RNLI lifeboats have been operating from Brighton for 175 years.

Jon Jones finds out how things have changed there over that time… It is true to say that over the years the RNLI, as it celebrates its 175th anniversary, has seen some pretty major changes. If he were around today Sir William Hillary, the Institution's founder, would be amazed and perhaps, a little bewildered by current lifeboat technology but he would also be delighted to see the Institution has maintained a steady course and not lost sight of its tradition, volunteer spirit and one true purpose - to save lives at sea.

There have been many new lifeboat stations since the Institution's inception and today the RNLI is 223 stations strong. However, there were stations which began life before Sir William's 'Appeal to the Nation' and indeed, some stations opened up the same time. One such RNLI station started up at Brighton in 1824 - so I went along to see how things had changed there over the years.

After negotiating many busy and confusing traffic systems in the centre of town, I found myself on Brighton seafront between its two famous piers. Walking down the steps onto the beach I was suddenly blasted by rain and wind and could see the waves smashing under the Palace Pier. I walked along to some Victorian stone archways which were set into the seafront wall and led back under the main coastal road.

One archway was surrounded by old fishing vessels and memorabilia on display and was home to the local fishing museum which was bustling with children on a school visit. Another, slightly more indistinct, doorway had all the signs of being a lifeboat station in days gone by.

As I made my way to the current station I was left with an image of bearded, ruddy-cheeked old lifeboatmen in cork lifejackets struggling with their pulling and sailing lifeboat across the beach.

Boathouse In stark contrast to the 'olden days' Brighton's Atlantic 75 lifeboat lives in a floating boathouse together with a temporary crewroom at the end of a jetty in a bustling marina. As well as providing moorings for expensive looking yachts, Brighton marina also boasts chic apartments, boutiques, cafes, bars, restaurants (including a well known fast-food franchise) and even a cinema and bowling complex.

Having been battered by wind and rain from my short walk to the station I was warmly greeted by Crew Member Mik Bjarkoy. Mik, a paramedic, had not long finished his shift from the previous night and could hardly wait to get some coffee and a snack inside him. 'If I make myself stay awake now, I'll be able to get some sleep later.' he remarked. I asked him how different the lifestyle of the Brighton lifeboatman would have been when the station first opened. 'Back then the crew would have consisted entirely of fishermen,' he explained, 'today our crew members have a wide variety of professions.' (a jeweller, a fire fighter, a nurse, a public relations officer and a trading standards officer to name but a few) Mik also pointed out that there were some females on the crew - this would have been unheard of in the good old, bad old days! Recruits We were soon joined by Crew Member Tony Parsons and Helmsman Richard Pearce who had also managed to take some time out from their busy schedules. Tony's work had recently taken him abroad for a year and he had only just returned to the fold. 'Sometimes we get new recruits who only have chance to complete their initial training before their work whisks them out of the area, and these days it can be hard work recruiting them in the first place.' added Mik.

'Word of mouth doesn't always work, sometimes we have to advertise in the local paper.' Asking Richard about the various boathouses at Brighton I learned there had been many over the years. When the RNLI's first placed a lifeboat at Brighton, a cave in the cliffs near Chain Pier was adapted as a boathouse. 'It would have probably taken them up to an hour to launch the lifeboat then, ' he said with a grin, 'apparently the horses used to launch her were owned by the local brewery and payment had to be handed over before they were allowed to go anywhere!' I did wonder if 'payment' was a synonym for 'unpaid bar tab' but I thought it best not to ask.

'We're in a good position here.' he said.

There are plans for a new crew room in the near future, but we are happy with our floating boathouse - it means we keep our launch times to an average of 7 minutes.' Casualties Richard also spoke about how the type of casualties had changed over the years, 'Once upon a time the casualties would have mostly been merchant and naval vessels - the majority of calls we get now are to pleasure craft, chartered diving vessels and people trapped under the pier.' Following the huge increase in people taking to the water for pleasure in the 60s, Brighton has been operating inshore lifeboats and today has an Atlantic 75, capable of 32 knots. 'We do get a lot of resuscitation jobs.' added Mik. The speed of our boat, combined with the latest communications and our strict training programmes, means we are able to save so many people who, years ago, simply would have been lost.' Media Following our chat and a chance to look through the station's meticuloulsy kept scrapbooks it was time for Tony and Richard to get back to work - and Mik to get some rest.

Before they they left, I asked if they would mind me taking a couple of pictures. I was promptly led down the corridor where the lifeboatmen kitted up in their wet weather gear. It suddenly occured to me that this was another aspect of a lifeboatman's job that was so different from years ago. I was reminded of all the media attention that Richard and the crew received following their Silver Medal winning rescue in 1995 - a seemingly endless wave of photographers, journalists and television cameramen. I'm sorry guys, I bet you're fed up with having to put all this gear on for the media all the time.' Still, they didn't seem to mind too much...

Getting ready to leave, I glanced out of the window to be greeted by sight of the waves leaping over the top of the harbour wall. 'It's a bit rough today, I exclaimed, 'if it's like this inside the harbour, what's it like outside?' 'Rough? No, it's not a bad day actually.' came the reply.

'Yeah, and we're on exercise tonight.' Tony added.

We shook hands and as I walked up the windswept jetty back to my car, I thought myself lucky that I didn't have to go out there with them that evening..