RNLI Aberdeen makes new appointments just in time for Christmas

Aberdeen lifeboat station welcomes new volunteers to its management group. The local volunteer crew provides 24/7 support, 365 days a year, including over the festive period.

The appointments come as current coxswain, Davie Orr, announces he’ll be stepping down but will continue in the role of deputy coxswain. Davie joined the RNLI as a volunteer in May 1995 and has been coxswain since 2015. Davie, who retired from his full-time role earlier this year, was successful in being appointed as an Assessor/Trainer with the RNLI and will begin his new role in the new year.

Davie said: ‘I joined the volunteer crew in Aberdeen 25 years ago but when the role of Assessor/Trainer came available it seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up. This next stage of my time at the RNLI will be supporting trainee crew members and shaping future our crews around the UK.

'It has been an absolute pleasure to serve the Aberdeen crew as coxswain for the past 5 years and I'm delighted to continue serving the local community as second coxswain.’

As a result of these changes, the Aberdeen crew sees Lifeboat Mechanic Cal Reed, who joined the crew in 2006, become Coxswain Mechanic in a joint role, and Mark Gray become 2nd Mechanic for Aberdeen all weather lifeboat, Bon Accord, alongside his continuing role as Mechanic of the D Class inshore lifeboat, Buoy Woody 85N. Mark joined the RNLI in 2001.   

The station has also recently added three deputy launch authorities, including locals John Strathearn, Martin Dunn and Gary Cruickshank - who has stood down as a crew member, to its roster of volunteers.   

In addition, the RNLI’s lifeboat station’s management group in Aberdeen welcomes Scot Livingstone as Water Safety Officer, Stuart Braithwaite as Deputy Lifeboat Medical Advisor and Jamee Kirkpatrick as Lifeboat Press Officer.

The charity is funded by support from the public which allows us to continue to save lives at sea.  

A message echoed by Bill Deans, Lifeboat Operations Manager, from Aberdeen RNLI. Bill said: ‘Our volunteer crews provide 24/7, 365 support, including over the coming festive period. That support is only possible through the donations and backing of the public.’  

To donate to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: rnli.org/support-us/ or donate directly to the Aberdeen Lifeboat Station through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AberdeenLifeboat

Read the latest issue of the OGV Energy magazine HERE.