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So, the long and short of it is....that Scotland has received the new RNLI lifejackets!

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Richard Smith
Divisional Media Relations Manager

Lifeboats News Release

  • Date:
    16/01/2012
  • Author: Richard Smith

So, the long and short of it is....that Scotland has received the new RNLI lifejackets!

The latest type of RNLI lifejackets have arrived at their first station, Loch Ness, in Scotland.

And to prove that the specification of one size fits all does work we put two crew members at Loch Ness, based near Drumnadrochit, to the test.

Joy Cameron, who measures 5ft, was put head to head with towering Matt McWhirr, in a bid to ensure that a lifejacket can fit a crew member of any size.

Now Matt measures a formidable 6ft 8ins but even he could use the same lifejacket as Joy, wife of Ewan Cameron, the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Loch Ness.

We did, however, have to put Joy on a chair in front of the inshore lifeboat station so that she could match up to Matt.

But the two lifeboat crew members saw the funny side of things and they said they were pleased with the new lifejackets which arrived at the station last week.

The new lifejackets are being rolled out throughout Scotland and then the rest of the RNLI. They are the latest in a series of lifejackets worn by volunteer crew throughout the RNLI's long history, and Loch Ness also had on display for the media the Kapok lifejacket, first introduced in 1904, and the Beaufort, introduced in 1970.

More than £100,000 is required to fund the arrival of the new lifejackets in Scotland and the RNLI is appealing to the public with help in raising the money.

The RNLI is urging everyone in Scotland to hold events on or around SOS day, Friday 27 January, to raise money for the new style lifejackets.

Picture Caption: Joy Cameron receives a lift up on a chair to come head to head with fellow crew member Matt McWhirr at Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat station. Picture by Richard Smith

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Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0845 122 6999 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland

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