...2024-02-2516 minRNLI 200 Voices191. The Good of Humankind: Charles Hunter-PeaseThe 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 the inspiration and welcome he found in the RNLI fa...2024-02-2409 minRNLI 200 Voices190. Always on Call: Alison MurphyAt 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 of her most memorable conversations with the kind peop...2024-02-2310 minRNLI 200 Voices184. Out of Tragedy: Val NixonAfter 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 from where the disaster happened, Val recalls how generous supporters in t...2024-02-1713 minRNLI 200 Voices182. Anthony Sharp: In Honour of My BrotherThe 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 Lukin’s patented ‘unimmergible boats’ in 1786. This helped the local co...2024-02-1507 minRNLI 200 Voices180. Picture This: David ConstantThe 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 anniversary on the horizon, he faced a new kind of task.
Over...2024-02-1311 minRNLI 200 Voices178. Running Through Grief: Terri PeayAfter 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 part of an incre...2024-02-1109 minRNLI 200 Voices176. David Freeman on a Sole SurvivorIn 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 the sole survivor, thanks to something he was wearing that the other 1...2024-02-0909 minRNLI 200 Voices173. Ted Luckin on the Best of ThemCromer 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 invited to join the crew by coxswains...2024-02-0610 minRNLI 200 Voices171. Face to Face: John ConnollyRain 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 about surprising acts of...2024-02-0411 minRNLI 200 Voices169. World View: Kate EardleySomewhere 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 experience of meeting families who have lost children to drowning, and the remark...2024-02-0212 minRNLI 200 Voices167. The Princess Victoria: Jim BrownJim 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 would go on to hold a host of roles in the RNLI, including...2024-01-3110 minRNLI 200 Voices166. Veronica Vondy on her History-Shaping AncestorWhen 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 of t...2024-01-3012 minRNLI 200 Voices165. Great Scot: Anne ScottWhen 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 supported events in her patch of Scotland. She talks abou...2024-01-2913 minRNLI 200 Voices164. A New Wave: Lucy CrichardLucy 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 episode was recorded, Lucy was also named Runner-Up at the...2024-01-2806 minRNLI 200 Voices163. Reaching Out: Dr Aminur RahmanDr 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 on SwimSafe and the other ways that the CIPRB is preventing dro...2024-01-2711 minRNLI 200 Voices162. 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 AGM, to atte...2024-01-2609 minRNLI 200 Voices161. My Lifeline: Pamela DeasyPamela 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 Union Hall swim.
The same quality shines through in Pamela’s pe...2024-01-2514 minRNLI 200 Voices153. RNLI 200 Voices Interviews: Louise MinchinFamiliar 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. From the comfort of a pool to tackling a swim to Alc...2024-01-1712 minRNLI 200 Voices151. Dunkirk Stowaway: Stanley E HoltomWhen 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 soldiers. Responding to a request by Britain’s Ministry of Shipping, an armada of 700 little boats...2024-01-1514 minRNLI 200 Voices149. The Prince and the Lifesaver: Mark Criddle OBEThe 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 Medal for Gallantry.
Discover 11 remarkable rescue stories – including Mark’s – in our boo...2024-01-1314 minRNLI 200 Voices146. River Rescue: Michael SwanMeet 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 in place. With innovative technology, improved communication, and awareness and prevention schemes, the RN...2024-01-1013 minRNLI 200 Voices145. Calm Hands on Deck: Aroop MozumderThe 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 and distressed people, Aroop says that practicing ‘good medicine in bad places’...2024-01-0908 minRNLI 200 Voices144. Women in Engineering: Holly Phillips MBEA 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 at the helm of the team that saw the project through from conce...2024-01-0809 minRNLI 200 Voices143. A Fish in Water: Idi NdiayeThe 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 to a place on the RNLI’s Future Leaders course. In...2024-01-0711 minRNLI 200 Voices140. A Way of Life: Dupre StruttBeing 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 over 30 years.
Dupre talks about the appeal...2024-01-0410 minRNLI 200 Voices139. Rooms with a View: Debbie CorkeWake 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 tour of the Sea Survival Centre, where wave machin...2024-01-0310 minRNLI 200 Voices137. HRH The Duke of Kent: Being PresidentHRH 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 the events and stories that have stayed with His Royal Highness over the years, and...2024-01-0111 minRNLI 200 Voices135. Dover Disaster: Tony HawkinsWhen 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 into its side and that hundreds of passengers needed to be urgently rescued...2023-12-3009 minRNLI 200 Voices134. Ready Player, Save Every One: Nick RobertsLess 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 lifeguards and...2023-12-2907 minRNLI 200 Voices132. Unwavering Commitment: Alex BartheHe 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 knew that h...2023-12-2715 minRNLI 200 Voices129. Good Tidings: Dermot RyanChristmas 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 follow Trevor into the water, or take his chances against the sea’s...2023-12-2409 minRNLI 200 Voices126. Full Circle: Tom McGuireIt’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 passion for telling the stories of the RNLI...2023-12-2112 minRNLI 200 Voices124. Solomon Browne: Seth LakemanFolk 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 Solomon Browne – a special song dedicated to those sadly lost in th...2023-12-1909 minRNLI 200 Voices123. Cornish to the Core: Helen GloverShe’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 Penlee lifeboat disaster.
