RNLI appoints new chairman of the Scottish Council

Sir Andrew Cubie CBE has had an association dating back to 1967 with the charity and he was the Scottish Council chairman for 20 years until he stood down at the Annual Meeting.

Sir Andrew was also a Trustee for 13 years and a deputy chairman of the entire organisation. He will retain his strong links with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with his appointment as a vice president.

He said, ‘‘Having been a senior volunteer for the RNLI in a variety of roles and with different responsibilities for over three decades, my parting reflection is one of confidence in that the Institution is in good heart and with the essence of volunteering remaining at the core of our work.

‘‘Whilst we have in my time enhanced the seaworthiness and capacity of all our craft unbelievably and the training of our volunteer crews through our college in Poole is world leading, the essence of service, dedication and raw valour is unchanged in our almost 200 year history.

‘‘I am proud today of our extensive prevention agenda in stopping people getting into difficulties on and in Scottish waters, our coalition work with other lifesaving organisations and our international policy reach through the UN, WHO and others.’’

The purpose of the Scottish Council is to give advice and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on lifeboat matters in Scotland and to support the work of the RNLI in Scotland.

It consists of volunteers from fundraising branches and Lifeboat Station Management Groups who are elected at the Annual Meeting of the RNLI in Scotland and who meet three times a year at the RNLI Scottish Headquarters in Perth.

The new chairman is Roger Lockwood CB, who retired from the Royal Navy in 2005 and became the Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) a year later.

The NLB is responsible for all marine Aids to Navigation (lighthouses, buoys and electronic aids) around the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man, operating in some of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters off the British Isles. This has given him a very good understanding of the environment in which our lifeboat crews have to serve.

Roger, who lives in Dunblane with his wife Susie, retired from the NLB in 2014, joined the National Council of the RNLI in 2015 and then the Scottish Council in 2016.

He said: ‘‘I feel very honoured to assume the chair of the Scottish Council from Sir Andrew. After my career in the Royal Navy and my time at the Northern Lighthouse Board (which was responsible for ensuring navigational safety in Scottish (and Manx) waters) it is in many ways a logical step to move to the RNLI - the charity that saves lives at sea. I now look forward to meeting as many of our volunteers as I can at the various stations and branches throughout Scotland.’’

The two vice chairmen of the Scottish Council are Sheona Smith and Karen Stewart.

Sheona has been a member of the Kinghorn Lifeboat Fundraising Branch since 2006 and is currently chairman of the branch.

Karen has been a member of the Lochinver Guild since 2003 and shop manager/souvenir secretary since 2008. In April 2017 she was asked to become the chairman of the Lochinver Lifeboat Management Group.

Picture Caption: Andrew Cubie, left, is pictured with Roger Lockwood at the naming ceremony of a new D class lifeboat in Anstruther.

RNLI media contacts:

Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]

Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

Or contact 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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