Not all heroes wear yellow wellies at Largs RNLI

Knitting and the RNLI are something which people wouldn’t instantly put together, however knitters have been allowing RNLI volunteers to save lives at sea for over 200 years.

When the RNLI was founded in 1824, the volunteer crews didn’t have the modern day personal protective equipment which crews are issued with today. It was family members who knitted the kit the crews wore to sea. From jumpers, long socks, gloves and red woolly hats, these volunteer lifesavers were kept warm thanks to the talents of others.

Today, RNLI volunteers continue this knitting tradition by crafting items to be sold locally, generating funds for the charity to ensure our volunteer lifeboat crews can continue to respond 24/7.

At Largs RNLI, the resident knitter at the station is Dorothy Copeland. Dorothy is a very familiar face at the lifeboat station with her husband Ronnie Copeland recently celebrating over 60 years of volunteering for the charity.

Dorothy has always been there to support her husband and the wider lifeboat family at Largs, volunteering as a fundraiser for many years and also quietly knitting away in the background, dedicating her own time and efforts to saving lives at sea.

Dorothy started knitting lifeboat people over 15 years ago, having previously knitted baby clothing which was sold at local coffee mornings with the proceeds going to the RNLI. She also now knits starfish which are a useful reminder to people who unexpectedly end up in the water to float to live, however the knitted crew are still her most popular creation.

Many of the volunteer crew at Largs now have knitted versions of themselves, with a fully volunteer knitted crew ready to launch just as soon as they receive a knitted lifeboat! Dorothy took the time to create these knitted crew members to resemble their human counterparts and are very much loved.

Claire McRae, volunteer at Largs RNLI, explained; ‘I first met Dorothy at the Largs RNLI Welly Walk in 2015. I was training to run my first marathon for the RNLI and felt one of Dorothy’s knitted lifeboat people would be the perfect companion for my run. When I seen the happy knitted faces and met Dorothy, I could see the love and time which had gone into knitting them. I quickly purchased one before they sold out and named him Ben.

‘Knitted Ben went on to accompany me while I was running marathons for the RNLI around the world. When I then joined the volunteer crew at Largs I was delighted to meet Dorothy again. She is quietly giving so much to the charity without asking for anything in return.

‘When the RNLI celebrated 200 years, I was lucky to attend the celebrations in Westminster to represent Largs RNLI. Dorothy finding out about my upcoming visit ensured I was joined by my very own knitted Claire at the event.

‘Knitted Claire has now accompanied me at several marathons, most recently accompanying me to run the Tokyo Marathon in March. I always make sure to send Dorothy photos showing the adventures of knitted Claire.

‘I know several of the other volunteers at Largs have these knitted versions of themselves and are some of their most treasured possessions.

‘All of the volunteer crew here at Largs RNLI are all so thankful for everything that Dorothy does to support the RNLI, especially locally here in Largs. From volunteering in the lifeboat shop to selling her knitted items at events, she is a total superstar, not all lifeboat heroes wear yellow wellies, some knit them.’

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Claire McRae, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [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, 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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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.