February 13th 2014

RNLI and Women through the Ages – Keith Wilson

We all know about the work of the RNLI but do we know how women are involved? Keith Wilson  an RNLI Education Volunteer, will tell us all we need to know about this incredibly brave group of people who risk their lives on a regular basis to rescue people at sea and in flooded areas, as demonstrated in the Winter floods of 2013/4. It is a 24 hour lifeboat search and rescue service around UK and Ireland and a seasonal lifeguard service.

The RNLI was founded in March 1824 with its name changed to the present one in 1854.

Review of the evening
Keith is a member of the Kettering Fund Raising Branch of the RNLI. He looks after volunteers and is part of the education team visiting groups of adults or children in schools telling them about the service.He explained that there are now crews on 180 beaches in the UK and the River Thames.

Women have always played a part whether in days gone by pushing or pulling the boats in and out of the water or helping in daring rescue missions such as Grace Darling off the coast in Northumberland. It has long been a theory that Women and boats are not good news but times are changing and now 10% of crews are women, particularly inshore and lifeguarding. One of our members helped Keith by reading a passage prepared for her.

Competition: For a life on the ocean waves
The competition entries were varied as always and the winner was a topical sweatshirt and copy of Swallows and Amazons, 2nd Flags and certificates from training in seamanship by one of our members and 3rd a painting of a ship at sea.

A Bring and Buy stall raised money to give as a donation to the RNLI.