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Longhope RNLI welcomes back lifeboat after refit

Lifeboats News Release

Longhope RNLI has welcomed back their all-weather lifeboat Helen Comrie after being away for a refit.

Mary Harris

Longhope lifeboat Helen Comrie on return passage with Duncansby Head in the background.
Longhope RNLI Lifeboat Station was able to provide enough cover to man two lifeboats at the same time, having a team to bring home the Helen Comrie and another team to keep the station open with the reserve lifeboat.

A spokesperson for the station says: 'To have this remarkable resource of qualified coxswains, mechanics and crew members is outstanding for such a small station.'

Until the reserve lifeboat is require elsewhere, the Longhope RNLI station has the impressive sight of two Tamar class lifeboats lying alongside together at Longhope Pier.

The refit for the resident lifeboat Helen Comrie had been carried out at Eyemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station since 26 April, and the station would like to thank all those involved with the work done.

Trainee coxswain, Scott Johnston, under the supervision of coxswain Kevin Kirkpatrick, with mechanic Aaron Spence and Area Lifesaving Manager, brought the lifeboat home on Friday 11 August. The passage had its rougher moments but mostly the crew faced moderate seas.

In the meantime, Longhope RNLI Lifeboat Station was manned by coxswain Angus Budge, mechanic Alex Sinclair and volunteer crew members.

Once the Helen Comrie lifeboat returned back to the station, the crew had an hour to spare before they were off again for an important evening training exercise with the Coastguard SAR helicopter.

Notes to editors

ยท Longhope lifeboat station has been operating since 1874. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to:https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/longhope-lifeboat-station


RNLI media contacts

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789


Mary Harris

Two Tamar-class lifeboats, Helen Comrie and Peter & Lesley-Jane Nicholson at Longhope RNLI station.

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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