Mention the words 'Girl Power' and you probably think of the pop group, Spice Girls! So what has 'Girl Power' got to do with the RNLI? In the early days of the lifeboat service, women either helped to raise funds or to launch the lifeboats.

Today, although they still carry out these important tasks, there are many more opportunities for women to be involved in the success of the RNLI.

Here, we shall meet a few of these dedicated women to see what motivates them to give up their time and, in some cases, to volunteer for work that can be dangerous, in order to help save lives at sea. LIFEBOAT CREWS During the Firsl World War, when many men were away, there was a reserve crew of women fur the offshore lifeboat at Coverack in Cornwall (the station closed in 1979), but they never launched on service.

The first female inshore lifeboat (1LB) crew member was in 1969.

She was Elizabeth Hostvedt from Norway, an 18-year-old student at Atlantic College (Wales), where the ILB is crewed by students.

There are now over 20 lifeboat women on the crew at Atlantic College, including Renee Godfrey. While studying at the col logo, Renee enjoyed being in charge of the maintenance of the Atlantic 21 lifeboat, servicing the engines and equipment on board and carrying out routine checks. She dislikes training in the winter without a drysuit on! Although her studies are finished, Renee is still with the crew.

Remtt Godfrey (centre).

Zandra MacKintosh As a police inspector and Scotland's longest serving l i l e h n i i i woman, Zandra MacKintosh is used to working all hours of the day and night.

It's not always crime that brings her hurrying from her bed. Her role as a serving lifeboat crew member does this too! "When the pager goes off at Sam in the morning and you're lying in bed you obviously get a bit of a buzz." Zandra is deputy second coxswain and emergency mechanic aboard Aberdeen's all-weather Arun class lifeboat and a crew member and helmsman aboard their D class inshore lifeboat.

"Being part of a team which is able to provide help to others is the best bit of the job." says Zandm "hut getting cold and wet and sometimes being seasick is not so much fun!" "It's the best feeling in the world when you gel back from a successful rescue and you know that you made a difference as a crew member", says Miriam De Regibus, from Fenit lifeboat station in the Republic of Ireland. "But the best bit of all is the crew and being part of it".

Miriam DCFUNDRAISERS This year it will cost £88 million to run the lifeboat service and, although hard to believe, every penny comes from voluntary contributions.

A large amount of this money is raised by our hardworking fundraisers. Without the money they raiso the RNLI would not exist and so it's a big thank you to them! Andrea Smith from Nottingham became involved with the RNLI when she joined Storm Force in the 1980s! Although no longer with Storm Force, Andrea is now a member of the Grant ham fundraising branch.

Her sister, aged 10, is a Storm Force member! She says "the best bits of the job are knowing that you are doing something worthwhile, even if you are in an area like ours, which is not next to the sea and knowing that, indirectly, you're helping to save someone's life." What she doesn't like is having to colled money on a cold, wet day when it's blowing a gale, holding a heavy collection box! Andrea Smith Sarah Newton and her friends were rescued by lifeboats from Hoylake and New Brighton in a diving incident in November 1996. In return for their help, she wanted to help the RNLI and is now a member and honorary treasurer of her local fundraising branch in Merseyside.

Sarah looks after the accounts, helps with collections and coffee mornings and presents talks to the public.

"The worst bit", she says, "has to be counting all I lie pennies as it takes some time but the reward is worthwhile." "Despite the tact that I feel seasick even looking over a houseboat at the Boat Show and have no particular yearning to go to sea, except on a luxury cruise liner (!), I really enjoy fundraising both through singing Christmas carols with the choir and organising different events for other people's enjoyment", says Thelma Manning from West Sussex.

Thelma joined the Forest Row Lifeboat Choir in 1962 to raise funds by carol singing. She is also responsible for organising events such as flag day/week, netball tournaments, fun runs and barn "ances- Thelma Manning Generations of Mary Taylor's family have been involved with the RNLI. Both her grandfather and father were coxswain of the Padstow lifeboat, two uncles were mechanic and winchman, her son is the deputy chairman of the Penlee fundraising branch and her grandson, James Taylor, is a crew member at Penlee and former Storm Force member! Mary has done so much for ihe RNLI, involving herself in all of the local fundraising activities. Even from the age of four, she used to help fundraise with her Mum, who carried the collecting box while she held the flags and gave thorn to people! She likes to welcome the 'boys' when they return after a callout, knowing that thev are home safely but doesn't like standing in the rain while fundraising! LAUNCHERS While thti crew are getting kitted up for a rescue, the launchers make the lifeboat ready to go out to sea.

If it's an inshore boat, a driver is needed for tlic trarlur. all-terrain vehicle or landrover, vhich pulls tlin lifeboat. Sometimes a number of launchers am needed to help get the lifeboat through the waves. Aoife Hegarty is a tractor drivf!]- at Bundoran lifeboat station in the Republic of Ireland. She launches and recovers their Atlantic: 75 lifeboat with a Talus tractor and DoDo (drive on. drive off) launching trolley. Aoife is training In lie mi assistant mechanic and also helps out with maintenance of the tractor, trolley and lifeboat.

