RNLI 200 Voices

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

David, a Watch Officer with the Irish Coast Guard, knows exactly how it feels to listen to the radio for news of a loved one who’s out at sea. As a boy, he was the one listening When David O’Driscoll was a child, he and his family would gather round his grandmother’s kitchen table to listen to radio exchanges between the Coast Guard and his father, who – as an RNLI coxswain – was out on another rescue. Looking back, he is reminded of a line from the Phil Coulter song Home from the Sea: ‘They gathered in pairs at the foot of the stairs to wait for the radio call.’ David wondered who the other voice belonged to. Today, in his role as Watch Officer in Valentia, he is that voice. His grandmother still listens for updates – but nowadays, it’s David she hears on the radio. 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 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 book, Surviving the Storms. 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

In the case of Jamie Robson White – descendant of famous lifesavers – the apple didn’t fall far from the tree With a heritage like Jamie Robson White’s, it’s no wonder he’s passionate about saving lives at sea – lifesaving is tightly woven into his family history. In this episode, Jamie – full-time Second Coxswain at Humber Lifeboat Station and volunteer at Whitby Lifeboat Station – shares memories of his grandmother first showing him the family tree. Jamie is a distant relative of Grace Darling and a descendant of Michael Robson – both present at the famous Forfarshire shipwreck rescue in 1838. 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

A horse is trapped in an oyster bed. The tide is coming in. Kinsale Helm Jonathan Connor on galloping to the rescue When the pager goes off, RNLI crew never know what to expect. But a horse trapped in an oyster bed? That was a first. Kinsale crew member Jonathan Connor recalls the crisp February morning when the RNLI were called to the rescue of Paddy the horse, whose owner couldn’t swim. An unusual call out, but Jonathan isn’t new to drama. When he was 17, and a trainee at Kinsale, he was in the lifeboat station and heard a Mayday call over the radio. What he did next helped buy the lifeboat crew vital time to launch to the scene. 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

Meet the man helping to cut the number of river drownings in Galway The River Corrib in Galway is fast-flowing and dangerous. In the past, because of a lack of communication and co-ordination between local agencies, when a person entered the river, the RNLI couldn’t get there in time. Galway RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Michael Swan was determined to change that. He talks about working with other local emergency services and agencies to put an effective, co-ordinated search and rescue plan in place. With innovative technology, improved communication, and awareness and prevention schemes, the RNLI are now able to launch to the rescue in time – and help save more lives. 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 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’ is a tough job and can have traumatic consequences – something that he is working hard to address. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by 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

A to E – Principal Engineer Holly Phillips on designing the fastest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet Holly Phillips has always loved boats, spending most of her life being in them, on them or under them. Having joined the RNLI Poole crew in 1992, and starting as Senior Naval Architect 10 years later, she shaped the evolution of lifeboat engineering during her impressive 21-year career at the RNLI. In particular, she was instrumental in the design of the fast and manoeuvrable E class lifeboat, and was at the helm of the team that saw the project through from conception to launch. It was this that led to Holly being awarded an MBE by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – which Holly humbly describes as a team effort. In this episode, hear Holly talk about her inspirational career as a woman in engineering, and why the challenging moments along the way always ended up being the most rewarding. 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

The ripple effect – thanks to Poole’s 2022 RNLI Lifeguard of the Year, Sandbanks’ gain is also Senegal’s Poole lifeguard Idi Ndiaye is so much at home in the water that his nickname is ‘The Waterman’. Idi, a former military firefighter, ambulance driver and rescue diver, is from Dakar in Senegal – a place where drowning is all too common. While working as a lifeguard on the beaches there, he once saved three boys at once from a riptide – an act performed without any lifesaving equipment. It led to a place on the RNLI’s Future Leaders course. In this episode, Idi talks about how this in turn led him to set up Swim Safe Senegal, the country’s first lifesaving training association. 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

