94. The 85ers: Paul Weston

Paul Weston, lifesaver and singer with RNLI Portishead’s sea shanty band, on singing for HM King Charles III 

When Paul Weston joined the Portishead crew 15 years ago, he thought it would be a great way to get out on the water and meet some new people. But he never imagined that it would lead to representing the RNLI at the Coronation Concert. 

During lockdown, six sea-going Portishead volunteers separately sang and recorded a sea shanty in hope of lifting their spirits. When they edited their parts together, and realised they sounded rather good, The 85ers was born. 

Named after the station’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, the shanty band went from recording songs in their own homes to performing at various events, including the Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival and – their greatest surprise of all – the Coronation Concert. In this episode, hear Paul talk about how it felt to sing for the HM King Charles III.  

200 Voices is produced by Adventurous Audio for the RNLI

Interview by Adventurous Audio

Soundtrack composed and performed by Jon Nicholls

The RNLI is a charity celebrating 200 years of saving lives at sea - find out more at RNLI.org/200