She says the 'worst bits' of tin; job are having to get out of bed at :iam when ihe pager goes off and then having to get up again for work the following morning! Aoife also gets lots of 'women driver1 jokes I'rnni the lads! Lynne Evans first became involved with the RNLI about 10 years ago. when she was an 'understanding' girlfriend, then wife, of the station honorary secretary. As a shore helper, Lynue made the trailer ready for net recovery of Cardigan's C class lifeboat.

With the completion of a new boathouse and two new lifeboats, an Atlantic 7,5 and D class. Lynne learnt to drive the tractor and reverse a land trailer. The next step was to become a trainee crew member as shn lives very close to the lifeboat station, Lai though Lynnn s t i l l manages to launch the lifeboat on callouts!HONORARY MEDICAL ADVISERS (HMA) All lifeboat stations have an HMA, who is often the local doctor as well. HMAs help train the lifeboat crews in first aid and they go on callouts with the lifeboat when it is known that there are sick or injured people mi board a casualty.

Dr Sara Hamilton's role at St. David's involves making sure people are fit enough to join the crew, carrying out regular medical examinations and advising crew members of certain health problems. She also runs first aid courses and exercises Sara says the best hits of the job are the feeling of a job well done' and being included as 'one of the lads'! What she doesn't like is being asked to go out when the weather is bad, as she is not a good sailor.

"Nothing teaches you more about people, teamwork and challenge than the RNLI. 1 am grateful for the opportunities I have had", says Dr Fiona Ironside of St. Bees lifeboat station.

Not only is she the HMA but Fiona decided she would be of more value if she trained as a crew member. "I love the challenge of the elements and the team spirit.

mink the time spent on the crew has helped everyone to know that I understand what it is like out there, which helps us lo train for first aid situations," Dr Kim Miller has worked with the Invergordon crew to produce enjoyable and practical first aid learning sessions. The use of fake 'casualties' makes the exercises very ' • . i l i s i i i .ind Kim's role extends to making fake bluod props and sometimes baking cakes as a treat lor the 'casualties'! By sharing her knowledge and helping crew gain confidence in emergency treatment, they will be able to perform first aid with more confidence and success if a major occurs.

Dr Sura Hamilton a training exercise Dr Fiona Ironside Dr Kim Mill,-!- When Dr Penny Matthes decided she wanted to do Something on a voluntary basis, the RNLI was the obvious and best choice - her husband has been a lifeboat crew member for 13 years, they both sail and live only a few hundred metres from West Mersea lifeboat sliitinn! She has carried out several medicals, attended anil examined on the RNLI's first aid course and opened the RNLI's loi a! (.harity shop!STATION HONORARY PRESS OFFICERS The role of a SHPO (Station Honorary Press Officer) is to assist the Public Relations department at headquarters to increase public awareness of the work of the RNLI.

When a station's lifeboat is called out, or there is an interesting story to tell, the SHPO works closely with the Station Honorary Secretary (SHSJ and deals with all enquiries from the media. This leaves the SHS free to get on with other important duties while the rescue is being carried out.

Patricia Johns of Newhaven lifeboat station became involved with the fundraising side of the RNLI in 1979.

She soon realised that little or no publicity was available after their lifeboat had been called out and volunteered her services as a SHPO.

She says, "Being part of such a well respected group of people, seeing my in the paper and on tTV and knowing that everyone is aware of what | our lifeboat has done are the best bits of the job." Liz Middleton is very active in her role as SHPO for Kirkwall lifeboat station in Orkney.

She keeps in touch with the local press, organises the publicity after major events id assists with the organisation of such 'things as official visits and naming ceremonies. She also writes press releases and her administration role includes organising committee meetings and other assorted duties as required! Liz says that "Being part of the 'lifeboat family' and meeting different people from all around the country with a common interest are the best bits of the job." "I worry about what the crews are having to face", says Padstow's SHPO and station administration officer, Patricia Dawe. As soon as the lifeboat is launched on a shout, Patricia is alerted by pager and gels a call from the head launcher to let her know the details of the rescue. Depending on the seriousness of the incident, she will telephone or fax her local newspapers, radio and television stations to give them details of the callout.

Patricia is no stranger to the RNLI. She joined the Padstow ladies' guild in 1986 taking part in fundraising events and helping out on Lifeboat Day.All these women, along with many others, form part of one of he largest teams across the UK and Republic of Ireland. A good earn is made up of different types of people, both men and women, who can work well together. This is why the RNLI is so successful.

vlany Storm Force members are already part of that team. They ;ive up their time and, in some cases, even their pocket money o raise funds for the RNLI! Many Storm Force members go on to •olunteer for some of the roles we have just described.

A former Slorm Force member and now fundraiser, Andrea Smith sums it up very well when she says, "1 found Storm Force wonderful and it inspired me to do more. I know my sister, who s now 10 years old. also loves it and always enjoys reading the rm«a/ine as soon as it arrives. All I can add is keep up the good work and, hopefully as I have done, your Storm Force members vill continue their support throughout their lives.".