In 1923, Joseph Conrad wrote the foreword for Britain’s Life-Boats: The Story of a Century of Heroic Service. Toby Harper shares the author’s thoughts The author Joseph Conrad’s fascination with the sea began when he was just 13. Inspired by a book he’d read about the search for Sir John Franklin’s lost ships, Erebus and Terror, he spent 19 years in the merchant navy before turning to writing, often penning tales about the sea and those who sail on it. His travels gave rise to some of the stories and characters in books such as Nostromo and Heart of Darkness. 2024 marks 100 years since Conrad’s death. Not long before he died, he wrote the foreword for Britain’s Life-Boats: The Story of a Century of Heroic Service. In this episode, that foreword is read by Toby Harper. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Darren Crew Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls Thanks to Toby Harper for lending his voice to this episode The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200

When Shaddah the dog chased a ball into the sea, he was quickly swept out. His owner relives the anxious wait for a dog with no off-switch Shaddah is a cross between a Labrador and a Springer Spaniel. And as anyone who knows Springers knows, they love the water. One March day at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland, Shaddah’s enthusiastic nature got him into trouble. Determined to retrieve an elusive ball, the black dog was the same colour as the water he was swept out by. And his owner, Reverend William Docherty, had lost sight of him. Reverend Docherty talks about the moments he was forced to consider the prospect of having to go home without his beloved pet. 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

Being part of a lifeboat crew is not a nine to five job – something that RNLI mechanic Dupre Strutt takes in his stride For RNLI lifesavers, days – and nights – are unpredictable. Crew never know when the pager will go off, or what emergency they’ll be called to. For Dupre Strutt, mechanic at Kirkwall Lifeboat Station in Orkney, it’s a way of life. He grew up with the lifeboat – his father was previously the mechanic – and himself joined the crew at 17 years old. He’s been there ever since, for over 30 years. Dupre talks about the appeal of being on the crew, how no job is ever the same as the last, and how, when every second counts in a rescue, making sure the lifeboat is ready to go and in tip-top condition is vitally important – a responsibility he shoulders with great pride. This interview was recorded by photographer Jack Lowe, whose exhibition ‘Women of the RNLI’ will be open at the National Maritime Museum, London, 2 March–1 December 2024, to mark 200 years of the RNLI. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by Jack Lowe of The Lifeboat Station Project 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

Wake up overlooking the second largest natural harbour in the world – take a tour of the RNLI College Don’t let the name fool you. The RNLI College is more than a college. Frequently voted one of the best places to stay in Poole, Dorset, the RNLI College includes 60 en suite bedrooms, all with sea views. Debbie Corke, who sadly passed away in 2023, was the RNLI’s Volunteer Development Coordinator, and in this episode Debbie explains the visionary idea behind the College. Guests can even take a tour of the Sea Survival Centre, where wave machines and magic allow visitors and crews to experience what it’s like to take on stormy seas. Book a stay at the RNLI College here or via the link: RNLI.org/stay 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

The RNLI’s Newquay lifeguard team includes lifesavers from eight nations. Agustin reveals why Cornwall’s gain is also Argentina’s The lifeguards who patrol the Newquay beaches are an eclectic bunch, coming from places as far afield as Greece, Austria and Brazil. Agustin, who is from Argentina, talks about what drew him to join the multinational team at Mawgan Porth, and about some of the RNLI’s ideas and methods that he has shared with lifeguards back home in Argentina. 200 Voices is produced 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

HRH The Duke of Kent reflects on 55 years as President of the charity Since becoming President of the RNLI in 1969, HRH The Duke of Kent has supported the organisation through some of the charity’s greatest milestones – including the opening of the RNLI College, the introduction of the lifeguard service, and the development of faster, safer lifeboats that have helped save more lives. In this episode, The Duke speaks with Chief Executive of the RNLI, Mark Dowie, about being President, recalling the events and stories that have stayed with His Royal Highness over the years, and how it felt to have a lifeboat named RNLB The Duke of Kent. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Mark Dowie 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

