Ships bell for Oban lifeboat baby as she turns 18
The crew of Oban lifeboat has celebrated the 18th birthday of a young woman from Mull, born on the lifeboat, by presenting her with a brass ship’s bell engraved with her name – fulfilling a longstanding RNLI tradition.
Emma Cato from Fionnphort is one of four babies born to Mull mothers during transfers from Craignure to Oban.
Last week (24 November) Emma and her parents visited Oban lifeboat station, giving them an opportunity for a second trip on the lifeboat on a short trip to the area of Loch Linnhe where she was born:
'I was a bit nervous coming here but it's very exciting,' said Emma. 'I'm really glad to be able to come on board the boat. I've seen it often when I was coming across to school on the ferry, but always from a distance.'
Emma was born shortly before 2am. An Oban midwife had joined the lifeboat crew before they set sail for Craignure. Then, on their return journey the midwife realised Emma was not going to wait.
Emma's mother Rachel says her memories are of feeling she was in safe hands:
'My recollection is of feeling totally looked after. The crew and the midwife knew what they were doing, I just had to rely on everybody else. We were just trying to get to Oban – we never thought Emma would be born halfway across on Loch Linnhe.'
Donald Matheson was one of the crew on board that night. He presented Emma with her bell and a photograph of the lifeboat on which she was born, the Mora Edith Macdonald.
'Everything happened very quickly, he remembered. 'The midwife was checking Rachel and she said we need to stop right now, and a short time later Emma was born.
'Emma's father Glenn had his hands full looking after Emma’s older sister, so I was holding Rachel's hand and acting as a sort of second dad. It was a lovely moment for all of us on the crew that night.'
Dad Glenn remembers being rather distracted looking after 2 year old Abbie:
'Abbie was on my knee and one of the crew had handed her the wee soft rabbit toy that travels on the lifeboat. We were sitting in the radio operator's seat. I spent the whole time trying to keep her hands down because she kept wanting to press the buttons on all the consoles in front of us.
'Emma was 10 days early. She caught everyone by surprise, but we were well looked after and it's lovely to be back on the boat again 18 years on.'
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
John Macgill, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Oban RNLI on 07711 548672 or email [email protected]
Stephen Lawson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Oban RNLI on 07776 340629 or email [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), on 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), on 07920 365929 or [email protected]
RNLI Press Office 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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