Oban lifeboat’s coxswain retires
John Hill, Oban RNLI lifeboat’s full time Coxswain, has retired after 17 years with the lifesaving charity.
John first joined the RNLI in 1999 as a volunteer crew member at Campbeltown lifeboat station.
He quickly moved on to the role of Navigator and, soon after, became a Deputy Coxswain.
Often covering as a relief Coxswain for nearby stations such as Oban, Tobermory and Mallaig, John was also a Deputy Coxswain for Buckie lifeboat until 2012, when he took on the role as full time Coxswain at Oban lifeboat station.
Answering the pager 24 hours a day, seven days a week, John has attended 134 call outs, covered 2,335 miles and spent 252 hours saving lives at sea as Coxswain of Oban lifeboat.
Now after almost four years, John retires with mixed emotions: ‘Like most crew members at lifeboat stations across the country, I enjoy the buzz of being part of a team and helping others in distress. It’s been an honour and a privilege to be part of Oban lifeboat and I’ve many happy memories from my time here.’
Although no longer on a full time basis, John won’t be walking away from the RNLI completely: ‘I still plan to carry on on a volunteer basis - both at Buckie lifeboat station and as a relief Coxswain at other stations when needed.’
Everyone at Oban lifeboat station wishes John all the best on his well-deserved retirement.
Our new full time Coxswain will be formally introduced shortly.
Notes to editor:
Attached photo of John Hill.
RNLI media contacts:
Leonie Woolf, Oban Lifeboat Deputy Press Officer Tel: 07818 861517/ 01631 569735 Email: [email protected]
Richard Smith, Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]
Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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