Dr Helen Doe – One Crew: 200 Years of Saving Lives at Sea

In the 200 years since it was founded, the RNLI has saved more than 144,000 lives and is one of the most respected organisations in the UK and Ireland.  It began with a meeting in London in 1824 to act upon a proposal by Sir William Hillary. It is his vision that still drives the RNLI today. The vast majority of its crews are volunteers, backed up by large numbers of fundraisers from every walk of life. This is a look at how it has responded to the inevitable stresses and external pressures from its initial foundation to the present day. The RNLI story features many unsung heroes and heroines, as well as high-profile names, lesser-known rescues, and well-known events. Helen is an internationally recognised maritime historian and author and has featured in several TV programmes. She is a government advisor to National Historic Ships and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.