WHAT?  Women of the RNLI

WHERE?  National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF

WHEN?  Now until 1st December.  Free to visit 

WHY GO?  To pay homage.  Would you risk your life to save others at sea?  This year marks 200 years of the RNLI with special tribute being awarded to the women who volunteer.  These heroic women past and present are celebrated in an inspiring exhibition, in none other than the respected Maritime Museum itself.  It records volunteers across the country, who at the sound of a beeper, dash out in all weathers to rescue folk whether it’s a teenager cast adrift on a surfboard or a small boat that capsized. 

It beggars belief that there are such fearless dedicated women, who often follow in their families’ footsteps to join this, the largest maritime life saving charity.  It costs £188 million to run this formidable institution that relies almost entirely on public support and generosity. 

When you factor in the price of £590 for a life jacket and £250 for a lifeguard's wetsuit, funds are always needed to keep things afloat.

Focusing on the women who are essentially doing what was formerly seen as a man’s job, every weathered face tells a story as captured by photographer Jack Lowe who set himself the personal challenge of travelling around the British Isles photographing all 238 lifeboat stations. Using Victorian glass-plate technology, his monochromatic images have an air of nostalgia creating a historic context. These powerful photographs say more than words can ever say!

IN THE KNOW Personal experiences are recounted in the excellent short film shown alongside the exhibition.  It highlights the many varied positive aspects of contributing as a volunteer.

Commissioned by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and directed by award winning film-maker Dan McDougall, ‘Searchlight’, interviews three young women volunteers in Oban West Scotland where as one states, ‘Nasa could not predict the Scottish weather’!