Uncovering women’s stories in Dungeness’s RNLI history

An introduction to research examining the undocumented stories of women volunteers at Dungeness RNLI station, known locally as the 'lady launchers'. Drawing on preliminary oral interviews and archival research, this talk explores how these women's stories challenge traditional male-centric narratives of maritime rescue services. By focusing on the period before the modernisation of launch facilities in 1979, this research aims to explore not just the volunteering lives of the lady launches, but also the social and cultural impact of their location and connections to the RNLI.