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Discover how the RNLI - the charity that saves lives at sea - has been saving and changing lives since 1824. You’ll hear the voices of brave lifesavers, grateful survivors, selfless volunteers, kind supporters, fascinating experts and more, all sharing their own special RNLI stories.
201 Episodes
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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 favourite 200 Voices episodes, guiding the RNLI through stormy times, and meeting thousands of 'fundamentally decent' lifesavers and volunteers.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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, such as using folk instruments to nod to the ordinary people who have - and still do - put to sea to help others.
Hear about the movie that played in the composer’s head from the outset. It’s no coincidence that listening to the soundtrack, one is reminded of the rise and fall of the waves. But the theme also traces the lifesavers’ journey, from launch to dry land - discover how Jon takes us on that journey with them.
Listen to the full version of the soundtrack or search Jon Nicholls on soundcloud.com
Learn more about Jon's work at jonnicholls.com
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 book – One Crew: The RNLI’s Official 200-Year History – Helen charts the course of the charity, from its humble beginnings to the modern organisation it is today. Over such a span, stormy seas are inevitable. The book explains how the RNLI navigated them, and endured. Along the way, we learn not just about the major milestones and headline-catching rescues, but of characters – some pivotal – and stories brought up from the depths.
Read more about One Crew and other books by the author at helendoe.uk
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 station’s Tyne – the ‘big orange boat’ she remembered arriving in the 1980s – and the new Tamar class that replaced it. In this episode, she describes one of her most memorable shouts aboard the Tamar, and the lifelong bond it created with two Guernsey sailors.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Operations Commendation. Mark shares what kept him calm facing the worst sea conditions he’d ever experienced – and how everyone played a vital part.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's James Dwyer
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 the thousands of others that chart the RNLI’s evolving response to the ‘preservation of life’.
On a tour that takes in barometers, medals, rockets and chocolate, Hayley talks us through the Appeal, and explains why Hillary would still recognise the modern RNLI by its founding values: that whoever you are, you will be rescued; that we will find new ways to keep everyone safe; and that we will share our expertise with like-minded people around the world.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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. Despite the recognition that followed the rescue, which included an invitation to Buckingham Palace, the thing that Keith is most proud of is ‘being able to handle a boat’ – a lifeboatman through and through.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Eleanor Driscoll
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 winds to eerie silence as the lifeboat was submerged, we hear about the teamwork it takes to save lives in a violent storm. Awarded a Bronze Medal for his command of the rescue, Dai explains why the skill of his dependable crew made it a medal ‘for the whole boat’.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 RNLI lifeboat stations. Eschewing contemporary methods, he uses a 170-year-old process known as wet collodion – something Jack calls ‘mobile-gearbox photography’.
It’s a painstaking, multi-staged task, but the results are worth it. Jack has so far captured lifesavers at 158 lifeboat stations – many volunteers are moved by the photographs, sometimes to tears. In this episode, Jack talks about how old techniques can reveal new perspectives.
You can view many of the photographs taken for the Lifeboat Station Project at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Women of the RNLI runs 2 March-1 December 2024.
To book tickets, visit: rmg.co.uk
Learn more about the Lifeboat Station Project at: lifeboatstationproject.com
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 the inspiration and welcome he found in the RNLI family.
Through laughter and tears, this episode reflects the impact of every life saved and tragedy prevented since 1824. Whether it’s in a priceless cup of tea, a surprising invoice in the archives or a lifeboat at sea in Hyde Park, Charles finds the humanity at the heart of the institution.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 of her most memorable conversations with the kind people who power the RNLI – and remembers the greatest test faced by her team in the sudden shock of the Covid-19 lockdown.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 on one occasion, he ended up getting much colder than he’d planned.
Michael takes us back to that January day, when the waves were higher and the current stronger than they seemed from shore. His story shows the small steps that can lead us into danger, and the many layers – training, experience, community – that keep us safe if things go wrong.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 that he’d been brought home.
In this moving episode, Ellie talks about her determination for something positive to come from her brother’s tragic loss. She set up a charity, Plan B, to encourage adventurers to think about what they’d do if the unexpected happens, including raising awareness about Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), which make it easier to be found in an emergency. If Dom had carried one, Ellie says, the outcome could have been different.
Ellie is an author and has written a children’s book, Sami’s Beach Rescue, about staying safe while swimming. You can download a free eBook and find her other titles at wildtribeheroes.com
Learn more about Ellie's Plan B charity at planbcharity.org
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Eleanor Driscoll
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Hansen have designed kit to keep them protected, warm and able to work at their best.
