John takes over from Malcolm Craigie, who is stepping down after 18 years since he first took up the role in 2008.
John has been involved with Lerwick Lifeboat for four years since he began in 2022 as one of the station’s volunteer Launch Authorities – a critical role to liaise with HM Coastguard whenever we’re asked to launch and to page the lifeboat crew. He regularly helps out with station activities, including fundraising events, crew training, and assisting with refuelling and berthing.
In his new role as Lifeboat Operations Manager, John will have overall responsibility for the day to day management of the station and operations. He’ll work alongside the full time crew to ensure that the lifeboat is well-maintained, and that volunteer crew are trained, equipped and ready for any call-outs. He’ll lead the local lifeboat management team, including representatives of the volunteer crew and fundraisers, and he’ll continue to be one of those responsible for authorising lifeboat launches.
John lives in Lerwick and is employed as a senior sales manager for pelagic fish processor Pelagia Shetland Ltd, and like other volunteers at the station, he will fit his lifeboat duties around work and home life. John also has his own boat in Lerwick Marina and enjoys time out on the water whenever he can.
John Webster, Branch Chairman for RNLI Lerwick said: “We’re delighted to have John start in his new role as our Lifeboat Operations Manager. He’s made a big contribution to the station as a volunteer in recent years and is well known and respected among our crew.
“I’d like to pay tribute to and sincerely thank Malcolm Craigie who has given so much to the station in the same role for the last 18 years, on top of his time prior to that as a volunteer crew member and Launch Authority – 33 years in total. As a charity, the RNLI depends on volunteers – and without the commitment of people like Malcolm and John, we couldn’t save lives at sea.”
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.
