‘RNL-I-do!’: an engaging training session
Volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew member Kirsty Noble faced a surprise proposal from her boyfriend at the weekend whilst out on a training exercise with fellow volunteers at Aberdeen RNLI, who were in on the plan.
On the training exercise which took place on Saturday morning, Kirsty was landed at Fishmarket Quay where she expected to be faced with a practice scenario as part of her training. Instead, she was surprised to find boyfriend Sam Main, not a crew member, but who had dressed in RNLI yellow as part of the surprise.
Sam was quickly down on one knee, ring in hand, asking Kirsty to marry him. Kirsty enthusiastically accepted the proposal – to loud cheering and applause from the entire lifeboat crew, who had been in on the ruse all along.
Kirsty Noble, a website designer by profession, is two years into her training and is a regular volunteer crew-member on both of Aberdeen RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats.
Speaking of the surprise proposal, Kirsty said ‘Surprised is an understatement; it was an amazing occasion and to spend it with my best friends was very special.’
Her relieved fiancé Sam added, ‘It was an amazing day and I’m delighted that she said yes! A lot of planning went into the day and I’m so happy that it all went to plan. I’m really grateful to the whole RNLI team for all their help in making it possible!’
Aberdeen Lifeboat coxswain Davie Orr congratulated the couple warmly, saying: ‘Aberdeen’s volunteer lifeboat crew is a very close-knit team - we go through the highs and lows of search and rescue missions together. This was a special opportunity to share in the happiness of one of our own. We all wish Kirsty and Sam every happiness.’
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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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