Portree RNLI appoints full-time coxswain

Stuart Nicolson, from Portree on the Isle of Skye, first joined the RNLI in March 2014 on his 17^th birthday. He commenced training to become competent crew before later progressing to the role of navigator.

Following a recruitment process, Stuart has now been appointed as full-time coxswain of the all-weather, Trent class lifeboat based at the Isle of Skye station, Stanley Watson Barker.

His new role will officially begin in April 2025, but Stuart’s involvement in the lifeboat stretches back to when he was a wee boy.

Stuart says: ‘I’ve been around the lifeboat and the station since I was young through my dad, John ‘Clanky’ Nicolson, who has been the full-time station mechanic since 1999. It’s always been a big part of my life.’

Speaking about his appointment to the role of ALB full-time coxswain, Stuart adds:

‘I’m passionate about what the RNLI does, particularly as the charity has now been saving lives at sea for over two hundred years. Taking on the role of coxswain is something that I’ve always wanted to do and I’m really looking forward to working with the volunteer crew on a closer level. I enjoy giving something back to the community too, particularly as they are always very supportive of their local lifeboat station.’

Since first joining the crew over a decade ago, Stuart has seen active service on shouts covering a huge variety of different scenarios. One shout in recent years that he recalls was when the Portree lifeboat was called to a cargo ship that had gone aground in the nearby Kylerhea Narrows.

‘The crew were paged just after 1am on a misty October morning, with the B-class RNLI lifeboat from Kyle of Lochalsh also called to the scene. The casualty vessel was a large ship at 88 metres long, and Portree lifeboat stood by to monitor the situation and assist with refloating.

‘The crew performed really well, and it was very much a team effort between us onboard the Portree lifeboat, the volunteer crew of Kyle of Lochalsh, and others including emergency towing and support vessels. It’s a perfect example of how everyone comes together with the aim of aiding any vessel or person in distress.’

Stuart has seen first hand the role that volunteers play in the RNLI and the lifeboat stations not just across Portree and flanking stations, but all over the UK and Ireland:

‘We’re always looking for volunteers to join the crew here in Portree. We’re a strong team and support each other in every aspect of life at the RNLI. If you’re interested in joining, come down to the lifeboat station to say hello – the kettle is always on!’

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Portree Lifeboat Station was established in 1991 and operates a Trent class all-weather lifeboat – ‘Stanley Watson Barker’. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portree-lifeboat-station
• To serve onboard a lifeboat as crew, you must be over 18 years old and under 55 years old for inshore lifeboats or under 65 years old for all-weather lifeboats. Every crew member carries out a probationary period that usually lasts for 1 year.
• The RNLI welcomes volunteers aged 13 and above in a variety of other roles beyond lifeboat crews. Read more about joining the RNLI here: https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/how-you-can-volunteer/be-a-lifeboat-station-volunteer

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:

Robert MacInnes, Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421829 / [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]

RNLI Press Office: 01202 336789 or [email protected]

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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