Montrose RNLI strengthens operational team with two new Launch Authorities

Their achievement brings the total number of fully competent Launch Authorities at Montrose Lifeboat Station to six - strengthening the station’s operational resilience and helping to ensure effective launch cover can be maintained around the clock.

The latest pass-outs are particularly significant following the retirement of two long-serving Launch Authorities, and a third stepping down during 2025 and 2026. The successful training and development of new volunteers has bridged the gap left by their departure

Launch Authorities play a vital role in the safe and effective operation of a lifeboat station. When a request to launch is received, they are responsible for authorising the launch of the lifeboat, taking into account the circumstances of the incident and the relevant operational and safety considerations.

For Jen, the move into the Launch Authority role marks a new chapter in her RNLI volunteering journey - and a milestone for the station, as she becomes the first female Launch Authority in Montrose RNLI’s history.

Jen joined Montrose RNLI in October 2020, becoming a trainee crew member in January 2021 before progressing to become fully competent crew on both of Montrose’s lifeboats. Over the past five years she has responded to a wide variety of incidents, from searches for missing people to medical evacuations and rescues along the Angus coastline.

Having spent five years on the frontline, Jen will now hang up her yellow wellies as operational lifeboat crew to concentrate on her shore-based roles as a Launch Authority and the station’s Water Safety Officer, a position she has held since July 2025.

As Water Safety Officer, Jen leads the station’s community engagement around water safety, working with local organisations and authorities to promote safety and help reduce incidents along the coastline.

Away from the RNLI, Jen works as a Team Lead in workforce growth for a renewable energy company. Her experience as lifeboat crew, together with her detailed understanding of station operations, provides a strong foundation for her new Launch Authority responsibilities.

Bob Watson’s route to the role has been very different, having joined Montrose RNLI earlier this year specifically to train as a Launch Authority.

Recently retired following a career of almost 30 years offshore, including 16 years as a Subsea Engineer with Stena Drilling, Bob brought with him considerable experience of working in a safety-critical environment and making considered decisions.

Having seen several former Stena colleagues volunteer at lifeboat stations around Scotland, Bob was inspired to become involved with the RNLI following his retirement. He saw volunteering as an opportunity to give something back to his local community while supporting a charity and lifesaving service he had long respected during his offshore career.

Despite being one of the station’s newest volunteers, Bob has worked hard through his Launch Authority training and assessment to become fully competent in the role.

Jim Candy, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Montrose RNLI, who also serves as one of the station’s Launch Authorities, said:

“Jen and Bob have both put a huge amount of work into reaching this point and I’m delighted to congratulate them on successfully passing out as Launch Authorities.

“They have come to the role from very different backgrounds. Jen brings five years of operational experience as lifeboat crew and an excellent understanding of how the station works, while Bob has made remarkable progress since joining us earlier this year and brings a wealth of experience from his career offshore.

“The retirement of two launch authorities and with another stepping down over the past year left us with an important gap to fill, so reaching this point is a real achievement for the station. We’ve not only successfully rebuilt that capability, but now have six fully competent Launch Authorities, two more than we had during 2025. That gives us much greater depth and resilience within the team and helps ensure we have the operational cover needed to be ready to respond whenever the call comes."

“Jen and Bob should both be extremely proud of what they have achieved, and I’d like to thank them for the time and dedication they continue to give to Montrose RNLI and our community.”

The latest pass-outs continue a period of development within the station’s Launch Authority team. Graeme Ewen successfully passed out in November 2025, followed by David Wilson and Kirk Urquhart in April this year.

With Jen and Bob now successfully passed out, Montrose RNLI has strengthened its pool of volunteers able to fulfil this critical shore-based operational role and is well placed to maintain that capability into the future.

The station congratulates Jen and Bob on their achievement and looks forward to their continued contribution as part of the team keeping Montrose RNLI ready to respond when needed.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Sally McKay, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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