Captain Mainwaring’s grandson arrived by ambulance in Stonehaven on Friday to immortalise the town’s lifeboat crew in glass.
Jack Lowe, an avid RNLI supporter, has been travelling across the UK in ‘Neena’ which also doubles as his dark room.
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Photographer Jack, the grandson of Dad’s Army actor Arthur Lowe who was famous for the catchphrase “you stupid boy”, is on a mission to capture all of the country’s 238 RNLI lifeboat stations using wet plate collodion which creates stunning photographic images on glass.
As well as using modern cameras, Jack, who was born in Aberdeen, has also been photographing each location using an 113-year-old camera.
The vintage camera uses glass plates, rather than film, to keep the image. The glass plate is then processed.
Following his visit to Stonehaven, the Arbroath lifeboat crew will be captured in glass on Sunday with Montrose and Broughty Ferry welcoming Jack next week.
Jack said: “For a trip like this to work, I think you need a map, a story and an interesting vehicle – I purchased my ambulance on eBay after another buyer fell through.
“I have had a passion for photography and lifeboats since I was eight-years-old and, after wanting a mid-life change in direction, I came up with the idea to photograph all of the 238 stations.
“The Lifeboat Station Project is one of the largest of its kind and I hope to do a full exhibition of all the images once it’s complete.”
Jack started his mission to capture all the RNLI lifeboat crews in 2014 and has amassed a dedicated collection of followers across social media who follow his journeys.
Jack’s late grandfather Arthur – who famously portrayed Dad’s Army commander Captain Mainwaring – was a fan of boats who loved spending time on the water.
A spokeswoman for the RNLI said: “By visiting every RNLI Lifeboat Station in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Jack is creating an unprecedented archive, preserving a vital aspect of our island nation’s culture for future generations.
“The project is the first time anyone has tried to create a complete photographic record of every single lifeboat crew, so it will have enormous historic significance.”
The Lifeboat Station Project is currently scheduled to be completed in 2020.
A selection of the work has already been acquired for a National Collection.
To see more images, visit Jack’s Instagram page or visit his website, lifeboatstationproject.com.
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