Stonehaven female volunteers attend Scottish Women in SAR event

The event runs across a weekend, giving female volunteers the opportunity to mix with fellow volunteers from across Scotland to share knowledge and experiences, work on different types of boats and gain insight from various speakers on a variety of subject areas.

Suzanne Lumsden, shore crew volunteer, tractor driver and launch authority was very appreciative of a place on the weekend. ‘It was a great mix of practical sessions and talks. I learned a lot from my fellow women in SAR attending the weekend. Not only was it inspirational and educational, but it was a lot of fun too. As a female volunteer with Stonehaven RNLI I have always felt included and supported by the rest of the crew. This is something I strive to do myself for my fellow women in SAR at the station. It’s important that that mentality remains embedded in the station for those who will join in the future. The Scottish women in SAR event is a fantastic opportunity to build a strong female community across the RNLI.’

Abbie Wright, boat crew volunteer was also in attendance at the weekend event and as a relatively new volunteer found the timing of the event fitted well into her personal RNLI journey. ‘It was a fantastic experience to meet and learn alongside other women in SAR. The weekend covered a lot of content with a brilliant mix of practical exercises, theory, and learning about developments within both the RNLI and wider SAR organisations. I'm looking forward to taking the knowledge I gained back to the station and continuing to develop as a relatively new crew member.’

The success of this year’s event has been down to the huge organisational efforts of the RNLI teams at Eyemouth and Dunbar, championed by Dunbar Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Wilson, and the independent lifeboat station team at St Abbs.

The RNLI is working hard to create a more diverse organisation and a crucial part of that is encouraging women into the operational roles of search and rescue. The event was the second of its kind in Scotland with the inaugural event being held in Inverness last year. Launched by the International Maritime Rescue Federation, Women in SAR is a global movement open to all lifeboat stations, including the RNLI and independent operators.

Notes to editors

Stonehaven RNLI was re-established in 2013 with the placing on service of a B-Class Atlantic 75. The current Inshore lifeboat is an Atlantic 85 B-Class the ‘Jamie Hunter’

· On 25th February 2024- Stonehaven RNLI commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy of the 1874 Stonehaven lifeboat disaster

· Stonehaven RNLI’s new station building was officially opened 6^th September 2025

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 over 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 142,200 lives.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Anna Carlton, 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.

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.