RNLI 200 Voices

172. The Mexico Mission: Eoin Bird

In 1914, nine Fethard volunteers lost their lives whilst saving others. Current Helm Eoin Bird on the family members who made the ultimate sacrifice
Selfless. Dependable. Trustworthy. Courageous. These are the values that RNLI crew members live by. And they were perhaps never more in evidence than in February 1914, when, in a vicious storm, Fethard volunteers went to the aid of the schooner, Mexico. What followed was an epic 3-day ordeal.
Present-day Fethard crew member Eoin Bird tells the story of what happened to the crew of the lifeboat, Helen Blake, shining a light on a disaster that remains one of the most tragic and courageous in RNLI history.
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    

171. Face to Face: John Connolly

Rain or shine, the RNLI’s face-to-face fundraisers are out talking to the public. John Connolly shares his experience of working on the front line - and a personal story of an RNLI rescue
John knows all too well the dangers of the sea. His son was once saved by a lifeguard in Cornwall, and that very same evening, John received the news that a close friend had been killed by a jet ski.
In this episode, the RNLI fundraiser talks about dealing with rejection and developing a thick skin. But also about surprising acts of generosity that warm him up on a cold day.
To learn more about face-to-face fundraising opportunities at the RNLI, search:
RNLI Face-To-Face Fundraising Jobs
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    

170. Crime Wave: Martin Leach

When researching his family history, Martin Leach unearthed a fascinating story of convicts, a shipwreck and a lifeboat rescue 
What do a barrister, teacher and research chemist have in common? All well-respected professions, and - in the case of the Leach family - descendants of a convict who was rescued by the RNLI in 1862. 
Hear the colourful history Martin Leach discovered when he unpicked his family background - the star of the show being his grandmother’s grandfather who was transported to Bermuda as a prisoner. Martin shares the story of his ancestor’s dramatic return, by sea, to England and reflects on the fact that when the RNLI rescue one person, the impact can be felt for generations. 
 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   

169. World View: Kate Eardley

Somewhere around the world, drowning takes a life every other minute. Meet the woman striving to change that 
The RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary, had a vision to save lives at sea, not just in the UK and Ireland, but across the globe – and the RNLI’s international team are helping his vision become a reality. 
Kate Eardley, co-leader of the international team, talks about the RNLI’s work supporting drowning prevention in more than 40 countries across the world. She shares the humbling experience of meeting families who have lost children to drowning, and the remarkable stories of people making a difference on the ground. 
Find out more about the work we're doing to end global drowning.
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    

168. My Second Family: Brad Johnson

When the Pride flag was raised at RNLI Skegness Lifeboat Station for the first time, it was a powerful moment for Brad Johnson 
In an area where the Pride flag might not be flown as much as in a city location, Brad Johnson was keen to fly the flag to raise awareness of inclusion, equality and diversity and reach out to the LGBTQI+ community. It was something enthusiastically supported by fellow crew members. 
Brad talks about how, from day one, he was open about his sexuality and warmly welcomed to the station by a team he thinks of as a family unit. Brad explains how flying the Pride flag made an important statement – as one of the oldest organisations in Skegness, the RNLI is leading the way in celebrating difference and all its people, no matter who they are. 
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    
  
 
 
 
 

167. The Princess Victoria: Jim Brown

Jim Brown on the boyhood tragedy that inspired his lifelong commitment to the RNLI
On 1 February 1953, a 10-year-old boy stood with his father and younger brother and watched as 13 bodies were brought to shore by the Sir Samuel Kelly lifeboat. The 13 recovered were among 133 lost in the Princess Victoria ferry disaster the day before, when more than 30 passengers were rescued by the lifeboat crew as the ferry sank 7 miles east of Belfast Lough.
The 10-year-old boy watching on was Jim Brown, who would go on to hold a host of roles in the RNLI, including being President of Portaferry Lifeboat Station and a Youth Education Volunteer for Donaghadee RNLI – hear him reflect on what was a life-changing experience.
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   

166. Veronica Vondy on her History-Shaping Ancestor

When Veronica Vondy decided to research her family tree, it led to an ancestor with a surprising story – the saving of the man who founded the RNLI
Just 6 years after the RNLI was formed, its founder - Sir William Hillary - was himself thrown overboard whilst going to the aid of the steamer, St George, in Douglas Harbour, Isle of Man.
Veronica Vondy, from Peel on the Isle of Man’s west coast, tells the story of how her family research led her all the way back to the lifeboat that went to the aid of the steamer that day. Onboard, along with the crew, was a coxswain whose gallantry would be recognised three times by the RNLI. His name, Veronica would learn, was Isaac Vondy.
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   

165. Great Scot: Anne Scott

When Anne Scott retired from her full-time job at the RNLI, Buckie lifeboat crew had other ideas. Now, RNLI stalwart Anne volunteers at the station – and sees the crew as family 
One of Anne’s earliest memories is of being 4 or 5 and trying to stay awake, not for Santa Claus, but for her dad – the mechanic at Cromarty Lifeboat – to return home from a shout. Her uncle John was RNLI crew too, and her mother a passionate fundraiser.  
Fittingly, Anne later became an RNLI Fundraising Manager and supported events in her patch of Scotland. She talks about her latest role as Lifeboat Operations Manager at Buckie Lifeboat Station, what being involved with the crew means to her, and about another indelible memory – lifeboat crew members putting on their best Beyoncé in fishnets and stilettos. 
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   

164. A New Wave: Lucy Crichard

Lucy Crichard is the RNLI’s first sustainability apprentice. She shares what drew her to the role, and reveals her efforts to inspire others like her
The winner of the MAKE UK Business Apprentice Rising Star award for the South-West - Lucy Crichard - believes we can all be change-makers. Hear why she started a Sustainability Champions newsletter, and why she takes part in the RNLI’s annual Women in Engineering Day - an event that allows schoolgirls to take part in STEM activities.
Since this episode was recorded, Lucy was also named Runner-Up at the MAKE UK National awards. In this episode, she also talks about how climate change affects sea-goers here and now, revealing why the RNLI maintains close ties with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage.  
To learn more about Women in Engineering and for resources such as newsletters for schools, visit:
RNLI.org/WomenInEngineering
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   

163. Reaching Out: Dr Aminur Rahman

Dr Aminur Rahman on how his charity – supported by the RNLI – is tackling Bangladesh’s drowning problem
In Bangladesh, water gives life, but it also destroys it. A survey carried out by pioneering safety charity, the CIPRB, found that 40 children were drowning daily – the majority lost in inland ponds.
In this episode, the CIPRB’s Dr Aminur Rahman explains how the SwimSafe programme – delivered with the support of the RNLI – is tackling the horrifying loss of young lives in the country.
For more on SwimSafe and the other ways that the CIPRB is preventing drowning tragedies in Bangladesh – thanks to the work of remarkable women – take a look at our International Women's Day magazine article:
RNLI.org/BhasaWomen 
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