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Busy evening for Fraserburgh RNLI with two separate meetings

Lifeboats News Release

Fundaisers met to organise Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open day and full-time Coxswain/ Mechanic Vic Sutherland and volunteers met 24 members of the Strichen Young Farmers for a tour of the station.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Fraserburgh Lifeboat Fundaisers outside the RNLI shop before the meeting to organise final details of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open Day arranged for Saturday 3 June 2023

The Fraserburgh Lifeboat Fundaisers met in the RNLI shop to organise final details of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open day, which takes place in a little over a week’s time on Saturday 3rd June, and full-time Fraserburgh Lifeboat Coxswain/ Mechanic Vic Sutherland and volunteers Graeme Duthie, Declan Sutherland, Scott Leye and Ricky Morrice gave 24 members of the Strichen Young Farmers a tour of the station.

The RNLI is the charity which saves lives at sea and depends on contributions from the public and businesses to fund the lifeboats, equipment and training.

The Fraserburgh RNLI Fundraising branch are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who organise several events and activities throughout the year, with great support from the local community.

The next event is the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open Day on Saturday 3 June. It's set to be a great day with loads of activities, stalls and attractions.

Strichen Young Farmers also paid a visit to Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station this week. The group were welcomed by full-time Coxswain/ Mechanic Vic Sutherland who introduced volunteers Graeme Duthie, Declan Sutherland, Scott Leye and Ricky Morrice who would be helping with the tour.

Vic told the Young Farmers all about the RNLI, and key points in the history of Fraserburgh lifeboat, including the sacrifice made by thirteen local men in three separate lifeboat disasters, in 1919, 1953 and 1970, who are commemorated in the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Memorial Statue, and remembered every year with the laying of wreaths.

Coxswain Sutherland also explained the development of lifesaving clothing, equipment and techniques. He also got the young farmers to demonstrate how quickly the crew get changed when there is a shout, by getting them to race each other and dress up quickly in the RNLI Helly Hansen all weather crew kit.

They also got a look at the new Petzl helmets which are replacing the the old style Gecko helmets and tried on the lifejackets, which they found surprisingly heavy.

Vic recalled an earlier visit by the Young Strichen Farmers a few years previously when a young sixteen-year-old Shane Richardson first visited Fraserburgh RNLI and was so impressed with what he saw he joined the crew as soon he could.

Shane is now a boat’s officer and mechanic and a valued member of the crew who has given 12 years of great service to Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat.

Volunteers 2nd Cox Graeme Duthie, Mechanic Declan Sutherland and crew members Scott Leye and Ricky Morrice showed the Young Farmers all around the lifeboat, inside and outside explaining what everything was for, where the equipment was kept and how they were used in specific shouts.

“It was a really good visit and we all enjoyed ourselves. Vic and his team really made us welcome and we found out so much about Fraserburgh Lifeboat” said a spokesperson for the Strichen Young Farmers, and left a basket of goodies for the crew to enjoy as a token of appreciation for the time they took to make the visit so enjoyable.

Speaking on behalf of Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station Vic said "We enjoy the visit just as much as the young farmers who were great bunch. It was good to let them know a bit about ourselves and how we go about saving lives at sea"

Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open Day takes place on Saturday 3 June 2023 from 10am till 4pm.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Strichen Young Farmers with full-time Coxswain/ Mechanic Vic Sutherland and volunteers Graeme Duthie, Declan Sutherland, Scott Leye and Ricky Morrice during their visit to the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station.

RNLI/Billy Watson

A group of Strichen Young Farmers get shown around Fraserburgh Lifeboat.

RNLI/Billy Watson

The race is on. Strichen Young Farmers get an idea of how quickly volunteers get changed into the life saving kit.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Mechanic Declan Sutherland shows a group of Strichen Young Farmers everything about the wheelhouse

RNLI/Billy Watson

Shane Richardson first visited Fraserburgh Lifeboat as a young sixteen year old and was so impressed with what he saw he joined the crew as soon he could. Shane is now a boat’s officer and mechanic and a valued member of the crew who has given 12 years of great service to Fraserburgh Lifeboat.

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, Twitter 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.

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