Holly Phillips has been a crew member of Poole lifeboat since October 1994.

Holly's appointment brought the number of serving women crew members to 100 for the first time in the RNLI's history.

Holly has a degree in naval architecture and is currently studying for a PhD. Her university studies have involved research on materials used in the construction of RNLI lifeboats.

She has been closely connected with the sea all her life, and her family's home is just yards from Swanage lifeboat station. She holds a RYA/ DoT coastal skipper and yachtmaster offshore navigation ticket and a local boatman's licence for the Swanage area.

Poole lifeboat station is the busiest in the country but this is the first time a woman has been on the crew. Holly says she has been welcomed by the men at the station and they have given her help and encouragement.

(The first lifeboatwoman joined the Atlantic College crew in South Wales in 1969.).