RNLI 200 Voices

102. Facing Fear: Matias Wapinski

Putting lifeboat crew through their paces in thunder, lightning, and rain – it’s all in a day’s work for RNLI Sea Survival Centre trainer Matias Wapinski
From training as a rescue swimmer in Argentina, to being a dive instructor in Iceland and a lifeguard in the UK, Matias Wapinski’s credentials are impressive.
They’re skills he puts into practice to train volunteer RNLI crew from all over the UK and Ireland, in the Sea Survival Centre at the RNLI College. He talks about the determination and commitment of the crew he meets – and about how sometimes the training pushes them to face their worst fears.
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   

101. The Old Man and the Loch: John Maclennan MBE

How do you find a lone rower who’s in a small boat? In the Outer Hebrides? At night?
During John Maclennan’s 25 years as an RNLI crew member, Stornoway volunteers saved 122 lives. He has battled hurricanes, and knows how it feels to be on a boat when it falls the height of a house. But one rescue in particular has stayed with him.
An 80-year-old man was missing after he had gone out alone in a small boat on Loch Shell. The crew had searched all night, and their hopes were fading. Then John decided to turn on the searchlight one last time…
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

100. A Christmas Story: Chris Jarvis

There's a reindeer in the kitchen – what are we going to do?! Settle down for The Big Christmas Rescue, read by Chris Jarvis
It's Christmas Eve, and Santa's in trouble. Before a reindeer and the RNLI can save the day, they're going to need the help of a very special child.
Make your child’s bedtime extra magical by ordering a personalised copy of this beautifully illustrated story book and transform them into the main character of an exciting lifeboat adventure.
When you order the book, you can specify the child’s name, gender and skin tone and they’ll be made into the hero, who - along with Rudolph and the RNLI - saves Santa. And Christmas Day. 
Order your personalised copy here or via the link below. Every pound and euro of profit helps save more lives. 
https://shop.rnli.org/products/the-big-christmas-rescue
Written by Rory Stamp
Illustrated by Hannah Lawson
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
 
 
 
 

99. Shining Light: Grace Darling

In 1838, Grace Darling became the first woman to be awarded an RNLI medal. Descendant Ken Skehan shares her story
Ken Skehan is immensely proud of his internationally famous ancestor, Grace Darling. He shares stories of her life, from her hard existence living in a lighthouse, to her rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838.
Grace’s part in the rescue thrust her into the spotlight and even gained her the attention of Queen Victoria, but it wasn’t recognition Grace cared for. ‘Duty before self’ was part of her DNA – a characteristic shared by RNLI volunteers.
Learn more about Grace Darling.
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   
 

98. Ben Shephard: Humble Heroes

Broadcaster and journalist Ben Shephard talks about what inspired him to write the book Humble Heroes: Inspirational stories of hope, heart and humanity
Fascinated by ordinary people who quietly take it upon themselves to make the world a better place, Ben Shephard has written a book to record their stories.
Among the humble heroes celebrated by Ben are RNLI crew from Port Isaac, where Ben spent much of his childhood. To Ben, the lifeboat station and volunteers are the heart and soul of the village. Hear him talk about a moving rescue which remains in his thoughts.   
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI   
Interview by 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   
 

97. Golden Boy: Richard Adams

Meet the man who has served the RNLI for 50 years – a quarter of its existence
Richard Adams joined the RNLI on the 29 May 1973. He left school on a Thursday, started at the RNLI the following Tuesday, and has been at the charity ever since!
He talks about the changes he’s seen, and about the things that have remained the same – such as the stapler he has kept on his desk since 1974.
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI   
Interview by RNLI’s Eleanor Driscoll  
Soundtrack 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   
 

96. Sir Ben Ainslie: Gold, Silver and Steel

The most successful sailor in Olympic history on the importance of never giving up   
He might have won multiple Olympic medals, but British sailor Sir Ben Ainslie still gets caught out by the sea. Hear him talk about being rescued by the RNLI, and the necessity of having grit and determination to get through challenging conditions – traits he shares with lifeboat crew.  
An RNLI ambassador, Sir Ben also reflects on his lifelong connection to the charity, from being rescued with his family as a child, to the laying of the foundation stone at the RNLI College in 2004 and a memorable visit to Bembridge Lifeboat Station.  
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

95. Gone Kayaking: Elaine Gray

Meet the Devon fundraiser who’s been sailing for nearly 100 years
Elaine Gray began sailing when she was just 3 years old. Her love of the water remains a constant, and even at 100, Elaine still paddles in her kayak around Salcombe Harbour. Generations have followed in her footsteps – her daughter is a keen sailor, and her grandson is part of the crew at Salcombe Lifeboat Station. 
In 2022, Elaine had planned to do a kayaking challenge to raise funds for the RNLI, but was thwarted by bad weather. After this recording, in September 2023, Elaine picked up her paddle once more. Undeterred and another year sprightlier, the centenarian got back in the water, kayaking from Whitestrand to the old lifeboat station at South Sands. Alongside her was the Salcombe RNLI lifeboat. And on board, watching on proudly, was her grandson, Jeff. 
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
  
 

94. The 85ers: Paul Weston

Paul Weston, lifesaver and singer with RNLI Portishead’s sea shanty band, on singing for HM King Charles III 
When Paul Weston joined the Portishead crew 15 years ago, he thought it would be a great way to get out on the water and meet some new people. But he never imagined that it would lead to representing the RNLI at the Coronation Concert. 
During lockdown, six sea-going Portishead volunteers separately sang and recorded a sea shanty in hope of lifting their spirits. When they edited their parts together, and realised they sounded rather good, The 85ers was born. 
Named after the station’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, the shanty band went from recording songs in their own homes to performing at various events, including the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival and – their greatest surprise of all – the Coronation Concert. In this episode, hear Paul talk about how it felt to sing for the HM King Charles III.  
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
 

93. Megan and Brogan Griffiths: Haydn’s Legacy

Losing a family member to drowning is shocking enough. But it’s even more shocking when the person is fit, prepared and confident around the water. Two sisters explain what happened to their younger brother 
Haydn was no novice around the water. The 23-year-old was a sailor, a scuba diver and a paddleboarder, and knew about the tides. Which made things all the more unbelievable for sisters Megan and Brogan Griffiths when they received the news that their younger brother had drowned near Hoylake. 
Megan and Brogan – who took part in the RNLI’s Mayday Mile in their brother’s memory – say that if drowning can happen to someone like Haydn, it can happen to anyone. Hear about their campaigning water safety work and the wish they have as a result of the tragedy. 
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI
Interview by the RNLI's Hatti Mellor
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