On New Year’s Day, 1916, Horton and Port Eynon lifeboat volunteers paid a heavy price after braving conditions some called the worst in living memory When a steamer ran aground near Pennard Cliffs on the Glamorgan coast, Horton and Port Eynon volunteers launched their rowing lifeboat into the teeth of a gale. Unable to reach the steamer due to the conditions, the lifeboat – Janet – began to head back. But it was too late. The lifeboat capsized twice. And after she was righted for the second time, three crew members were missing. Without oars, and drifting towards Mumbles, all the crew could do was huddle in the bottom of the lifeboat and hope. The grandfather and great-grandfather of the current lifeboat station’s Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Lawrie Grove, were on the Janet that day. In this episode – dedicated to William Eynon, George Harry and Billy Gibbs – Lawrie recounts what happened. 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

On 30 March 1985, Dover RNLI Coxswain Tony Hawkins was in the bath when maroons were fired. He leapt up to go to the aid of those aboard a cross-channel hovercraft, the Princess Margaret, which had collided with the breakwater on entering the harbour. Tony, who was Boathouse Manager at Dover RNLI when this interview took place, recalls how the hovercraft had a hole ripped into its side and that hundreds of passengers needed to be urgently rescued. Some were seriously injured, others were pulled from the waves suffering from cold and shock, and others were sadly missing. All at Dover Lifeboat Station dearly miss Tony, who passed away in June 2025 aged 81. He dedicated 65 years to RNLI volunteering. Interview by Jack Lowe of The Lifeboat Station Project 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by Jack Lowe of The Lifeboat Station Project 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

Less shoot 'em up, more round 'em up – why the RNLI’s new video game is a refreshing departure In an era in which children and young people are more likely to tap away on small screens rather than gather around the TV, how can the RNLI achieve the 'Blue Peter effect' that once planted a seed of support? To help the charity reach a new generation, the RNLI has been working with a video games developer to produce an exciting mobile and tablet app: Storm Force Rescue. Players will be able to become lifeguards and lifeboat crew, rescuing people and learning safety tips along the way. In this episode of 200 Voices, we hear from the Head of Studio at Amuzo games, Nick Roberts, who explains how and why the game has been created. 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

RNLI volunteer Pat Abram knows only too well the devastating power of the sea Pat has a lifelong awareness of the dangers of the sea. His father drowned at sea before Pat was born, and on the 5 January 1983, while working as a police officer in Blackpool, Pat and three colleagues went to the rescue of a man struggling in the sea – a courageous act that ended in tragedy. Four lives were lost, leaving the local community devastated, and every year those people are remembered in a memorial service in the town. Pat shares his deeply moving story of the rescue attempt – during which he too almost lost his life – and how the incident influenced his decision to volunteer at RNLI Blackpool Lifeboat Station in the shop and as Deputy Launching Authority. 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

He had a life-changing accident while surfing – but Alex’s RNLI training helped save his life Working as a RNLI lifeguard in Scarborough, Alex was passionate about saving lives at sea and loved the water. But, on the 28 March 2013, while surfing on holiday in Argentina, he hit his head on the sea floor and was left face down in the water, unable to move his arms or legs. He puts his survival down to two main factors: the man who first came to help him in the water – and his own RNLI training. He knew that he’d probably suffered a spinal injury and was able to instruct the people around him on what to do. Alex, who suffered paralysis in most of his body, talks about how his vital lifesaving skills came into play that day. And about how now, as an office-based volunteer for the RNLI, his dedication to saving lives at sea continues today. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Isobel Noctor 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 Boxing Day Dip at Southend’s Jubilee Beach attracted 87 people. Last year, there were 400. Daniel Wanna from RNLI Southend-on-Sea explains what makes folks swap the sofa for the surf For some, the perfect Boxing Day is about a dip in the sea, followed by a hot drink and a mince pie on the beach. Daniel Wanna – Lifeboat Helm at Southend-on-Sea – talks about what draws a growing number to take the plunge in the annual Boxing Day Dip at Jubilee Beach. The event attracts all ages. Some don a wetsuit. Others prefer fancy dress. Daniel has braved the dip himself, but would he do it again? 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 sea doesn’t take a day off – neither do the lifeguards at Crosby Beach. Siobhan Murphy explains why Crosby Beach is unique, and in more ways than one. It’s the only beach patrolled by RNLI lifeguards 365 days a year. And on Christmas Day, Senior Lifeguard Siobhan Murphy will be one of them. They’re kept busy by the tourists who come to see the 100 Antony Gormley sculptures – titled Another Place – that span the length of the beach. Siobhan explains the dangers that catch some visitors out. Dangers that mean the lifeguards – just like the army of statues looking out to sea – must keep vigil, day in, day out. 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

