A talk by Sue Hennessy on Tuesday 27 November 7.30 pm at Chiswick Pier Trust

For over 180 years images of strong, selfless males have populated the reports and literature of the lifeboat service. What has not been so well documented or recognised are the roles that, right from the very beginning, women have played in working to save lives at sea.

The stereotypical image is of women waiting in the lifeboat house for their men to return – brewing tea and giving encouragement and solace to each other. Look more deeply and it becomes clear that women have always been at the heart of the lifeboat operation, undertaking a wide range of tasks which draw upon their distinctive skills and talents. From Victorian times right through to the twenty-first century, women have always been “strong to save”. Sue Hennessy’s talk examines the role of women in one of the nation’s most beloved rescue service, the RNLI.

Chiswick Pier Trust, The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, W4 2UG. £3 for non-members, FREE for members.

You can turn up on the evening and buy a ticket.