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| Forgotten cache of RNLI pictures 'preserved for posterity' | Forgotten cache of RNLI pictures 'preserved for posterity' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A forgotten cache of 13,000 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) pictures has been rediscovered in an attic and is being "preserved for posterity". | A forgotten cache of 13,000 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) pictures has been rediscovered in an attic and is being "preserved for posterity". |
| The photos were found earlier this year in a large dusty pile in the organisation's headquarters in Poole, Dorset. | The photos were found earlier this year in a large dusty pile in the organisation's headquarters in Poole, Dorset. |
| Work has been started to preserve the pictures, the earliest of which are from the 1920s, and digitise the whole collection. | Work has been started to preserve the pictures, the earliest of which are from the 1920s, and digitise the whole collection. |
| Joe Williams, of the RNLI, said: "We are bringing the pictures back into the light." | Joe Williams, of the RNLI, said: "We are bringing the pictures back into the light." |
| Mr Williams, who is a project officer and archivist, said: "It was an untapped resource and now we have preserved it for posterity." | Mr Williams, who is a project officer and archivist, said: "It was an untapped resource and now we have preserved it for posterity." |
| It is hoped the conservation project will be finished early next year. | It is hoped the conservation project will be finished early next year. |
| Mr Williams said no-one was aware the collection had been left in unsuitable conditions. | Mr Williams said no-one was aware the collection had been left in unsuitable conditions. |
| "We had to bring it down from the attic to discover what was up there. | "We had to bring it down from the attic to discover what was up there. |
| "It was a big mound of box files and photos being kept in very poor conditions near a lift mechanism," he said. | "It was a big mound of box files and photos being kept in very poor conditions near a lift mechanism," he said. |
| It is a record of the charity's activities including royal visits, lifeboat-naming ceremonies and launches. | It is a record of the charity's activities including royal visits, lifeboat-naming ceremonies and launches. |
| Some of the standout pictures show the presentation of gallantry medals to crews. | Some of the standout pictures show the presentation of gallantry medals to crews. |
| An RNLI team working alongside a number of Bournemouth University students has conserved and catalogued the pictures and many have been digitised. | An RNLI team working alongside a number of Bournemouth University students has conserved and catalogued the pictures and many have been digitised. |
| The team now intends to research some of the rescue stories behind the medal presentations. | The team now intends to research some of the rescue stories behind the medal presentations. |
| Some of the pictures will be used in care home reminiscence sessions and others are to be colourised, said Mr Williams. | Some of the pictures will be used in care home reminiscence sessions and others are to be colourised, said Mr Williams. |
| "It has been a very enjoyable thing to do and very satisfying on a professional level," he added. | |
| Dave Riley, 40, the Helm of Poole lifeboat, said: "When I look at old pictures, especially those men in old cork life jackets, I think if someone said 'Go to sea with that' I would have to think twice. | Dave Riley, 40, the Helm of Poole lifeboat, said: "When I look at old pictures, especially those men in old cork life jackets, I think if someone said 'Go to sea with that' I would have to think twice. |
| "Back then they were very brave. Yes, I go out in very rough seas but we have a better chance of coming home." | "Back then they were very brave. Yes, I go out in very rough seas but we have a better chance of coming home." |
| Mr Riley started as lifeboat crew when he was 17 and has also worked full time for the charity for the past 15 years. | Mr Riley started as lifeboat crew when he was 17 and has also worked full time for the charity for the past 15 years. |
| "It's been said we are ordinary people doing extraordinary things but you don't think about it in black and white, you just do what you do." | "It's been said we are ordinary people doing extraordinary things but you don't think about it in black and white, you just do what you do." |
| The story of the RNLI saving lives at sea | The story of the RNLI saving lives at sea |
| The charity's philosophy is to provide a lifesaving service using volunteers wherever possible. | The charity's philosophy is to provide a lifesaving service using volunteers wherever possible. |
| 1824 - Sir William Hillary's idea of a service dedicated to saving lives at sea begins | 1824 - Sir William Hillary's idea of a service dedicated to saving lives at sea begins |
| 1838 - Grace Darling became a national heroine risking her life to save stranded survivors of the Forfarshire | 1838 - Grace Darling became a national heroine risking her life to save stranded survivors of the Forfarshire |
| 1880 - The Zetland, built in 1802, was retired. The oldest surviving lifeboat in the world saved more than 500 lives and has been preserved at Redcar, North Yorkshire | 1880 - The Zetland, built in 1802, was retired. The oldest surviving lifeboat in the world saved more than 500 lives and has been preserved at Redcar, North Yorkshire |
| 1905 - First motor lifeboat entered service at Tynemouth | 1905 - First motor lifeboat entered service at Tynemouth |
| 1936 - Last horse-powered launch | 1936 - Last horse-powered launch |
| 1940 - Two lifeboats join the fleet of little ships rescuing soldiers from the beach at Dunkirk during World War Two | 1940 - Two lifeboats join the fleet of little ships rescuing soldiers from the beach at Dunkirk during World War Two |
| 1969 - Elizabeth Hostvedt became first first trained female RNLI crew member | 1969 - Elizabeth Hostvedt became first first trained female RNLI crew member |
| 2002 - A hovercraft joins the RNLI fleet. | 2002 - A hovercraft joins the RNLI fleet. |
| Source RNLI | Source RNLI |