Christmas 2021: paraglider Dermot Ryan explains why his best present was from Newhaven RNLI It’s Christmas Eve, and paraglider Dermot has the scary realisation that he is about to swap the sky for the sea. After landing at the foot of a cliff with fellow paraglider, Trevor, both are soon cut off by the incoming tide. Soaked by the crashing waves, Dermot’s body temperature plummets. Newhaven RNLI volunteers are tantalisingly close, but due to the conditions, can’t get close enough. Should Dermot follow Trevor into the water, or take his chances against the sea’s onslaught? 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

Martin Stephen has three sons and five grandchildren. He reveals why none of them would be here without the RNLI Martin Stephen and his two younger cousins, Angus and Davy, loved visiting Dunbar Harbour. When the wind blew strong, they’d pull on their welly boots and head down to watch the water crash onto the rocks. But on 23 December 1970, their windy-day ritual was never to be the same again. With the wind blowing gale force 10, Davy got caught by a freak wave. Martin jumped in to try to save him, but the water was too ferocious. With both of them in serious trouble, Angus raised the alarm. Shortly after, the Dunbar lifeboat crew arrived and hauled Martin out of the sea. But tragically, Davy was never found. Fifty-three years on, Martin recalls the terrifying moment when he thought he was going to die, and how this – and Davy’s passing – helped him to appreciate the simplicities of life: health, happiness, and family. He also explains how his rescue led to a career in helping other people – just as the volunteers helped him. 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

Ireland’s voice of the sea – Tom MacSweeney – on the crew member who made the ultimate sacrifice on Christmas Eve It was a false alarm with tragic consequences. Tom MacSweeney – maritime journalist and former presenter of RTE’s radio show, Seascapes – tells the story of what happened when RNLI Kilmore Quay volunteers left their loved ones on Christmas Eve 1977 to respond to a call out in their lifeboat, Lady Murphy. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the 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

It’s often said that the RNLI is a family. That’s certainly how former priest Tom McGuire feels – the Lough Ree Lifeboat Press Officer has even christened some of the crew When his wife spotted an advert for Lifeboat Press Officer at Lough Ree RNLI, Tom didn’t hesitate to volunteer. Having previously worked in the area as a priest, he was welcomed into the role by crew he’d married, christened, or played football with. With a career in broadcast journalism under his belt, Tom talks of his passion for telling the stories of the RNLI, and his deep understanding of the importance of the lifeboat to the community it supports. 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

From the sea to Spaghetti Junction, Swim Safe’s Ashley Jones teaches children all over the UK to stay safe in and around open water Most children learn to swim in an indoor pool, but swimming in open water is very different – and it's often when accidents happen. That’s why Swim England and the RNLI partnered to form the Swim Safe programme, which delivers fun and free water safety sessions to children at inland and coastal locations. Heading up the campaign, Ashley Jones shares top tips to help children stay safe in and around open water – and how ultimately, those messages have helped save lives. 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

Folk singer Seth Lakeman on what inspired him to write the song Solomon Browne in tribute to the Penlee lifeboat crew lost at sea Seth Lakeman grew up surrounded by remarkable stories – whether that be through his father’s career as a journalist, or spending weekends with his family immersed in music at local folk clubs. It was his passion for great stories – and tunes from the folk music community – that inspired his career as a singer-songwriter. Hear Seth talk about how he came to write Solomon Browne – a special song dedicated to those sadly lost in the Penlee lifeboat disaster on 19 December 1981 – and find out how friends from throughout his life have brought him even closer to the RNLI’s lifesaving cause. One of the crew members sadly lost was Stephen Madron. In another episode from our 200 Voices series, Stephen's wife Janet Madron shares her deeply personal account of the Penlee tragedy, and why she still loves being an RNLI volunteer. Listen to Janet's podcast episode to hear her story. 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

