Mudeford and Calshot RNLI volunteers involved in national programmes celebrating women’s contribution to rescue charity

MUDEFORD and Calshot RNLI crew members took part in national programmes celebrating women’s contribution to the 200-year-old rescue charity.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day last Friday, a new exhibition Women of the RNLI opened in London, and Poole’s RNLI College hosted a Women in SAR (search and rescue) conference.

The National Maritime Museum exhibition celebrates women’s pivotal role in saving lives at sea since the RNLI’s launch in 1824.

It highlights the lives and experiences of past and present volunteers, while seeking to inspire the next generation of lifesavers and supporters.

Oral histories from crew members are used, along with portrait photography by Jack Low.

Mudeford trainee helm Mel Varvel, who joined the station in 2015, is among those featured.

Last year Mel received an RNLI Letter of Commendation for her bravery and skill during a challenging rescue in which a boat was drifted perilously close to rocks.

“As the RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary of saving lives at sea, I feel very proud and privileged to be a volunteer and part of the Mudeford lifeboat station crew,” she said.

Calshot RNLI volunteer crew member Kelley Leonard was one of only around 40 station representatives from across the country chosen to attend the special two-day conference.

Celebrating female volunteers across the charity and inspiring new ones, it was a mix of tours, talks and time afloat in a variety of exercises around the coast at Poole.

A volunteer at Calshot for five years, Kelley worked her way up from shore crew to becoming an integral part of the lifeboat team.

In her day job as an emergency care assistant for South Central Ambulance Service, she is used to working under pressure.

One particularly memorable shout was featured on BBC series Saving Lives at Sea, involving the resuscitation of an unconscious jet skier.

The conference talks included inspirational women from across the region and internationally.

Kelley said: “The RNLI is a diverse charity, often recognised for training and working with people from all walks of life.

“To represent our volunteer crew at Calshot was a big honour and meeting up with the fellow crew members was a great chance to exchange stories and advice from our lifesaving work.

“Seeing the charity embrace International Women’s Day just goes to show the impact that all crew members can make, volunteering their time so that they’re ready to head out to sea in all weather, any time the pagers sound.”

For more information about the exhibition, which runs until 1st December, visit lifeboatstationproject.com/events/#nmm