Few people can say their lives have been as deeply shaped by the sea as Alan Woolnough. From building his own yachts in the early 1980s, to racing across oceans, to surviving a capsizing and even a dramatic night-time helicopter rescue, Alan has lived through both the thrill and the danger of life at sea.
Around that same time, the NSRI was still building up its rescue facilities and had launched its Life Membership programme to fund its growth. A life member is someone who makes a once-off donation, historically a significant contribution at the time, that secures their membership for life, rather than paying annual fees or renewals.
When the call for support went out, Alan stepped forward with a donation. By chance, he was the very first – making him the NSRI’s Life Member No. 1.
More than 40 years later, it’s a title he still carries with pride.
For him, it comes down to one truth: most people will never know what it feels like to be stranded at sea, but if that moment ever comes, there is no greater comfort than knowing the NSRI is out there.
Watch Alan share his story of adventure, survival, and a lifetime of support for the NSRI.
Photo of the month: September 2025
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