Director of Community Lifesaving takes to the Sea
Thursday 31st January saw RNLI Director of Community Lifesaving, John Payne visited Stonehaven RNLI.
He spoke with crew and viewed the boat shed on his visit round the stations in the North East. While there he asked if he could go afloat in the boat with the crew for Sunday morning training.
John has a wealth of experience at sea. He is a qualified Master Mariner having worked for more than 30 years in the Offshore Oil & Gas industry in the marine and subsea sector.
Sunday morning arrived, a very cold but dry day. John suited up and was briefed regarding the training exercise. They were to go south to Catterline and look for a missing fisherman. The Atlantic 75 Lifeboat 'Miss Betty' was launched with John, Helm Kenny Jones and crew member Dave Blackwood on board. It was a slightly different training exercise for the crew, going afloat with "the boss", who took up his position within the RNLI only 8 weeks ago.
The sea was quite choppy and the weather very cold but the crew showed him some of the varying coast line and took him into Wine Cove where hundreds of seals live.
Crew member Dave Blackwood said "John coped very well especially on such a cold morning. He is very keen to be involved and learn more regarding RNLI assets. His bacon roll and cuppa on return to the station were well deserved"
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Lorraine Clark, 07878760633, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920 365929 or [email protected]
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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.