Women of the RNLI

Life savers, fundraisers, trailblazers: discover the vital roles that women play in saving lives at sea.

Women of the RNLI at the National Maritime Museum celebrated the work of women in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Featuring striking photography, personal testimony and breathtaking film, the exhibition offered a window into the lives of volunteers across the UK and Ireland.

Since its foundation in 1824, the RNLI has had one mission: to save every life at sea. The organisation is entirely self-funded and relies on the tireless work of volunteers across the UK and Ireland.

2024 marked 200 years of the RNLI. In the anniversary year, Women of the RNLI shined a spotlight on the various roles that women have – and always have had – in this vital charity.

The exhibition explored the experiences of current volunteers as well as the stories of the people who paved their way. From crewmembers and lifeguards to fundraisers, mechanics and station managers, women contribute to every aspect of the RNLI’s work.

At the heart of Women of the RNLI was the photography of Jack Lowe, an artist who for almost a decade has been documenting the crews and views of every RNLI lifeboat station. His evocative images, captured using Victorian glass-plate technology, allow us to see the modern work of the RNLI through an historic lens.

Together with the voices and experiences of RNLI volunteers, Women of the RNLI provided a personal perspective on a lifesaving institution. 

Image credits

• Main image © Jack Lowe. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich London