Jack Lowe, photographer and life-long enthusiast of the RNLI, is embarking on an ambitious project to visit all 237 RNLI lifeboat stations, whilst capturing stunning glass images along the way. On 25th March he will be welcomed with open arms at Porthcawl lifeboat station. The public are welcome to visit and to see Jack in action.

Grandson of Dad’s Army actor, Arthur Lowe, Jack has admired the RNLI since he was a little boy and explains how the project allows him to ‘follow his heart’.

The talented photographer has been a lifelong supporter of the charity, joining Storm Force (the RNLI’s club for children) at the age of eight and raising over £6,000 for charity by completing the Great North Run three years in a row. Photography has also been a strong passion of Jacks, ever since he received a Kodak camera from his Grandma when he was nine.

As part of the RNLI Lifeboat Station Project, Jack plans to visit all 237 RNLI lifeboat stations, photographing the breath-taking views from each station along with the crew members. He will be using a Wet Plate Collodion, a Victorian process that allows him to record stunning images on glass. The project is predicted to take approximately five years to complete.

Jack will begin the Welsh leg of his trip this Saturday (19 March) when he visits Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Station. This will be followed by visits to Burry Port on 20 March, Tenby on 21 March, Angle on 22 March, The Mumbles on 24 March, Porthcawl on 25 March and Barry Dock on 26 March.

Porthcawl Lifeboat chairman, John Abraham said, ‘We are looking forward to welcoming Jack to our station on Good Friday. Having seen some of his results from other stations that he has already visited we are excited to see the output from his very special photography’.

He will return to visit the remainder of the Welsh stations.

Jack says: ‘I find it hard to believe that I’ve never visited the southern coast of Wales. I remember looking across from the Somerset stations last July, wondering when I’d visit, hoping it would be soon. It’s come round quickly. Now on the brink of mission eight, I’m about to meet the volunteers in this fantastic sequence of stations. I can’t wait — if the enthusiasm I’ve received via telephone calls, emails and social media is anything to go by, it looks set to be a special fortnight.

’From an early age I knew I wanted to either be a photographer or a lifeboat crew member. This trip has given me the opportunity to fulfil both my dreams. It’s fantastic to see how many people have been so interested and engaged with the project.’

His unique glass photographs are to be developed in a decommissioned NHS ambulance, which he purchased on eBay and transformed into a mobile darkroom.

Jack says: ‘Some of the images I have captured so far have been regarded as mesmerising and have even rendered some crew members to tears!’

You will be able to check the confirmed times of the itinerary by following the link to the Project’s interactive Mission Map at lifeboatstationproject.com/stations

You can also follow Jack’s RNLI photographic mission on Facebook (fb.com/LifeboatStationProject), on Twitter (@ProjectLifeboat) or on the Project’s dedicated site (lifeboatstationproject.com).