Aith's station history

Following the tragic loss of the trawler Ben Doran and nine of her crew on 28 March 1930, on the treacherous rocks of the Vee Skerries to the west of this station, the RNLI promptly recognises the need for a lifeboat on the west side of Shetland. Station at Aith is established in 1933. It is the most northerly of the RNLI stations in the UK, located 110 miles off the north-east coast of the Scottish mainland.

Watson class lifeboat K.T.J.S. (ON698) on station 2 May to 1935. The lifeboat costs £8,330 to build and is funded from the legacies of four individuals: Mr King, Mr Turnball, Mr Jesset and Mrs Sandford.

Barnett class lifeboat The Rankin (ON776) on station from 12 May to 1961.

The Rankin spends 27 hours continuously at sea from 6 October, searching for RAF Pinnace. Less than 48 hours later, it spends another 26 hours at sea searching for survivors from the Swedish naval vessel SS Vistula, sunk by enemy action.

Barnett class lifeboat John and Frances MacFarlane (ON956) on station from 21 January to 1986. The lifeboat is delivered to Aith after having been exhibited at the Earls Court Boat Show.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain John R Nicholson by HRH Princess Marina, and the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum, awarded to the seven members of the crew of the John and Frances MacFarlane. These honours were in recognition of their courage, skill and determination in rescuing the crew of 12 of the trawler Juniper of Aberdeen which went aground in Lyra Sound, between Lyra Skerry and Papa Stour, on the night of 18/19 February. The lifeboat launched at 5.48am into weather that was overcast with sleet and rain showers, with a strong south-south-easterly wind and a choppy sea. The coxswain took the lifeboat around the west side of Fogla Skerry and then in darkness went through a narrow channel which, although uncharted, he had been through before. The lifeboat came alongside the trawler, twice striking her as the lifeboat rose and fell 4m. With some damage to the lifeboat, they rescued the crew of 12.

For the above service, Coxswain Nicholson received the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving carried out by a member of a lifeboat crew.

Arun class lifeboat Snolda (ON1100), named after the pinnacle of rock on which the trawler Juniper was wrecked in 1967 (see above), on station from 19 July to 1997. The lifeboat is named by the Prince and Princess of Wales in a ceremony on 25 July and requires a new berthing pier, constructed at a cost of £750k.

Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Coxswain Hylton Henry. This is in recognition of when he commanded the lifeboat Snolda, and saved the 310 tonne Norwegian fishing vessel Vindhammer (rescuing her crew of 11 people), after a nine-hour tow to Sullom Voe in a severe gale and heavy seas on 7 February.

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chair of the Institution is awarded to Coxswain Hylton Henry in recognition of his leadership and seamanship when the fishing vessel Radiant Star II with a crew of five was taken in tow. The service by the lifeboat was carried out in a southerly gale and rough seas on 24 October.

Severn class lifeboat Charles Lidbury (ON1232) on station from 2 May.

New shore facilities are completed in May at a cost of £321,701.

Hosts the Artic expedition vessel Iceni in her last UK stop before entering the Artic Circle, raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.