‘I cannot imagine rowing a boat through those violent waters’

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.