Front to Back: Stuart Taylor, Connor Cowie, Stuart Mack and Jordan Campbell.
Picture: Daniel Forsyth. Image No.042782
AS Buckie’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew brought to a close one of their busiest years to date, they face 2019 with one of their most highly trained and strongest lifesaving teams ever. Coxswain mechanic Alan Robertson can now count on no fewer than three deputy coxswains – Connor Cowie, Stuart Mack and Stewart Taylor – as well as deputy mechanics Jordan Campbell and Brian Forbes . The new deputy coxswains will assist Mr Robertson and second coxswain Mike Rennie while Mr Forbes and Mr Campbell will work with long-standing mechanics Gavin Hyne and David Grant. Mr Robertson went on to describe the news as a major boost for the crew and the station. He told the Advertiser: “I’m delighted to have them all aboard, it gives us a lot more strength in depth. “Having so many qualify at basically the same time is very unusual for the station, but we’re delighted to see it. “They’ve all had the opportunity to command the boat during a callout which is good for them to get under their belts. “It’s also a major boost that they work onshore in Buckie and
are therefore available for most shouts. “We’ve still got a fair number
of crew offshore but the balance is swinging back to having more shore-based ones. “Another benefit of having these guys qualified to deputy coxswain or mechanic is that it allows us to spread the responsibility of being on call around more evenly. At one point during this year I was on call for 13 straight weeks. “The guys have worked very hard to qualify and have shown a lot of commitment. They’re a credit to
themselves and the station and hopefully will help inspire others to look at taking the next with qualifications. It’s not for everyone but there’re lots of opportunities if that’s a road a crew member wants to go down.” The quartet all undertook rigorous competency based training, both down at RNLI headquarters in Poole and studying at home. “How long it takes basically depends on how much time and effort
you put in,” Mr Robertson continued. “These guys have all done it pretty quickly, they’ve put a lot of effort into it. “They’ll get about a year or so to settle into their new roles and after that they’ll have the option of doing the Royal Yachting Association’s commercial licence. “This allows the holder
to take out a lifeboat other
than the one that’s here at Buckie. “Overall, the journey to being a coxswain typically takes about five years in all.” Also praising the newly qualified crew members was Buckie RNLI lifeboat operations manager Joe Herd. He said: “I’m delighted to see these crew complete
what are important qualifications. “It is a welcome addition
to what is already a very
highly trained and dedicated team.” For more information on the work of Buckie RNLI, or to find out how to join the crew or shore-based fund-raising team, visit the lifeboat station website at www.buckielifeboat.co.uk or follow them on Facebook. Alternatively, phone the lifeboat station during office hours on (01542) 831289.