She’s admired for being a history-making Olympian, but Helen Glover’s own admiration goes to RNLI crews. The Cornish rower explains why Having lived by the sea in Cornwall all her life, Olympic rower Helen Glover has loved the water for as long as she can remember. So it's no surprise that she's long admired the RNLI crews that put their lives on the line to save others. In particular, she singles out the volunteers from Penzance – where Helen grew up – who were tragically lost in the 1981 Penlee lifeboat disaster. In this episode, hear Helen explain why she has so much respect for the selfless RNLI volunteers. And find out which moment during her London 2012 Olympics journey was the most special. 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 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 three in Theo’s family at Burry Port RNLI – and if Theo’s brilliant quick-thinking actions are anything to go by, the young lifesaver will one day likely join them. In another episode from our 200 Voices series, Tina Powsey remembered to float like a starfish when she and her friend got into trouble in the water. Listen to Tina’s podcast episode to find out how the RNLI's Float to Live advice saved their lives. 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

Meet the man who helped develop the first lifejacket to fit both male and female crew Male. Female. Tall. Short. Light. Heavy. RNLI crew come in every size and shape – and it was RNLI Senior Engineer Allen Steven’s job to work on a lifejacket design to fit every crew member. The first person to acknowledge that one size doesn’t fit all, Allen explains how crew input influenced the lifejacket’s evolution – and the ultimate lifejacket design. Allen also shares his pride in founding the RNLI Disability Network. After suffering life-threatening injuries in 1987 and living with a brain injury ever since, he’s passionate about championing the voices of those who may not otherwise be heard. 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

Loch Ness may hold a sense of mystery, but tour guide Linda Izquierdo-Ross is in no doubt about its dangers Loch Ness most definitely is home to at least one monster, says RNLI Deputy Launch Authority Linda Izquierdo-Ross. But the one Linda has in mind is not the kind of monster we imagine. The loch is very cold all year round. It provides less buoyancy than salt water, and, due to the peat particles, visibility is next to zero. All of which means, in Linda’s words, that ‘it keeps what it’s given’. So the former crew member – who also works as a tour guide on the loch – knows from experience that there’s no time to lose when someone’s in peril. As a child, Linda herself had to be rescued from drowning, and this prompted the urge to give back. Recently, she was awarded a Red Cross Silver Medal by Prince Albert of Monaco. Let Linda take you on a tour of Loch Ness. At 23 miles long – and, at its deepest point, over 200m deep – it is, she says, ‘a great place to hide’. 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 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 coxswain at the time recalls the night he and his determined crew made no less than 50 attempts to save those on board. The rescue would earn Michael an RNLI Gold Medal for Gallantry, and his entire crew were awarded Bronze Medals. Since this episode was recorded, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat – restored by former fundraiser Colin Trowles – was moved and is now a floating museum in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex. In the first podcast episode dedicated to the Bonita, Nils Fosstveit – one of the crew members that went to the aid of Bonita that night – shares his account of the rescue he’ll never forget. Listen to Nils's episode and watch a short film about the rescue. 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

Nils Fosstveit takes us back to the night he’ll never forget – and to what was, at the time, the biggest Channel rescue since the Second World War 13 December, 1981: in hurricane-force winds, cargo ship – the Bonita – was sinking off the Channel Islands. 27-year-old Nils Fosstveit was one of 36 crew on board. Not all would survive. Nils did, but in his own words, it was by ‘very small margins’. At one point, losing hope, he and other crew members had thought about voluntarily sliding down the badly listing ship and giving themselves up to the freezing waters. But the crew rallied. Before his escape, Nils, along with others, had to haul an injured man down ladders by rope. Nils then had to jump 15m into the sea. He was one of the last off. In the first of two episodes dedicated to the Bonita, hear Nils’s account of one of the RNLI’s finest rescues. Next, listen to the second episode, where Michael Scales – the late coxswain onboard the lifeboat that went to the aid of Bonita – recalls the momentous rescue. Find out more about the Bonita in this short film. 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

