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A New Song Remembers Fraserburgh RNLI Trent Class Lifeboat
A Scottish music legend’s daughter has been helping an RNLI volunteer pen a musical tribute to a Fraserburgh lifeboat.
A new song co-written by Fraserburgh RNLI volunteer crew member Ricky Morrice remembers the station’s long-serving Trent class lifeboat 14-34, the
Willie and May Gall.
Performed and co-written by award winning song writer Kirsten Adamson, the song titled 14-34 recalls the deep confidence the crew had in their long-serving lifeboat. It also reflects the selfless dedication to saving lives at sea displayed by the crew throughout the 24 years, from 2002 to 2026, that the Willie and May Gall was in service.
'14-34 was a terrific lifeboat and a great servant to Fraserburgh RNLI,' said RNLI volunteer crew member and lifelong music fan Ricky Morrice. 'I got to thinking that it would be a fitting idea to have a song dedicated specifically to the Willie and May Gall.’
A Musical Connection
'Growing up, I was a huge fan of the iconic Scottish band Big Country and their lead singer, Stuart Adamson,' Ricky explained. 'When Stuart’s daughter, Kirsten, began her own successful musical career, I became one of her biggest followers.'
'As the idea of a song began to grow, I approached Kirsten, who kindly agreed to help co-write and record the track professionally. My confidence in choosing Kirsten as the artist and composer was fully justified—she did a terrific job. I am delighted with the way the words and music capture the true essence of our old lifeboat'
Capturing the Call to Duty
The haunting melody pays homage to the bravery and commitment shown by the dedicated Fraserburgh RNLI volunteers during the boat's near quarter-century of service. To accompany the release, a video featuring striking video footage from actual Fraserburgh RNLI rescue missions (shouts) has been produced.
Ricky and Kirsten focused heavily on night time calls, with the opening lyrics cleverly highlighting how lifeboat volunteers remain on call 24/7, ready to answer the pager immediately whenever they are activated
'In the dark of the night when all others sleep,
There’s a few fearless souls who lie ready for the call.
They rise, no second thought of what lies in the deep,
No time to fear, no time to stall, they rise above it all.
They have faith and a bond that stays true…'
A Fitting Farewell
Long-serving Fraserburgh Coxswain Vic Sutherland praised the tribute:
'She was a great boat, and this is a fantastic song to remember the ‘Willie and May Gall’, as well as the one hundred per cent commitment shown by everyone who ever served aboard her. Ricky and Kirsten have done a marvellous job producing such a poignant musical tribute.”
The song 14-34 stands as a lasting homage to the vessel, the crews who manned her, and the Fraserburgh community that supported her through decades of saving lives at sea.
RNLB Willie and May Gall 14-34, was on service at Fraserburgh for 24 years from 2002-2026.
Since entering service in 2002, the Trent Class Lifeboat launched in all conditions to answer the call, protecting lives along one of the North Sea's most challenging and demanding coastlines.
RNLB Willie and May Gall 14-34 launched 420 times and spent 864 hours on service. She aided 441 people and saved 17 lives.
Since a lifeboat was first established in Fraserburgh in 1806, 16 Lifeboats have launched 967 times and saved 587 lives.
Notes to Editors
- Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station has a proud history of saving lives at sea, operating since 1858 (with lifeboat operations recorded locally from 1806)
- The Tamar-class all-weather lifeboat John Buchanan Barr (16-21) replaced the station's long-serving Trent-class Willie and May Gall (14-34) in spring 2026.
- Thirteen Fraserburgh Lifeboatmen have died in three separate tragedies in 1919, 1953 and 1970.
- The 140,000 life saved by the RNLI since records began was recorded in June 2012 when Fraserburgh Lifeboat Willie and May Gall rescued a kitesurfer who had been entangled in his lines and was being dragged out to sea.
- Key facts about the RNLI: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service across the UK and Republic of Ireland coasts. Independent of government, the charity relies on voluntary donations and legacies. Since 1824, RNLI lifesavers have saved over 146,700 lives.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Billy Watson, Fraserburgh RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer - 07564468304 [email protected]
Natasha Rushby: Regional Communications Manager for Scotland [email protected] - 07826 900639
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.