157. Dizzy Heights: Polly Neate CBE

Clinging to the side of a cliff with a broken ankle and worrying she might faint, climber Polly couldn’t do anything but wait

Polly had gone climbing at Anvil Point in Dorset with her husband. Both were experienced climbers and things were all good until Polly had an accident and fractured her ankle. In pain and with no phone signal, she recalls how her husband had to go and get help while she was dangling off the cliff, trying not to move and injure herself further.

Polly, who’s the Chief 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