In this episode, hear Helen ex...2023-12-1806 minRNLI 200 Voices122. Young Lifesaver: Theo PulmanWhen 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 Burry Port, had passed on. His grandfather is just one of t...2023-12-1706 minRNLI 200 Voices121. One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Allen StevensMeet 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 Disability Network. After suffering life-threatening injuries in 1987 and living with a b...2023-12-1607 minRNLI 200 Voices119. Walls of Water: Michael ScalesIn 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, Bonita, listing on its side with its rudder and propeller exposed.
The RNLI’s youngest c...2023-12-1412 minRNLI 200 Voices115. Darkest Day: David ForshawIt 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 support them, raising £30,000 in a matter of weeks – which included donations from Queen Victoria and Kaiser W...2023-12-1014 minRNLI 200 Voices113. Twist of Fate: Robin SmithWhen 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 caps...2023-12-0807 minRNLI 200 Voices112. Floating Like a Starfish: Tina PowseyTina 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 that her and Mags are both he...2023-12-0714 minRNLI 200 Voices111. Beacon of Decency: Linda MartinThe 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 fee...2023-12-0611 minRNLI 200 Voices107. A Rare Breed: Dic EvansRNLI 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.
Also braving the hurricane conditions that day were the late Lieutena...2023-12-0210 minRNLI 200 Voices106. A Beautiful Thing: Ronnie DelanyIreland’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 commitment to saving lives at sea is ‘a beautifu...2023-12-0105 minRNLI 200 Voices102. Facing Fear: Matias WapinskiPutting 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 commitment of the crew he meets – and about how so...2023-11-2707 minRNLI 200 Voices100. A Christmas Story: Chris JarvisThere'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 specify the child’s name, gender...2023-11-2505 minRNLI 200 Voices97. Golden Boy: Richard AdamsMeet 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 composed and performed...2023-11-2206 minRNLI 200 Voices96. Sir Ben Ainslie: Gold, Silver and SteelThe 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 child, to the laying of the foundation stone at the RNLI Colleg...2023-11-2111 minRNLI 200 Voices95. Gone Kayaking: Elaine GrayMeet 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. After this recording, in September 2023, Elaine picked up her paddle...2023-11-2006 minRNLI 200 Voices92. 140 too many: Guy AddingtonAround 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 attended the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Hear him talk also about that movi...2023-11-1710 minRNLI 200 Voices89. The Shape of Courage: Sam HollandHow 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 memorial - reveals the idea behind her design.
2023-11-1407 minRNLI 200 Voices88. Saved from the Deep at 11: Howard Goddard40 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 coxswain of the lifeboat that day, sadly passed aw...2023-11-1310 minRNLI 200 Voices86. For Pop: Dennis LendremIn 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 not.
After Dennis died in 2003, his...2023-11-1108 minRNLI 200 Voices85. Home from the Sea: Phil CoulterAcclaimed 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 his song ‘Home from the Sea’ – which has become a much-loved RNLI anthem. In this episode, Phil shares his inspiratio...2023-11-1010 minRNLI 200 Voices84. Longhope Legacy: Kevin KirkpatrickKevin 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 twenties. Today, his daughter is keeping the traditio...2023-11-0912 minRNLI 200 Voices81. Then and Now: Michael VlastoIn 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 service, hovercrafts, and lifeboats on the Thames.
During this time, the RNLI...2023-11-0615 minRNLI 200 Voices79. Keeping Watch: Peter DawesSince 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 summer’, and it’s not unusual to find an RNLI-trained lifeguard keeping vigil on the other side of the...2023-11-0412 minRNLI 200 Voices76. Defying Expectations: Chris LewisThe 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. For his incredible lifesavi...2023-11-0111 minRNLI 200 Voices75. A Lesson for Life: Professor Mike TiptonShould 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 breathing and movement, so the risk is significant most of the year. The average UK and Ireland sea...2023-10-3111 minRNLI 200 Voices71. Future Lifeguard: Finley HassallMeet 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 kids, an...2023-10-2706 minRNLI 200 Voices70. Write Her Name With Pride: Tanni Grey-ThompsonWhy 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 the Atlantic 75 lifeboat that saved lives in her name. You’ll also discover...2023-10-2609 minRNLI 200 Voices68. Part of the Family: Doug GrantRNLI 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 also part of the RNLI family, as a coxs...2023-10-2411 minRNLI 200 Voices61. Lifesaving in Wartime: Mark HudsonThree 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 volunteers rowed for more than 3 hours to reach the area, it would be the start of the family’s long asso...2023-10-1712 minRNLI 200 Voices60. Changing Tack: Dee CaffariNo 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 services look like?
