RNLI supporter cruises north to visit special lifeboat

The B class Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat Colin James Daniel is one of the last Atlantic 75 boats currently in service but it has served the Loch Ness RNLI well since arriving here in October 2013. Loch Ness volunteer crew and lifeboat launched 25 times during 2016 rescuing people in trouble on the Loch and saving lives.

After losing her husband in 1999 Brenda Daniel and her daughters arranged the bequest in his memory. They closely followed progress and even visited the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight during construction of the boat. The Colin James Daniel was then put into service at the RNLI Atlantic College in Glamorgan. Mrs. Daniel recalled the naming ceremony and launch in 2000, and visiting Atlantic College Lifeboat station several times over the years, once taking part in a training exercise. She was also there when the lifeboat left Wales in 2013, prior to its relocation to Loch Ness, but she had not seen it since.

Intending to come to Scotland this year, she chose to holiday on a cruise ship which departed Greenock on the day of her late husband's birthday, and stopped for a full day at Invergordon, allowing her shore time to visit Loch Ness. Senior Helm Garry MacLeod took the opportunity to present Mrs. Daniel with a glass engraving of the lifeboat on Loch Ness. 'With the new Loch Ness lifeboat station currently under construction, and a new lifeboat due later this year, it was a timely opportunity for Brenda to see her special boat in service' he said.

The RNLI is independent of Government funding and relies on bequests and donations to fund its lifesaving work.

95% of RNLI total income comes from donations, and 95% of RNLI people are volunteers.

Loch Ness is the only inland lifeboat station on the UK mainland.

Loch Ness attracts over one million visitors every year.

Loch Ness stretches 24 miles with depths of over 200m and an average temperature of just 4℃.

RNLI has been keeping watch over Loch Ness since 2008.