North Kessock stalwart celebrates 30 years of service

Having held several roles over the years, including Boat Crew, Helm, Tractor Driver and now Deputy Launch Authority (who is one of those responsible for launching the lifeboat), there are very few at Kessock who have the knowledge and experience of Alan.

Alan recalls 'It was the spring of 1993 when The RNLI put the message out to the village and surrounding area that they were planning a trial period for a lifeboat in North Kessock. We had been living in the village for a couple years and my next door neighbour, Margaret Paterson, who volunteered as a fundraiser for over 60 years, suggested I go along to a meeting in the hall. The meeting was hosted by a legendary figure in the RNLI at the time, Les Vipond. He promised us that we would be cold, wet and tired a lot of the time, but we would always be glad to have turned out. Born and brought up in Inverness, I remember thinking; ‘Sounds good to me!’

I didn’t start at the very beginning, but a few months later. I was welcomed by the senior helm at the time, Angus Watson. Angus recently retired from a senior role as a Director of the RNLI, having been awarded an OBE for his work.

As I recall, the crew in the early years was a real mixture of talents but we were all in our late twenties and early thirties so there was lots of energy and enthusiasm. The D class which was put on station was a great boat. Versatile and highly seaworthy, it could be launched on the old ferry pier with just a couple of people. As well as shouts to Nairn in some challenging seas, we could deflate the keel and de-rig the aerial and light stem to get under the Black Bridge and carry out searches up river.

A crew of three was normal and bringing casualties on board often meant for very cramped times. As a helm on both the D class and later on the Atlantic 75 I was also responsible for crew welfare and I have often recalled Les Vipond’s promise. The early D class was very tough on the crew, especially on the knees and winter nights could be very hard if the weather was poor.

I can also remember spectacular nights out on the firth with clear skies and comet Hale-Bopp in view. We had an amazing range of jobs, ranging from searches for missing persons and flood rescues, to towing a light aircraft which had ditched in the Beauly Firth. Because I live very close to the station, I was regularly on shouts, probably a few hundred over the years, I can promise you that no two are the same.

The move to Craigton Point and the arrival of the Atlantic 75 was a big change. We were all glad to have a seat in the boat for a change! The former Chair of the station, Campbell Ross was an architect and he designed the iconic building we have there. With the ‘75’ came lots more training and a larger crew. More kit and even a tractor for launching means there’s more to learn and trips to the Inshore Lifeboat Training Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight were always challenging, but it was great to meet folk from other stations and compare notes. Kessock is similar to other stations around the country, but we have our own unique mixture of challenges.

Nowadays the training is looked after through a mixture of on station work and trips to the Lifeboat College in Poole. The accommodation is great and crew are well supported as always.

The 75 meant that we were often tasked beyond the inner Firths, and that meant working together with the guys from Invergordon. I can recall a stormy day when we were on a complicated job to extract a yacht and crew from a difficult spot on the bar to the east of Nairn.

The surf was about 5ft and dumping, neither us nor Invergordon could get in to attach a tow without bottoming out. Alan Lipp (who is now a staff coxswain with the RNLI) and I had the job of taking an extended towline around the worst of the surf in Invergordon’s ‘Y’ boat (a small utility craft carried on All-weather lifeboats). After a couple of failed attempts we got the line attached and signalled the Kessock boat to proceed with the tow and transfer to Invergordon.

We had done our bit and we were knackered. However, after a split second to congratulate each other, when we took our eye off things, a wave flipped us over into the shallows. We righted the boat but the engine was dead and we had to paddle back to the Invergordon boat. Even now, Alan and I are the only people I know who have capsized a lifeboat!

On reaching a certain age I had to retire from the boat and I took on new roles as a tractor driver, Deputy Launching Authority and Chair of the Lifeboat Management Group. I’ve enjoyed these roles for myself but also the continued opportunity to work as part of a hardworking and professional team at Kessock. I still have to turn out in the middle of the night, but thankfully it’s not so onerous for an old fellow like me.

As the lifeboat station is staffed by volunteers, with no financial assistance from the government, fundraising has been a big part of my commitment to the station. We invented the ultimate Scottish Triathlon (we cycled to Glasgow, ran the west highland way to Fort William and canoed up the Caledonian Canal back to Inverness, round the clock for 52 hours).

I’ve taken part in more Nairnshire Challenges than I care to remember, carried a replica lifeboat around the Inverness half marathon. Myself and a cycling pal cycled round the Firth 12 times in 24 hours, (over 300 miles) and this year took me and three fellow crewmates to Monte Carlo on a fundraiser that raised over £14,000. Add to this the open days, car wash and numerous quiz nights, which I am happy to say are still going strong, it’s been a great 30 years. These fundraisers of course wouldn’t be possible without the help of the crew, and our amazing fundraising branch, who again are all volunteers who give up their time to raise the vital funds we need to operate.”

Jake Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Kessock adds:

'Alan has been a cornerstone of Kessock Lifeboat station since it became operational in 1993. Having served as boat crew for many years, and then latterly as a Deputy Launch Authority, he has seen a multitude of operational services during his time. The 30 year, long service awards recognises his commitment and I am incredibly fortunate to have Alan as part of the team'.

Gary Friedman, a fellow long term member of the crew and also a Deputy Launch Authority said “'Alan and I have worked together for a long time. I remember the early days, in the old portakabin, when we had our D class boat which was launched from a small trailer from the slip. There was only a crew of three then, and the fourth member had to try and fish the trailer from the water using a large hook and pull it back up onto the slip. As Alan lived so close, he was often one of the first three, so I wouldn’t be able to comment on his fishing skills'!

Yvette Kershaw, Area Lifesaving Manager for the RNLI commented: Alan’s 30 year service at RNLI Kessock is testament to his commitment and dedication to the charity. We are incredibly fortunate to depend on our selfless volunteers who make personal sacrifices to save lives at sea. Alan’s contributions have extended far beyond the boat itself to many fundraising challenges across the years; from epic cycles to the very recent marathon car rally to Monte Carlo. At Kessock we are grateful to Alan and to his wife Carron, who is also RNLI family as Fundraising Treasurer, and to the whole family who have supported him and in turn, the lifeboat for a lifetime'.

Alan was asked if he had another 30 years in the tank, to which his response was 'I’m not sure if everyone can put up with me for another 30,' however, experience like his is hard to come by, and he won’t be getting away that easily.

Media Contact Details:

Shane Warde, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer North Kessock Lifeboat Station [email protected]

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