Talk: Saving lives at sea: the story of HM Coastguard in six key objects

This talk reveals the often hidden history of HM Coastguard – the oldest of the major emergency services. It charts the beginnings of the service as an anti-smuggling force in the early 19th century through to its role attending shipwrecks and safeguarding vessels. This amazing story is told through six original objects from the historic collection of HM Coastguard, many of which are not currently on public display. As attendance is strictly limited, this talk promises to be a more interactive, personal and intimate experience for visitors, held within the atmospheric spaces of our exhibition galleries.