New exhibition celebrates Women of the RNLI

The exhibition proudly celebrates the pivotal role that women have played in saving lives at sea, throughout the RNLI’s history, since it was founded in 1824.

As well as celebrating the lives and experiences of past and present volunteers, the exhibition also seeks to inspire the next generation of lifesavers and supporters, by using oral histories from crew members and the stunning portrait photography of Jack Lowe.

A total of 42 black and white images are on display from his Lifeboat Station Project, in which he photographs crew at their lifeboat station using a Thornton-Pickard field camera circa 1905 and develops the glass plate images using a mid-nineteenth century technique called wet collodion.

Among those featuring in the exhibition are mother and daughter Máire and Síle Scanlon from Ballycotton RNLI in Ireland. Síle grew up around the station where both her parents volunteered and couldn’t wait to join them as a volunteer on the crew as soon as she was old enough.

‘I used to come in and be like, seven more years, six more years,’ said Síle. ‘I’m very proud to be a volunteer for the RNLI and to play my part, especially as the charity celebrates its 200^th anniversary.’

Mum Máire is now a launch authority for the station and said: ‘It’s humbling to be a part of the exhibition alongside all these other fantastic volunteers, being able to commemorate all those crew who have gone before us and hopefully inspire a new generation.’

Also featuring in the exhibition is Janet Kelly who managed the RNLI’s lifeboat station at Tower on the River Thames in London from its establishment in 2002 until 2016.

Janet said: ‘I feel privileged to be a part of the exhibition and even though I’m now retired I remain incredibly proud of what we all accomplished at the RNLI by establishing a lifeboat service on the Thames.’

RNLI chair Janet Legrand said: ‘Women of the RNLI at the National Maritime Museum is a wonderful opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the pivotal role that our women volunteers, staff and supporters have played throughout the 200-year history of the RNLI and continue to do so to this day.

‘From fundraisers and shop volunteers to lifeboat crews and lifeguards, the RNLI has always been powered by our volunteers and supporters. We are immensely proud of them all and everything they do to save lives at sea.

‘We are honoured to be able to share some of their captivating stories and experiences at such a prestigious maritime venue and hope in doing so to inspire the next generation of RNLI lifesavers and supporters.’

Jack Lowe said: ‘I’m proud beyond words that the National Maritime Museum are showcasing The Lifeboat Station Project in the exhibition. It was a very special moment when the museum got in touch to say they’d like to acquire prints of my photographs for their archive. It feels like the ultimate reward for all involved to have such a bright light shone on this aspect of maritime culture, a vital slice of island life that can be taken for granted all too often.’

Notes to editors

• Since the RNLI was founded on 4 March 1824, its volunteer crews have launched the lifeboats 380,328 times, saving 144,277 lives
• RNLI lifeguards – who became part of the RNLI’s lifesaving service in 2001 – have responded to 303,030 incidents on some of the UK’s busiest beaches, saving 2,000 lives
• In total, 146,277 lives have been saved by the RNLI – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years
• Jack Lowe images from the exhibition can be downloaded here
• To book free tickets visit https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/women-of-the-rnli
• The exhibition runs from 2 March to 1 December 2024
• For more information on the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary year visit RNLI.org/200
• For more information about The Lifeboat Station Project visit https://lifeboatstationproject.com/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Andy Rose, National Media Manager on 07976 523794 or [email protected] or alternatively contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [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 142,700 lives.

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