THE work of a North-East photographer will be shown in a new exhibition alongside a unique photographic archive of lifeboats.

The Lifeboat Station Project involves Newcastle-based Jack Lowe travelling to all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations in an ambulance converted into a mobile darkroom, and making photographs using Wet Plate Collodion, a Victorian process that creates stunning images on glass.

Mr Lowe’s glass plate images of today’s lifeboat volunteers will complement images from the historic archive of the famous Beken family in Cowes, who have been photographing maritime activity off the Isle of Wight for generations.

The exhibition will also explore the stories of individual lifeboats and their volunteer crews, from starting service to saving lives at sea.

The life-saving charity received £30,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to preserve and digitise the collection of nearly 1000 glass plate negatives of lifeboats dating back to the turn of the 20th Century.

A team of six enthusiastic volunteers were brought into RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset, to clean, scan and repackage the fragile glass plates. They also carried out valuable research on the images, in particular exploring the histories of individual lifeboats.

Now a selection of the Beken lifeboats images are to go on show at Poole Museum, alongside Mr Lowe’s photographs, from January 26 to April 22 in an exhibition entitled ‘Calm before the Storm: The Art of Photographing Lifeboats’.

Mr Lowe, grandson of Dad’s Army star Arthur Lowe, is also involved in a wide programme of outreach activities running through 2018 and 2019 that will include talks and workshops.

The aim of the programme is to use the Beken archive and glass plate photography to engage communities with the RNLI’s long history.

Hayley Whiting, RNLI Heritage Archive and Research Manager said: “The project will ensure the long-term preservation of a unique collection and result in innovative and exciting ways to engage the public with the heritage of the RNLI.”

Volunteer Kat Broomfield said: “Being part of the Beken project is valuable and inspiring. I’ve never worked with glass plates before and it has been fascinating getting to grips with the care and conservation required to preserve them. I love the thought of being able to make this wonderful content more accessible to the public through digitising the images. Using the library and on-site resources to research the lifeboats in this collection brings to life the unique journey of each boat, from the builders yard to lifesaving at sea.”

The project has all been made possible by money raised by National Lottery players and a generous gift from Christopher Andreae and The Scorpion Trust.

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support this project which will provide a fascinating glimpse into our maritime heritage – from coastal communities to crews at sea. As well as ensuring the survival of this unique collection, this project will give people of all ages the opportunity to get involved in exploring their heritage.”

The RNLI’s heritage archive dates from the charity’s foundation in 1824 right through to the present day. They are largely held at RNLI Headquarters in Poole, and relate to the administration, key figures, crew, lifeboats, gallantry medals, fundraising activities, legacies and publications.

The name Beken has been synonymous with marine photography since 1888 when Frank Beken started photographing yachts and ships on the Solent. Frank was responsible for capturing the final image of the Titanic before her fateful voyage in 1912. The family also photographed RNLI lifeboats built by JS Whites on the island from the late 19th century until the early 1980s.

The Beken family were originally pharmacists, but the sight of yachts sailing past his bedroom window made such an impression on a young Frank that he decided to capture these images on film.

Frank tried the photograph the yachts from his own boat, but the cameras available at the time were not suited to rough seas, so he designed a new style of camera in a wooden box-frame that he fired by biting a rubber ball held between his teeth!

The Beken Pharmacy sold these photographs alongside their medicines and perfumes, and Frank was joined by his son Keith in the 1930s. Keith had qualified as a chemist and during WWII skippered an Air Sea Rescue launch based in Cowes. Keith photographed the famous J-Class boats and started colour photography in the 1950s.

Frank died in 1970 and it was decided that the pharmacy should be sold and the photography side of the business should stand alone. Keith was joined by his son Kenneth, who continued the business after his father’s death. Between them, the Bekens have recorded all the major events on their home stretch of water, the famous Solent, and also travelled the world to many renowned regattas like the America’s Cup, the Tall Ships Race, offshore powerboat races and the Olympics.

The Beken company has held three Royal Warrants from Queen Victoria, King George V and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Kenneth Beken has now retired from active photography but continues to act as custodian of the Beken archive, from their iconic gallery shop in Cowes.