He charts the innovative history of Helly Hansen – another 19th-century institution – which has gone from linseed-soaked linen in the 1870s, to the technical three-layer systems protecting sailors, skiers and lifeboat crews today.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 faded with the light. Hear how the pair fought the odds to stay afloat, remembering their loved ones waiting at home – and find out why a sweet rhyme will always stay with them.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Hallmark Productions
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
Ripped from her surfboard and alone in the waves, Ruth held on to advice that would save her life
For 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 conversation with an RNLI lifeguard days before. You’ll hear how she turned panic into calm, gasps into deep breaths. This is how Ruth saved her own life – by trusting in Float to Live.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 from where the disaster happened, Val recalls how generous supporters in the area wanted to fundraise in any way they could. She talks about the tremendous kindness people showed to the RNLI after that disaster – one of many incredible fundraising initiatives she’s been part of in her lifelong career with the charity.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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, Diane shares what happened when she dared to dip her toe in the water she’d always feared.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Amy Bratley
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Lukin’s patented ‘unimmergible boats’ in 1786. This helped the local community on the north-east coast to be better equipped to face the extreme dangers of helping shipwrecked sailors at sea.
With this fascinating family history in mind, Anthony talks about how the family settled on the RNLI as the charity to benefit from John’s legacy. He also reveals the exciting news that in 2024, a new Shannon class lifeboat, funded by John’s estate and carrying the name John Sharp, will be launched.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 3am on the eve of his own wedding, and reflects on the impact the series has had on him.
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 lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 anniversary on the horizon, he faced a new kind of task.
Over 2 centuries, the RNLI has amassed quite a photographic collection. In this episode, David shares the stories behind some of these archive images and explains the careful process that goes into colourising them as part of the charity’s bicentenary activity.
View the lovingly restored images discussed in this episode at RNLI.org/BirthdayPhotos
A photographic exhibition celebrating the vital role that women have played in saving lives at sea runs 2 March–1 December 2024 at the National Maritime Museum, London. Women of the RNLI showcases images captured using Victorian glass-plate technology, and is the work of Jack Lowe.
To listen to Jack Lowe's 200 Voices interview, search episode 192: Talking Pictures
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Eleanor Driscoll
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 - rescuing families from homes which were about to collapse, navigating flooded streets and not knowing what hazards were under the water. He also shares how it feels to watch his son go out on a shout: a combination of wishing he was there himself - and fatherly concern.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 part of an incredible 200km challenge on behalf of the charity.
In this moving episode, Terri talks about her treasured memories of Dan, the tough times she’s faced during training and how she’s trying to find light through darkness.
You can support Terri’s 200km challenge at https://www.justgiving.com/page/terris-200km-rnli
Terri is an illustrator and is kindly donating 50% of profits on some of her homewares to the RNLI at terripeay.com
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Amy Bratley
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Simon, Evan had seen the RNLI’s Float to Live advert just days before. Simon talks about the phenomenal impact of the water safety campaign – and the pure relief he felt when the RNLI lifeboat returned Evan to shore.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 the sole survivor, thanks to something he was wearing that the other 12 crew members were not. It was a new-fangled invention – a lifejacket made of cork. David Freeman, Lifeboat Operations Manager at RNLI Flamborough, tells the story of his famous relative.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 launched with the first all-female crew – a proud moment for the station.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Coxswain during the exhausting 1936 Daunt Rock rescue, when a February storm ripped huge rocks from the quay and whipped up waves so mountainous that the spray flew over the top of the 59m lighthouse. The ensuing rescue of the eight men aboard the Comet is the stuff of legend. Fittingly, the crew’s heroic actions would go on to be depicted by artists.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 invited to join the crew by coxswains ‘Shrimp' Davis and ‘Tuna’ Harrison. After that, Ted never found himself more than 200 yards from the sea.
During the Second World War, Henry Blogg was kept busy. The Cromer lifeboat launched 150 times and saved 448 lives – more than any other. Learn more about the RNLI's extraordinary wartime efforts in a special episode of Saving Lives at Sea, presented by Dermot O'Leary. Search Series 9: Episode 1 on BBC iPlayer or visit https://tinyurl.com/4cryn54u
Find out more about the life of RNLI legend Henry Blogg.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 of what happened to the crew of the lifeboat, Helen Blake, shining a light on a disaster that remains one of the most tragic and courageous in RNLI history.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 about surprising acts of generosity that warm him up on a cold day.
To learn more about face-to-face fundraising opportunities at the RNLI, search:
RNLI Face-To-Face Fundraising Jobs
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Bermuda as a prisoner. Martin shares the story of his ancestor’s dramatic return, by sea, to England and reflects on the fact that when the RNLI rescue one person, the impact can be felt for generations.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 experience of meeting families who have lost children to drowning, and the remarkable stories of people making a difference on the ground.
