In memory of Bernard Tillotson, Longhope’s first male Lifeboat Guild member

Bernard was born on 24 October 1937 in West Riding, Yorkshire and on leaving school, he joined the RAF, got married to Anne and became a father to two daughters, Linda and Brenda. Bernard loved fishing and his hobby brought him to Orkney on a couple of occasions, where he fell in love with the Islands. In 2017 he moved to Longhope, Hoy where he subsequently became a member of the Longhope Lifeboat Guild.

Linda and Brenda said, ‘As long as we can remember Dad has always supported the RNLI. One of his great passions was deep sea fishing. He always said that ‘you just don't know if or when you are going to need the lifeboat service yourself’. He also had a lot of respect for the volunteer crews who put their own lives at risk in order to save others. We believe that if he had had the opportunity in his younger days, he would have volunteered to be on the crew himself.

'Dad would often talk about the fundraising the Guild were doing and what he was baking to support the fundraising. He loved the fact that the whole community supported the lifeboat and particularly enjoyed his time helping in the RNLI shop; we think he felt that he was doing something useful to help.'

Bernard sadly passed away on 23 January 2024, at eighty-six years old. On 6 February 2024, the volunteer crew and Guild members attended Bernard’s funeral to pay their last respects before he was carried by his family and close friends on his final journey.

Linda and Brenda said, ‘Dad was not an extraordinary person he was our dad and we loved him very much. The RNLI was so important to him, he loved the fact that he could see the lifeboat from his living room window. The lifeboat is so important to island living - which he recognised, and as we know that he was such a great supporter, it was without question that any money raised would go to the Longhope Lifeboat. £501.00 was handed to the lifeboat, some people donated directly, so we do not know in total how much was raised’.

Alison Mackay of the Longhope Lifeboat Guild said, ‘Bernard was a lovely man, who could always be found, in the kitchen at events, making soup. He would do anything for anybody. He is sorely missed by the entire community’.

Bernard may not have been an extraordinary man, but he was doing something extraordinary, giving his time as part of our ‘one crew’ and raising money to support the RNLI in the mission of saving lives at sea.

Rest in Peace Bernard. Fair winds and following seas……..

Notes to editors

· Longhope lifeboat station has been operating since 1874 and celebrates its 150^th anniversary in 2024. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: Longhope Lifeboat Station (rnli.org)

RNLI media contacts

Vicky Mackinnon, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07703 688066, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.