Donate now

North Berwick RNLI volunteers presented King’s Coronation Medals

Lifeboats News Release

North Berwick RNLI’s volunteer crew assembled in the town’s boathouse as Lord-Lieutenant for East Lothian, Roderick Urquhart and Deputy Lieutenant, Sir Hew Dalrymple presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal to eighteen crewmembers.

The commemorative medals, created to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla were presented to members of the Armed Forces and emergency service personnel, such as the RNLI, who had completed 5 years continuous service and were in service at the time of the coronation.

After an address by Sir Hew, who is also the Honorary President of North Berwick RNLI the medals were presented with assistance from Lord Lieutenant cadet Able Cadet Tayla Patton of Musselburgh Sea Cadets.

Roderick Urquhart, Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian, said he was honoured to present on behalf of The King, as Patron of The RNLI, Coronation Medals to members of RNLI North Berwick.

He thanked the crew and the whole team for their loyal service to the town’s lifeboat station, which has been in existence since 1860. He said that “the crew of RNLI NB is hugely respected and admired in North Berwick and the surrounding areas, and carries out extraordinary voluntary work in the sea around the town and along the coast”

“The RNLI is a revered lifesaving organisation, manned by dedicated volunteers, whose sole aim is to save everyone in danger in the sea – and you always do so, with so much passion, talent and kindness.”

“North Berwick is very fortunate to have such an experienced and effective lifeboat crew stationed in the heart of the town, and always on standby to immediately go the rescue of those who need their assistance at sea”

Crew Member Dougie Milne was presented with the coronation medal in one of his final acts as an RNLI crew member after 19 years of service to the town. He said “ Unfortunately work commitments mean I’m having to step down from the crew. The last 19 years have been an amazing experience and I’m honoured to have been part of a fantastic group of people committed to saving lives at sea”.

A 30-year Long Service Award was presented in his absence to Brian Anderson, along with letters of thanks to the station’s press officers.

Those receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal include; Brian Anderson, Callum MacLeod, Dougie Imrie, Dougie Milne, Duncan Barbour, Fraser Fulton, Hamish Barbour, Ian McMinn, John McCarter, Niall Grant, Rhona Meikle, Robin Attwood, Sandra Castro, Simon Cowan, Stefan Dillon, Steven Selby, and Yvonne Fairholm.

Notes to editors

  • In 2023 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and RoI launched 9,192 times saving 355 lives, RNLI Lifeguards saved a further 151 lives, North Berwick launched 21 times.
  • It cost £1,450 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
  • 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
  • In 2023 it cost the RNLI £191.2M to run it’s charitable lifesaving service, 6 in 10 of the lifeboat launches were funded be generous supporters leaving the RNLI a gift in their will.

RNLI media contacts
Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [email protected]

RNLI/Derek Braid

Retiring crew member Dougie Milne and Lord Lieutenant for East Lothian, Roderick Urquhart

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.

Categories