RNLI 200 Voices

80. An Artist’s Impression: Mark Taylor

Tynemouth artist and Coxswain Mark Taylor on his twin inspirations – his late father and the north-east coastline
For artist and Coxswain Mark Taylor, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He takes great inspiration from his late father, who was a successful artist and helped save lives at sea on Blyth lifeboat. 
Not only did Mark grow up watching his father race down to the lifeboat station, he also enjoyed watching him paint. This ignited Mark’s love for the sea and north-east coastline – both of which went on to have a huge influence on his career.
In this episode, Mark talks about how he continues his father’s legacy through his seascape paintings and work on the Severn class lifeboats, and how he felt after his most memorable rescue. 
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 

79. Keeping Watch: Peter Dawes

Since RNLI lifeguards started patrolling in 2001, they’ve saved over 1,900 lives. Peter Dawes explains how he helped them do it
RNLI lifeguards patrol over 240 beaches around Britain, Ireland and the islands that surround us. But this wasn’t always the case.
The charity’s General Manager for Lifeguard Operations, Peter Dawes, reveals how the service came about, and explains how the RNLI has evolved from a position of importing expertise to exporting it. Many lifeguards work the fabled ‘endless summer’, and it’s not unusual to find an RNLI-trained lifeguard keeping vigil on the other side of the world.
Hear why it’s not always the best swimmer who makes the best lifeguard. And discover how Peter once found himself stranded in a tree over a raging river.
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   

78. On a Wing and a Prayer: Duncan Laisney

When his plane’s engine lost power, Duncan Laisney had to ditch into the sea
Former RAF Tornado pilot Duncan Laisney had never trained to ditch an aircraft. So, when an engine failure during a training flight meant he had to ditch into the sea near Jersey, he faced a scary realisation.
After Duncan – and co-pilot Paul – started their descent, everything happened incredibly quickly. In 2½ minutes they were in the water. A surge of waves enveloped the plane, and after they climbed into their liferaft they watched the plane sink nose-first – leaving them in the eerie quietness of the empty sea.  
Hear Duncan relive the moments before landing. And discover how he and Paul lived to tell the tale.
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

77. Island Life: Janine Groves

Why working in the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre has given Janine Groves the confidence to tackle any job. Apart from catching spiders
When Janine Groves joined the RNLI at 19, she had no idea about what’s involved in building a boat. But she quickly learned the ropes, working her way up to Section Leader and now Production Support Manager on the Isle of Wight, where she leads the team who build, repair, and maintain our inshore fleet.
Hear Janine talk about how proud she feels to be part of an organisation that saves lives, and how her inspiring career as a woman in engineering has given her – and her daughters – the confidence to achieve (almost) anything they put their minds to. 
200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI 
Interview by 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 

76. Defying Expectations: Chris Lewis

The 72-year-old RNLI lifeguard who’s still going strong
Meet Chris Lewis MBE, the RNLI’s oldest lifeguard. When Chris tried to become an RNLI lifeguard, the rules of the day meant that he was too old. Undeterred, Chris passed the RNLI’s stringent fitness tests and has never looked back.
At 72, why does he still do it? And what advice would he give to other aspiring lifeguards who might like to do ‘the best job in the world'?
Chris has been keeping people safe on Bournemouth Beach for 58 years. For his incredible lifesaving work, Chris was recently awarded an official Guinness World Records title: the longest career as a lifeguard.
Interested in being a frontline lifesaver? Like Chris, you can help keep beachgoers safe. Find out how to become a lifeguard and learn more about what’s involved in this unique and rewarding job.
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   

75. A Lesson for Life: Professor Mike Tipton

Should you suddenly find yourself in very cold water, your survival could be determined within the first few seconds. Pioneering researcher Professor Mike Tipton MBE explains why
Since the Titanic sank in 1912, hypothermia has largely been considered the main danger facing those exposed to very cold water. But sea-survival expert Mike Tipton’s research has revealed that the prime threat is actually cold water shock.
Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement, so the risk is significant most of the year. The average UK and Ireland sea temperature is 12°C – rivers are colder, even in summer. Professor Tipton shares the simple tips that could one day save your life.
Learn more at RNLI.org/safety/float
Watch Professor Tipton’s video about the science behind Float to Live.    
Or follow the links:   
https://rnli.org/safety/float
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bLRr6OOhn0
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   
 

74. Lifesaving in Wartime: Pete Thomson

In 1914, the WW1 hospital ship Rohilla was wrecked off the Whitby coast. Pete Thomson MBE tells us about one of the biggest rescues in RNLI history
When a World War One hospital ship broke into three off the Yorkshire coast, the weather was so bad that lifeboats couldn’t launch directly into the sea. Not to be defeated, RNLI volunteers dragged one lifeboat a quarter of a mile, and lowered another down a 60m cliff.
Ex-coxswain and former Whitby Lifeboat Museum Curator Pete Thomson – whose father witnessed the 3-day rescue operation – reveals the fate of the 228 on board the Rohilla. He even knows what happened to the ship’s cat.
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

73. Searching Blind: Ben James

How do you search for someone in the middle of the sea in the middle of the night? We asked Tenby lifeboat crew member, Ben James
Research has shown that when one of our senses is compromised, others become more heightened. Tenby crew member Ben James talks about the challenges of finding someone at night, and about how the kit that crews rely on includes eyes and ears adjusting to the inky blackness.
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

72. New Lifeboat, Old Hand: Nicky King

Veteran lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic Nicky King on why Wells RNLI is set to save lives well into the future
At the last station to launch boats using horses, there’s a brand new lifeboat in town. And it’s in the care of Nicky King, who’s served at Wells-next-the-Sea for 34 years.
Nicky introduces us to the Shanonn class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh that bears thousands of loved ones’ names – part of the RNLI’s Launch a Memory initiative.
Life in Norfolk may move at a gentle pace (or so Nicky says), but all that changes when lives are on the line. You’ll soon understand why, in the gripping story of a shout in which 2 lives were saved in 5 minutes.
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
 

71. Future Lifeguard: Finley Hassall

Meet the 11-year-old lifeguard-in-the-making who saved a boy from drowning
Proud RNLI member Finley loves the stack of Storm Force magazines in his bedroom. But it was on the beach in Cornwall that our water safety tips really leapt off the page.
Remembering the Float to Live message shared by Stormy Stan and his cartoon gang, Finley was able to spot the signs of someone in danger and calmly work out what to do.
In this episode, Finley tells us what it means to be part of the RNLI’s club for kids, and how a gift from his nan turned him into a lifesaver.
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