‘We’ve got loads of female crew in Porthcawl and there’s more joining us’

Volunteer Helm Aileen recalls the day she and her crew saved two lives, which resulted in an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

RNLI Porthcawl’s first female Helm – Aileen Jones – takes us back to 24 August 2004, and the day she helped to save two lives. The rescue resulted in Aileen becoming the charity’s first female crew member to be awarded an RNLI Gallantry Medal. What advice would she give to aspiring lifesavers?

200 Voices is home to a range of inspiring stories from women who have led the way. You can hear about other medal-winning firsts by Victorian heroine Grace Darling (Episode 99) and former lifeguard Sophie Grant-Crookston (Episode 20). And Di Bush (Episode 30) and Anna Heslop (Episode 175) talk about the changes seen at stations around our coasts.