RNLI 200 Voices

190. Always on Call: Alison Murphy

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   

189. In Cold Water: Michael Whiteley

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   

188. Plan B: Ellie Jackson

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   
 
 
 

187. Dressed for SOS: Oliver Flaser

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   

186. Love You Lots: Benny Thomson

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   

185. Fear Unleashed: Ruth Osborne

Ripped from her surfboard and alone in the waves, Ruth held on to advice that would save her life
For physio 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   
 

184. Out of Tragedy: Val Nixon

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   

183. Aquaphobia: Diane Allton

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   

182. Anthony Sharp: In Honour of My Brother

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   
 
 

181. The Man Behind the Mic: Dan Holland

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