Five years down, three to go for the man photographing all 238 lifeboat stations

Although Jack Lowe had been practising the Victorian photographic technique at home in Newcastle for a couple of years, this was to be the first time he would put his skills to the test.

He had persuaded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the charity that saves lives at sea, to let him visit all 238 of their lifeboat stations to photograph them using the unusual photographic process, which is called ‘wet plate collodion’.

He had put a halt to his print-making business to devote himself to this new project; bought an old ambulance on eBay to convert it into a darkroom, and stocked up on glass plates and litres of developing chemicals.

But when he arrived at Southwold RNLI, it was dark and stormy, the weather was worsening, and only two crew members had turned up to meet him!

Jack Lowe remembers his feelings on that day:

“On that dreich and stormy Monday, my nerves were truly jangling. I knew I'd come up with a fantastic idea and I’d publicly shared what I intended to do. Friends, followers and loved ones were rooting for me. The pressure was on and I felt very aware that so many great ideas fall by the wayside simply because they turn out to be too difficult to execute. In those moments, it was time for me to turn my words into actions and I was determined to succeed. As the project’s grown in stature over the years, it’s a determination that’s only grown stronger and stronger.”

Five years later, Jack has photographed 147 operational stations, over 2000 RNLI volunteers – and around a dozen dogs, who are often included if their owners are on the crew!

He has travelled about Britain and Ireland in ‘Neena’, driving over 35,000 miles, equivalent to nearly one and a half times round the world. and used about 8400 litres of fuel.

He and ‘Neena’ have also taken to the water, travelling by ferry to some of the furthest outposts of the RNLI, including Aith in Shetland, the most northerly station, and St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly. The latter was an especially nerve-wracking journey for Neena, who had to be winched onto the cargo deck.

In the meantime, Jack has been featured in the national press; gathered over 40,000 followers on social media, and seen his work exhibited at the National Library of Wales, The Perth Museum and The Great North Museum. He’s also made portraits of the RNLI’s Chief Executive Paul Boissier and its Chairman Stuart Popham, and given talks at venues as diverse as the Apple Store in Covent Garden and The Highland Council in Inverness.

His provisional end date is the latter half of 2022, so there are still three years of photographic adventures. Jack has still yet to journey to some of the RNLI’s more remote stations, like those in the Western Isles of Scotland for example, or those on the West Coast of Ireland.

His remit has broadened too – when he first started, he planned to make three images at each station: the crew, the view from the station and the Helm or Coxswain. But now he also uses his time at each station to capture portraits of women crew members and station mechanics, in order to highlight their presence as part of the RNLI’s lifesaving family.

In addition to that, he makes sound recordings: interviewing crew members about their experiences and capturing the ‘behind the scenes’ stories of the Project.

This year, Jack plans to photograph 30 more RNLI lifeboat stations, bringing the completion of this unprecedented odyssey truly within reach.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing. When Jack completed his 100th station, Valentia in Ireland in September 2017, he revealed to his social media followers that he was struggling to keep going. His struggles were physical, emotional and financial – as the Project is largely self-funded.

Since then, he discovered the crowd-funding platform Patreon that allows people to support him by contributing a monthly amount, starting from a few pounds a month. This support has allowed him to continue his work on a more secure financial footing.

Jack, who is the grandson of Dad’s Army star and fellow RNLI supporter Arthur Lowe, said: “Ultimately, I’m honoured beyond words to be making this archive. It’s a privilege spending time with so many lifeboat volunteers, preserving their bravery and devotion for future generations.

“This journey is unprecedented in so many ways. The further I travel, the deeper the body of work becomes on just about every level and in ways that I could never have foreseen or imagined.

“When looking at a freshly-made crew portrait last year, a lifeboat volunteer said to me, 'We look like those heroes of old'. I replied, 'That’s because you’re the same people.' The Project closes the circle of photographic and RNLI history and gives these unsung heroes a fresh spring in their step and a sense of renewed pride.”

Notes to Editors:

Follow Jack’s RNLI photographic mission on Instagram (@lordlowe), Facebook (fb.com/LifeboatStationProject), on Twitter (@ProjectLifeboat) or on the Project’s dedicated site (http://lifeboatstationproject.com).

Many more of Jack's images are available through the RNLI Press Office and a downloadable RNLI film about the Project is here: https://vimeo.com/187357213

Contact RNLI Public Relations on [email protected]/ 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.