Read more about the RNLI...2023-10-1609 minRNLI 200 Voices59. Antique Roadshow: Harry BottThere 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 help from his father, set about restoring the Sunbeam before embarking on an 8,000-mile trip aro...2023-10-1508 minRNLI 200 Voices58. RNLI Cornwall: Kurt JacksonArtist 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 watching over local beaches so familiar to Kurt. Hear how...2023-10-1408 minRNLI 200 Voices57. Saving Lives Overseas: Dave WhiddonRNLI 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 work, which includes sending retired lifeboats overseas to help fellow re...2023-10-1312 minRNLI 200 Voices47. Unswerving Loyalty: Thomas CockingFor 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 tradition that has saved countless lives.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for...2023-10-0304 minRNLI 200 Voices41. Born to Save: Salim MohammadThe 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 not only on the locals and tourists of Cox’s Bazar, but also on...2023-09-2708 minRNLI 200 Voices39. Rich Rewards: Olivia DavisonRNLI 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, helping to develop her confidence and...2023-09-2507 minRNLI 200 Voices36. 200 Voices Interviews: Ruth JonesGavin & 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 Ruth showed her support for the RNLI by putting o...2023-09-2213 minRNLI 200 Voices33. Forever Proud: Janet MadronWhen 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, and the hope their loved ones rediscovered. Janet shar...2023-09-1916 minRNLI 200 Voices31. 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 start of Omar’s inspiratio...2023-09-1710 minRNLI 200 Voices30. Blazing a Trail: Di BushAs 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 Station through difficult rescues. Hea...2023-09-1606 minRNLI 200 Voices28. Dr. Joanna Bellis: The Tankard with a TaleRNLI 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 to be a bit of a Russian doll – inside it, lay the secret to a dra...2023-09-1409 minRNLI 200 Voices27. Always In Concert: Mark PuseyWhen 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 crewmates, hear how his professional and volunteer roles put each one into...2023-09-1316 minRNLI 200 Voices24. Weathering the Storm: Dr Sam JonesWild 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 Jones reveals the organisation’s evolution. And explains why, 200 years from...2023-09-1013 minRNLI 200 Voices23. The Sound that Stops the World: Paul FisherThe 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.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNL...2023-09-0909 minRNLI 200 Voices22. Flying High: Leesa EspleyShe 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
Interview by the RNLI's...2023-09-0804 minRNLI 200 Voices21. Sophie Dixon on the People’s DarlingVisual 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 she used a game engine and 3D modelling to give a 185-year-old story a modern telling. Her short film, Grace, explo...2023-09-0710 minRNLI 200 Voices20. Surviving the Surf: Sophie Grant-CrookstonAfter 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 of the 2006 rescue, the thoughts she experienced as...2023-09-0611 minRNLI 200 Voices19. 200 Voices Interviews: Griff Rhys JonesActor 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 th...2023-09-0512 minRNLI 200 Voices18. Rescuing Minnie Mouse: Ronnie CopelandStories 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 for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and pe...2023-09-0408 minRNLI 200 Voices17. The Power of Padstow: Mary TaylorLegendary 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 charity celebrating 200 years of saving l...2023-09-0302 minRNLI 200 Voices16. The Lyrical Lifesaver: Kate CravenWho 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 Seaside Safety Song video.
200...2023-09-0209 minRNLI 200 Voices15. Lifesaving in Wartime: John RayWe 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 talking about the kind of spirit showed by the lifeboat crews of Ramsgate and Margate.
Lea...2023-09-0107 minRNLI 200 Voices14. Ann Cleeves: A True StoryBest-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
200 Voices is produced by Adventurou...2023-08-3109 minRNLI 200 Voices13. The Calm Before the Force 10: Kieran CotterIt 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 200 years, RNLI volunteers have been ready to launch int...2023-08-3007 minRNLI 200 Voices12. Pulled Across the Pond: JoJo MainsThe 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 under rather different steam. Find out how with Dave Whiddon in Episode 57.
200 Voi...2023-08-2912 minRNLI 200 Voices9. Niamh Fitzpatrick Remembers One of Our OwnAfter 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 write the book: Tell Me the Truth About Loss: A Psyc...2023-08-2619 minRNLI 200 Voices8. Digging for Gold: Chris BeardshawChris 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 forward-thinking organisation we are today. Hear from another designer who faced a creative challenge – sculptor Sam Holland (E...2023-08-2514 minRNLI 200 Voices7. Porthcawl Pioneer: Aileen JonesVolunteer 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 led the way. You can hear about other medal-win...2023-08-2410 minRNLI 200 Voices5. Jim Moir – AKA Vic Reeves – on His Favourite SketchesJim 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 cornwallcontemporary.com
The RNLI has provided inspiration to painters for 200 years and counti...2023-08-2207 minRNLI 200 Voices4. Saving Lives at Sea: Corinna GallopBehind 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 stories to the airwaves...2023-08-2108 minRNLI 200 Voices2. Joanna Scanlan Talks to 200 VoicesBafta-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 composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a c...2023-08-1909 minRNLI 200 Voices1. Launching an Institution: Edd ChristianIn 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 explains why, two centuries on, Sir William woul...2023-08-1809 min