Find out more about the work we're doing to end global drowning.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 to the station by a team he thinks of as a family unit. Brad explains how flying the Pride flag made an important statement – as one of the oldest organisations in Skegness, the RNLI is leading the way in celebrating difference and all its people, no matter who they are.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 would go on to hold a host of roles in the RNLI, including being President of Portaferry Lifeboat Station and a Youth Education Volunteer for Donaghadee RNLI – hear him reflect on what was a life-changing experience.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 of the steamer that day. Onboard, along with the crew, was a coxswain whose gallantry would be recognised three times by the RNLI. His name, Veronica would learn, was Isaac Vondy.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 supported events in her patch of Scotland. She talks about her latest role as Lifeboat Operations Manager at Buckie Lifeboat Station, what being involved with the crew means to her, and about another indelible memory – lifeboat crew members putting on their best Beyoncé in fishnets and stilettos.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 episode was recorded, Lucy was also named Runner-Up at the MAKE UK National awards. In this episode, she also talks about how climate change affects sea-goers here and now, revealing why the RNLI maintains close ties with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage.
To learn more about Women in Engineering and for resources such as newsletters for schools, visit:
RNLI.org/WomenInEngineering
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Darren Crew
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 on SwimSafe and the other ways that the CIPRB is preventing drowning tragedies in Bangladesh – thanks to the work of remarkable women – take a look at our International Women's Day magazine article:
RNLI.org/BhasaWomen
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 attending the naming ceremony of the new lifeboat at Margate and being struck by a tremendous sense of community.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by RNLI’s Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Union Hall swim.
The same quality shines through in Pamela’s personal life too. She shares what kept her going through a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer – including the support of her RNLI family and the therapeutic effect of the sea.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI’s Mairead Dwane
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 - Jason Singh, Arun Ghosh, Jenny Sturgeon, and John Ellis - answered the call, taking inspiration from the power of the sea and the sounds and stories discovered in the RNLI’s collection. The resulting score is a 5.1 surround soundtrack designed specifically to be experienced at the cinema. And the resulting film - co-produced by Screen Argyll - has toured communities across Scotland.
In this episode, Shona explains how the film - featuring footage that dates back as far as the 1920s - came together.
Watch the Launch! trailer
Or visit: https://www.akindofseeing.co.uk/projectsblog/launch
Listen to the full-length soundtrack on Spotify
Or search Spotify or Apple Music using: 'Launch! On The Sea'
Launch! will be showing at the Oban Phoenix Cinema on 9 March 2024.
To learn more about Shona’s work and contact her about screening Launch! in your community, visit:
www.akindofseeing.co.uk
Find out more about Screen Argyll at www.screenargyll.co.uk
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 childhood her brother, who is disabled, loved the beach – and how this inspires her to help make water activities more inclusive.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 arms through the straps on her dungarees.
Marc clung to the rocks, but was losing the battle. It was time for the couple to say their goodbyes. Or so they thought.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Nathan Williams
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Executive of the charity Shelter, talks of the huge relief she felt on seeing the lifeboat. And of how heartened she was – as part of the charity sector herself – by the volunteer crew’s bravery and selflessness.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Hallmark Broadcast Media
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 herself.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Darren Crew
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 overboard from the Lady Rothes. Six more were lost in 1953. And when five of the six crew perished in the 1970 disaster, Fraserburgh went without a lifeboat station until 1978. Current RNLI Coxswain / Mechanic Vic Sutherland reveals the toll the losses took on the local community.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 – thinking his sailing dreams were over – he embarked on a different career path.
However, Geoff desperately missed sailing and wanted to do something extraordinary. Hear how he’s done just that, from sailing across the Atlantic and becoming a Vice President of the RNLI, to setting up a charity to help disabled people enjoy the water.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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. From the comfort of a pool to tackling a swim to Alcatraz, San Francisco, Louise shares her love of the sea – and why the RNLI is close to her heart.
Learn more about open water swimming.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI’s Rory Stamp
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by Adventurous Audio
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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 soldiers. Responding to a request by Britain’s Ministry of Shipping, an armada of 700 little boats – including pleasure craft and private yachts – quickly formed.
Among the volunteers were RNLI crews from Ramsgate and Margate. And, as chance would have it, aboard a cabin cruiser, 8-year-old Stanley Holtom and his friend, Peter. This is the story of how two little boys came to take part in Operation Dynamo.
Hear more about the RNLI's involvement in Operation Dynamo in episode 15 – Lifesaving in Wartime: John Ray
Learn more about the RNLI's extraordinary efforts in the Second World War in a special episode of Saving Lives at Sea, presented by Dermot O'Leary. Search Series 9: Episode 1 on BBC iPlayer or visit https://tinyurl.com/4cryn54u
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Eleanor Driscoll
Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls
The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200
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I had the privilege of reading and reviewing the book fir the Lifeboat magazine earlier this year. A truly inspiring story of what teenagers can do.