Hidden Depths:
Women of the RNLI

by Sue Hennessy

Review by Jayne Woods

Gentle, informative and entertaining, Hidden Depths: Women of the RNLI is a charming collection of bite-sized portrayals of the often-unsung heroes of the RNLI: its women.

Interspersing stories of courage and physical stamina with tales of ingenuity and skill, Sue Hennessy’s book illustrates how women have played, and continue to play, a vital role in the RNLI story over almost 2 centuries. From the women who went up to their necks in the water to launch the lifeboats in the days before tractors, through to the women breaking new ground in the lifesaving service today, there are references to people from all walks of life in this honest-to-goodness account, with an emphasis on community being at the very heart of what the RNLI stands for.

Among those featured are some of the women who have made their mark as crew members, lifeguards, fundraisers and donors, although special tribute is also paid to the scores of women who have supported the charity tirelessly in the background while their family members served the RNLI at sea.

Finishing with a short section on the author (the first Principal of the Lifeboat College in Poole) giving a clear insight into what inspired her to write the book, Hidden Depths is immensely readable and will appeal to anyone who loves history (or should that be herstory?) and the RNLI.

Paperback book
Published by The History Press
ISBN 9780752454436
Price: £14.99

(The author has kindly donated a quarter of her royalty to the RNLI and the publisher is paying £1 per copy.)