Beris Wakenshaw
Beris belongs to: Cullercoats RNLI
Beris grew up in Cullercoats. She joined the RNLI for a challenge and is the first female crew member in the history of Cullercoats RNLI.
Beris was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 20 November 2005. The interview took place at Cullercoats RNLI Station and lasted 15 minutes and 8 seconds.
Joining the RNLI
"My dad’s a fisherman and I used to fish with him, I was fishing with him, salmon fishing for six months and my brother started on the RNLI"
My dad’s a fisherman and I used to fish with him, I was fishing with him, salmon fishing for six months and my brother started on the RNLI as crew and I just, I don’t know, I’ve always wanted to do it and it’s a challenge and it’s something to do, you know, it’s something to do on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, and I really enjoy it. And it’s a challenge for me being the only female crew member and obviously with us being from a fishing family, I know how much we actually rely on the RNLI.
Robert, the leading helmsman always used to go on about, “you can join, we need a female member, why don’t you join? You’d be able to do it,” and stuff. I don’t know, one day I just came down with my mum and they said, “why don’t you join up? Just come down on Sunday.” So I came down on the Sunday. At first obviously it was a bit foreign for everyone trying to get used to me, but now we all go out, we all go out to Tynemouth, we all go out drinking together. We all…. Just like being one of the lads really.
Beris has 7 memories in the memorynet:
Joining the RNLI
Safety equipment
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