RNLI 200 Voices

Hannah Williamson describes the stomach-churning moment when she realised husband Ben had been taken by a rip Beautiful August sunshine, a BBQ, and a bit of bodyboarding – the recipe for a perfect day at the beach. But when Hannah Williamson suddenly loses sight of husband Ben while he’s out on his board at Perran Sands, panic sets in. With no phone signal to call the Coastguard, Hannah starts to...

Bafta-winning actor Joanna Scanlan on the cast-members she has the greatest admiration for Actress and open-water swimmer Joanna Scanlan on pushing herself out of her depth, why she included an RNLI rescue in an episode of the TV comedy Puppy Love, and why one day she needed the RNLI for real.  Hear from another RNLI ambassador who's starred onscreen, Ruth Jones (Episode 36). 200 Voices is produce...

In 1824, Sir William Hillary founded what is now the RNLI. Coxswain Edd Christian takes us back to where it all started On 10 October, 1822, HMS Vigilant foundered on St Mary’s Rock in Douglas Bay on the Isle of Man. A bystander urged others to help him row out to rescue those in peril. That man was Sir William Hillary. And, as a result of this and further shipwrecks, he went on to form what we kn...

How do you describe what it’s like to encounter waves the size of buildings? How do you convey what that moment of rescue feels like? How do you tell the story of 200 years of lifesaving? With so many examples of courage, selflessness, heart-breaking loss and heartfelt relief in its long history, the RNLI has left it to those who know best. In 200 Voices you’ll hear from people whose lives have be...