Dunbar RNLI recognises 64 years of service from three dedicated volunteers
Dunbar Lifeboat Station this week honoured three long-serving volunteers who have racked up 64 years’ service between them.
Medals were presented to full-time coxswain Gary Fairbairn for 30 years’ service and deputy coxswain Gordon Mackay for 20 years’ service. A certificate of service vellum was also presented to Iain McDougall, who recently retired from the crew after volunteering for 14 years.
Presenting the awards, Jill Hepburn, Head of Region in Scotland, said it was important that the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, recognises the dedication of its volunteers over many years.
Saluting Gary’s awards for bravery in the rescue of a Swedish couple in treacherous conditions and the contribution of the wider Fairbairn family, including his son and daughter who currently serve on the crew, Jill said: ‘Back in 2009 you received a bronze medal in recognition of your superb seamanship, courage and determination for your part in the rescue of two people from the yacht Ouhm. You also received the Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship from the Shipwrecked Mariners and Fishermen’s Royal Benevolent Society for the rescue. This comes from a long dynasty of seafaring within Dunbar Lifeboat Station with Walter (Gary’s great-great-grandfather), who also served 34 years and received a silver medal, and it’s really nice to see that it continues in both Kieran and Jodi.’
Gary said: ‘It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to serve at Dunbar with such a fantastic crew, along with our launch authorities, fellow coxswains, mechanics, fundraisers and shop volunteers, as without them there would be no RNLI at Dunbar. We are one crew and one family here.’
Presenting the medal to Gordon Mackay, Jill made special mention of the call-out during Storm Ciara which turned into a 12-hour ordeal involving two lifeboats. She said: ‘In February 2020, when responding to a fishing vessel on route from Eyemouth to Ullapool, in supporting Anstruther and taking over the tow, time constraints meant that access to Pittenweem was untenable and you had to wait five hours for enough tide to take you into safe haven at Methil. Well done and thank you for your support and for being a deputy to Gary.’
Gordon said: ‘Having spent long periods at sea in bad weather, I understand how it feels to know that help is there if things go wrong and I'm happy to do my bit.’
As she paid tribute to Iain McDougall’s service, Jill noted he had previously been a volunteer with the Coastguard for over 25 years. ‘You have a passion for all things search and rescue,’ Jill said. ‘Thank you very much for all your dedication and support, across lifeboating and the coastguard. Without that blue light community, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.’
Iain said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a volunteer and had no regrets, adding: ‘If I got the chance, I would do it all again … only earlier!’
ends
Notes to editors
· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.
· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.
· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.
· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.
RNLI media contacts
Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Alexander Williams, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer a[email protected]
Richard Smith, 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 (available 24 hours) 01202 336789 [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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