
Skegness station volunteer to feature in episode of new RNLI podcast, 200 Voices
Brad Johnson, Deputy Launching Authority from Skegness RNLI Lifeboat Station will be telling listeners about his time as a volunteer crew member at the station and what it is like to be a member of the LBGTQIA+ community in Skegness as well as at a lifeboat station.
Brad's podcast for the RNLI's 200 Voices series is due out around February 2024. Listen to the podcast to find out about Brad's volunteering experience. As Skegness lifeboats’ first openly gay volunteer, Brad spoke about why the sea demands crew mates you can depend on so it sounds like a fantastic representation of the One Crew message. Supporters and the community should tune in to hear from casualties, celebrity supporters, volunteers and historians - learning about their connection to the RNLI.
The charity has been saving lives at sea since it was founded in 1824, and, in that time, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 144,000 lives. Funded by voluntary donations, and with lifeboats crewed by specially-trained volunteers, the RNLI is a genuinely unique rescue organisation with a remarkable 200-year story to tell – many highlights of which are shared through the podcast series.
Brad Johnson explained: 'It is an honour to be recognised in this historic content. The RNLI is an amazing part of my life, and what makes it is the people. RNLI Skegness is my second home, but most importantly, my second family and I cannot wait to share my journey with listeners.'
Available across all podcast platforms and the RNLI’s website, listeners can hear from survivors, supporters, volunteers, lifeguards, celebrity ambassadors, historians and many more from across the UK and Ireland – and beyond.
The 200 Voices series includes celebrity ambassadors such as The Sixth Commandment actor Timothy Spall, Gavin and Stacey actress Ruth Jones, Irish musician Phil Coulter, gold medal Olympian Sir Ben Ainslie and BAFTA-winning actress Joanna Scanlan.
RNLI Strategic Content Manager, Rory Stamp said: ‘We knew we had to do something really special to mark the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, which is such a monumental milestone.
‘200 Voices is an incredible collection of stories that are emotive, powerful, inspiring and heart-warming. The series gives us a chance to hear from a whole variety of amazing people who have played a part in or been touched by our lifesaving charity.
‘200 Voices is the first in a programme of activity planned to mark the RNLI’s bicentenary as we celebrate the world-class lifesaving service we provide today, remember our remarkable history and aim to inspire the future generations of lifesavers and supporters as we move through into the next 200 years.’
Launch into a podcast like no other: Listen to the RNLI’s 200 Voices daily wherever you get your podcasts or at RNLI.org/200Voices. To find out more about the RNLI’s bicentenary, visit RNLI.org/200.
Notes to Editors: ·
The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
An audio trailer for 200 Voices can be downloaded here and the video trailer here. ·
Find out more about the RNLI’s bicentenary at RNLI.org/200.
Skegness RNLI is based on Tower Esplanade, Skegness. The lifeboat station was founded in 1825 and the volunteer crew use an all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Joel and April Grunnill and D class lifeboat The Holland Family.
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact:
Brad Johnson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for lifeboat station RNLI on [email protected]
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
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.