A sailor’s boat was sinking on a pitch-black night. As RNLI volunteers searched the waters off Jersey, their only hope was a flicker of light in the distance St Catherine’s Robin Fitzgerald was brushing his teeth when his pager went off. It was a starless, moonless night and with the sailor in the water, time was of the essence. Duty Helm that night, Robin talks about launching to the rescue in total darkness, navigating the looming black shadow of the Ecrehous reef. The rescue was one that Robin will never forget – in part because of the moving message the crew received afterwards. 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

Having lived in a former boathouse, Nora Flanagan was destined to join the RNLI. In Gaelic, we hear from Arranmore’s first female crew member Speaking in Gaelic, Nora Flanagan describes the old boathouse she grew up in, with the Arranmore lifeboat anchored just outside the door. Though she trained as a nurse in Edinburgh and worked in London, Nora was an islander at heart and returned to Arranmore in 1982. There she joined the all-male lifeboat crew and wasn’t sure what she could offer, until a shout came in for which her nursing skills were called upon – helping Nora realise that everyone has a role to play. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by John McCafferty 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 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 Wilhelm II. Soon after, local businessman Sir Charles Macara and his wife Marion organised the very first Lifeboat Saturday. Thousands of people lined the streets of Manchester and raised over £5,000 for RNLI lifesavers. Due to its success, other towns and cities quickly followed suit. In this episode, David Forshaw, Launch Authority and Lifeboat Press Officer at Lytham St. Annes RNLI, tells the story of what happened on the darkest day in the RNLI’s history, and how it changed the face of fundraising forever. For 200 years, RNLI volunteers have shown incredible courage at sea and have saved more than 144,000 lives – none of which would be possible without kindness from the public. Help us mark this historic milestone in our lifesaving story. 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

Michele Jagger explains why having her daughter’s name on the Whitby lifeboat is so special Three weeks before Michele’s daughter, Shannon, sadly passed away, they enjoyed some mother-daughter time in Whitby – one of Michele’s favourite places. As well as having a soft spot for the beautiful seaside town, Michele has always been in awe of the RNLI volunteers that risk their lives to save others. So, when the opportunity arose to add Shannon’s name to the Launch a Memory lifeboat in Whitby – which also happens to be a Shannon class – she knew it was meant to be. In this episode, Michele explains why her daughter was special to so many people, and how she would be over the moon to know that her name is on a lifeboat that will save lives at sea. 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 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 capsized, with all eight crew members losing their lives. Hear Robin talk about what happened on that fateful day, including how the last-minute change of plan was the difference between life and death. This is Robin’s personal description of the disaster at Broughty Ferry, based on his memories. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Isobel Noctor 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

Tina Powsey on how she floated to live It was a chilly July morning in Anglesey when Tina and her friend, Mags, headed down to the water for a swim. As they were having fun jumping through the waves, they suddenly realised that the ground had disappeared beneath their feet. They had drifted worryingly far from where they entered the sea. And the next thing they knew, they started drifting from each other. It was only thanks to Tina remembering what she learned in her children’s swimming lessons that her and Mags are both here to tell the tale. In this episode, Tina relives their frightening ordeal and gives thanks for the brave onlooker and RNLI volunteers that helped them. In another episode from our 200 Voices series, 12-year-old Theo Pulman remembered the same lifesaving advice as Tina when his friend got into trouble in the water. Listen to Theo’s podcast episode to find out how the RNLI’s Float to Live advice helped him save his friend’s life. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Jasmin Downs 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 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 feel that kindness is in short supply, Linda was struck by the decency of ordinary people – and the heartening fact that the RNLI are there for anyone, whoever you are and whatever the circumstances. 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 his book, The Price of Charity, JP Gallagher calls the RNLI a unique organisation. In this 1970s recording a former Kirkcudbright coxswain explains why What makes lifeboat volunteers leave their beds in the middle of the night to go to the aid of someone they don’t even know? Former Kirkcudbright RNLI Coxswain George Davidson gets to the root of the ethos shared by all those responsible for a lifeboat’s launch. And reminds us that this dedicated group extends way beyond the lifeboat station. 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

