Donate now

His Majesty The King recognises Invergordon RNLI’s 50 anniversary

Lifeboats News Release

Invergordon RNLI celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday 6 September, in the same year the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea.

RNLI

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Mrs Joanie Whiteford, pictured reading His Majesty’s warmest thanks to staff and volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

In the run up to the 50th anniversary, Invergordon RNLI with His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Mrs Joanie Whiteford, began the RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton Relay which left Invergordon Lifeboat Station on the 1 August at 18:24 to travel around the coast.

The baton visited RNLI lifeboat stations in Wick, Thurso, Lochinver, Kyle of Lochalsh, Loch Ness, Buckie and Kessock, before arriving back to Invergordon to be presented to His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Mrs Joanie Whiteford, to convey a message to Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive of the RNLI from His Majesty The King, Patron of the RNLI.

The King conveyed His Majesty’s warmest thanks to staff and volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the conclusion of the RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton Relay, 200 years of saving lives at sea, and 50 years of Invergordon RNLI Lifeboat Station.

This was followed by a Civic Service of Thanksgiving to commemorate 200 years of the RNLI and 50 years of Invergordon RNLI Lifeboat Station at Invergordon Church of Scotland.

The service began at 18:24, symbolising the year the RNLI was founded in the presence of Mrs Joanie Whiteford, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, alongside Deputy Chair of the RNLI Board of Trustees, Fiona Fell, RNLI Lifesaving Operations Director, Capt. (Retd) John Payne, Chair of the RNLI Scottish Council, Capt. (Retd) Chris Smith, Head of Region (Scotland), Jill Hepburn, RNLI volunteer and staff representatives from Operations, Community Engagement, , Fundraising & Visits teams, and members of the public.

The service was led by Reverend Brian MacLeod and Reverend Robert Adair, joined by Reverend Calum MacLeod, Reverend Phill Gunn, Reverend Iain Macleay, and Reverend Alistair Drummond, and featured a reading from Sir William Hilary’s Appeal to the Nation in 1823 to form a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck read by Capt. (Retd) John Payne, Psalm 107:23-3 read by Capt. (Retd) Chris Smith, the RNLI One Crew Pledge read by Invergordon RNLI Coxswain Andrew Murray, a Vote of Thanks read by Fiona Fell, and a Scripture Reading by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty, Mrs Joanie Whiteford, before a piper’s lament by Piper Stuart Ross.

The service concluded with a Civic Reception at the lifeboat station, where attendees had the opportunity to mingle and chat before the 50th anniversary Station Certificate was presented by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant to David Lipp, Honorary President of Invergordon Lifeboat Station, who has served at the station in various capacities since its inception in 1974.

RNLI Long Service Medals for 20 years were also presented to Mrs Carol Graham and Mrs Annella MacDonald for their commitment to fundraising.

Saturday 7 September saw a short service hosted outside the lifeboat station with the backdrop of the Launch a Memory RNLI 13-37 decal signage for a rededication of the lifeboat station, led and conducted by Reverend Brian MacLeod and Reverend Robert Adair.

Lifeboat Management Group Chairman, John Henderson, officially opened the RNLI Open Weekend where the weekend's activities began with a fantastic Highland Dancing display from Anne Noble School of Dance and the Tain Pipeband. Highlights included a well-attended craft village with some of the area’s talented crafters, Ted Miller and his outstanding collection of model lifeboats, children’s rides, facepainting, RNLI souvenirs, the famous RNLI BBQ, live music from Dennis Hurst on his accordion throughout the day in the tea tent, a tombola and raffle.

The amazing Shannon class lifeboat demonstration wooed the crowd with a breathtaking display of her manoeuvrability, speed and the volunteer crew simulating a person in the water rescue with the assistance from flank station Kessock RNLI, also showing the capabilities of the charity’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat.

Emergency Services from Scottish Fire and Rescue, HM Coastguard (Inverness) and Highland & Islands Blood Bikes were on display as well the RNLI’s mascot Stormy Stan.

Sunday events included a craft village with a more community-based theme, with Invergordon Boating Club, Saltburn & Westwood Community Garden, Invergordon Bowling Club, Mikeyline, RNLI Water Safety, Nordic walking, the Crochet Club, Highland & Islands Blood Bikes, and Shannon lifeboat tours -over 240 people booked on a tour throughout the weekend.

The celebratory weekend helped raise over £5,900 for the RNLI and the saving of lives at sea.

Notes to editors

· Invergordon lifeboat station has been operating since 1974 and operates a Shannon class lifeboat – RNLB Agnes AP Barr (RNLI 13-37).

· Invergordon lifeboat is the RNLI’s first Launch a Memory lifeboat which carries 9,500 names on her port and starboard decals.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please telephone Michael MacDonald RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 01349 853915 or [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, Regional Communications Manager on 07826 900639 or [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, Regional Communications Lead on 07920 365929 or [email protected]

Tom McGuire, Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland on [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

RNLI

The RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton at Thurso RNLI.

RNLI

The RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton with Invergordon RNLI LMG Chair, John Henderson, and a shop volunteer at Kyle RNLI.

RNLI

Invergordon RNLI's Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andrew Shepherd, with the RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton in Buckie.

RNLI

Invergordon RNLI's Lifeboat Operations Manager, Andrew Shepherd, with the RNLI 200 Highlands & Islands Baton at Kessock RNLI.

RNLI

The 50th anniversary Station Certificate was presented by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant to David Lipp, Honorary President of Invergordon Lifeboat Station, who has served at the station in various capacities since its inception in 1974.

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