New mechanic for RNLI Lerwick
Lerwick lifeboat has a new full-time mechanic, Paul Hutchison, who has moved to Shetland with his partner Emily Hague, who has also joined as volunteer crew.
Paul has a background in facilities management and engineering, and previously worked for 12 years in the hotel industry in St Andrews. During that time, he volunteered as a member of the local Coastguard Rescue Team, latterly as Officer-in-Charge. The team attends around 100 call-outs on average per year, often with the local RNLI lifeboat involved too.
Emily has volunteered as lifeboat crew at RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station for the last five years.
Paul is now based full-time at Lerwick Lifeboat Station, working alongside full-time coxswain Stephen Manson. Together they support lifeboat operations at the station, ensuring that the volunteer crew and the Severn-class lifeboat maintain operational readiness.
Paul will soon spend five-weeks at the RNLI College in Poole Dorset on Maritime and Coastguard Agency (‘MCA’) approved training courses, with topics including marine diesel engines, marine electrics, crew emergency procedures, and a two-week Coxswain/Afloat Mechanic Course. He will have regular on-station training in the coming months, before sitting an assessment hopefully later this year.
Emily is a Marine Biologist and is currently in the final stages of her PhD studies at Heriot-Watt University, exploring the effect of human activities on marine mammals – whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals – around Scotland.
Emily and Paul will have period of familiarisation with the Severn-class All Weather Lifeboat, which is new to both of them. The couple both expect to attend training and call-outs together as members of Lerwick lifeboat crew.
Malcolm Craigie, Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have Paul and Emily join the station – for Paul as our full-time mechanic and for Emily as lifeboat crew. With their previous experience, we hope they’ll both make a valuable contribution. The costs of their training and kit – and those of all our crew – are paid for entirely by donations and fundraising, and we’re grateful to all those who continue to support the RNLI to help us save lives at sea.”
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 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 142,700 lives.
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