Holyhead volunteer Graham Drinkwater MBE on helping to save 19 lives at 19-years-old Graham Drinkwater’s first ever lifeboat rescue takes some beating. On 2 December 1966, at just 19-years-old, the Holyhead lifeboat volunteer went to the aid of the crew aboard the stricken Nafsiporos Greek cargo ship in a raging storm and 100mph winds. Graham shares his memories of the rescue, being on the lifeboat alongside Harold ‘Hurricane’ Harvey – and bringing the survivors ashore in time for a Christmas party at the local hotel. The rescue earned Graham a Bronze Medal for Gallantry – an award he never expected. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by 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

The sailor who overcomes cerebral palsy to raise thousands for the RNLI Determined. Courageous. Dedicated. All words that describe Natasha – a sailor from the Isle of Wight, born with athetoid cerebral palsy – whose sailing adventures have helped raise an incredible £28K for the RNLI. Natasha’s condition means she needs help 24 hours a day, but sailing gives her a great sense of freedom. It’s something she can make decisions about independently – and we hear why it means so much to her. Learn about the sailing school that she set up to help people with similar needs to experience the same feeling of freedom she enjoys. 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

RNLI Gold Medals don’t come along very often. Nor do men like Dic Evans, who earned two of them. Travel back to 1966 and angry Anglesey seas In this archive recording, RNLI lifeboat volunteers recall the dramatic rescue of the crew who were on board the Greek cargo ship Nafsiporos during a violent storm on 2 December 1966. One of the lifesavers was the late Moelfre Coxswain Richard ‘Dic’ Evans, who received a Gold Medal for Gallantry for the rescue – the highest accolade awarded by the RNLI. Also braving the hurricane conditions that day were the late Lieutenant Commander Harold Harvey (RNLI Inspector for Lifeboats for the North-West) and Moelfre crew member Captain J D Jeavons, who recalls an order to break out the rum to ‘preserve body and soul’ after the arduous rescue. Read more about what happened on the night of the Nafsiporos rescue. 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

For Ireland’s legendary Olympian, an athletics career and RNLI service had one important thing in common In December 1956, Ronnie Delany won a gold medal in the 1500m race at the Olympics in Melbourne. In this episode, the RNLI's former Vice President takes pride in how he competed for an all-Ireland country as an athlete, and in how, through his work with the RNLI, he supported an all-Ireland charity. He talks of how the RNLI is apolitical in Ireland, of extraordinary friendships he made, and says the charity’s commitment to saving lives at sea is a beautiful thing. The RNLI was very sad to learn of Ronnie's passing in March 2026. This episode was recorded in 2022, and we are proud to share it in his memory. 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

Speaking in Scots Gaelic, a Mallaig RNLI crew member reminds us that not all who need saving are in the water. Welcome to Na Garbh Chriochan (The Rough Bounds) The train line in these parts – on Scotland’s west coast – is known as the Harry Potter line, and is considered one of the most scenic in the world. It’s where film-makers shot the Hogwarts Express scenes. The area – opposite the Isle of Skye – is a remote wilderness with a daunting landscape. Hence the name it goes by: The Rough Bounds. Many places in this part of the world are only accessible by boat. In Scottish Gaelic, RNLI Mallaig Coxswain Michael Ian Currie recounts a call out to a lighthouse on the island of Ornsay. On this particular evening, the danger wasn’t the conditions – it was diabetes. 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

There are more men that have walked on the moon than there are women who have completed the world’s toughest solo sailing race. Pip Hare is one of those women The Vendée Globe sailing race is as much about mental strength as physical strength. It requires participants to race around the world, non-stop and alone. And Pip Hare is just the eighth woman on Earth to have completed it. In this episode, the speed-sailing record-holder reveals what it takes to get through it. Pip may have been alone aboard her yacht, but she doesn’t underestimate the value of her team – like RNLI crews, she places complete trust in both her colleagues and her vessel. Hear Pip talk about the importance of being a role model in the world of ocean racing – something that has traditionally been male-dominated. As Pip says, the sea doesn’t care what you look like. 200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI Interview by the RNLI's Katie Beney 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