Kirkcudbright RNLI: A small carving and a big history – Robert Stitt McKie

Although a fabulous new facility, the history of the original boathouse build at Torrs in 1893 will continue to play a part in the future. Not least the boat hall which has been incorporated into the new building and has changed very little. There is, however, another link to the past, this time a crew link and not a building.

In the early 1940's a well-known local character “Bing” McKie joined the crew. His crew card, a picture of which has been attached shows him being enrolled. This is probably as assistant mechanic as records show Bing attended call outs on 59 occasions between 29 Nov 1945 and 3 March 1973.

The year he officially received a crew card he was down at the Boathouse and sat and carved his name onto a nearby rock. Not a lot written on it just “Bing 1947”. When excavations for the new boathouse began the builders “3b” were asked to cut the stone from the rock and it has now been inserted into the stonework of the new building. This not only preserves a little piece of history but also serves as an acknowledgement of all the crew members past present and future.

“Bing’s” story typifies the path many crew members have taken over the years all over the country. He joined the crew around 1945, like many crew, following in the footsteps of his father “Jing”. Jing attended call outs between December 1908 and June 1936.

Bing then devoted the best part of his life to the RNLI. From joining he served as assistant Motor Mechanic for four years then Motor Mechanic for 17 years finally retiring in 1969. Unable to give up the RNLI completely for many years after his “retirement” he continued to attend the boat. His son recently, with amusement, recalled his devotion to the RNLI, he only had one jumper - his RNLI one. On RNLI business and shouts he wore it proudly with RNLI on the front, however during the working day it was reversed. It served him well, on the boat, on the building site and out for a pint! Fittingly on the day he died the maroons fired across the town summonsing the crew to a call out.

His son William (known as Willie) served from 1965 until 1973. He was then followed by his son (Bing’s grandson) Gary McKie who served on the Peter and Grace Ewing in the mid-1990s as well as being involved with the Morecambe Lifeboat for many years also giving over 20 years of service.

This one family has impressively been involved with seven Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboats.

From Bing's father being crew on the last two “pulling lifeboats” right up to his grandson being a crew member on the first Atlantic 21. Bing himself was on the crew of three lifeboats Morrison Watson, JB Couper, Glasgow and Mary Pullman. The full list of the boats they served on as a family are:

Hugh and Ann 1887 – 1910

George Gordon Moir 1910-1928 (last pulling boat)

Prisilla McBean 1928-1-931 (first Motor Lifeboat)

Morrison Watson 1931-1953

JB Couper, Glasgow 1953 – 1965

Mary Pullman 1965-1989

Peter and Grace Ewing 1991-2006 (first Atlantic 21)

This family, like many others, has, for the best part of 100 years, served the RNLI. The carving of a rock to while away a quiet time at the boathouse will be seen by many generations to come. They are not the only family that has supported the RNLI for years, but it reminds us of the dedication of the crews not always heroics, just steadfastly giving their time and effort to the RNLI.

The completion of the renovation and extension of the boathouse in 2026 will ensure the continuation of the RNLI lifeboat in Kirkcudbright but will also provide a beautiful building for these crews to work from to continue the age old tradition of saving lives at sea.

Like everything in the RNLI it is always teamwork, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following people in the writing of this article:

David Collin, Local Historian,

RNLI Heritage Archived Research Manager,

Gary McKie (Grandson of “Bing”)

RNLI media contacts

Christine Collins, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Kirkcudbright, [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.