Stories from Scotland's Sea: The RNLI at 200

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BBC Radio Scotland - Stories from Scotland's Sea: The RNLI at 200

Cat Cubie shares some of Scotland’s stories from the RNLI’s ‘200 Voices’ archive.

As the RNLI celebrates its 200th birthday Cat Cubie shares some of Scotland’s stories from the RNLI’s ‘200 Voices’ archive.

With the RNLI reaching a remarkable 200 year milestone this year, Cat Cubie shares some of Scotland’s stories from the RNLI’s ‘200 Voices’ archive.  From the heroic to the heartwarming, the fun to the frightening, we’ll hear about volunteers from around Scotland’s coasts and the people (sometimes even the pets) they’ve saved.

Cat’s own memories of the RNLI go back to early childhood when she’d visit stations with her dad, who’s been involved in the RNLI for 55 years.  She was always in awe of the crew and how much they’d risk keeping the seas safe.  

Since it started, the RNLI has saved some 146,000 lives around the UK, nearly 12,000 in Scotland alone.  In this first dive into the archives Cat shares stories that take us from Anstruther to Peterhead to Tobermory and Stornoway.  From helm Barry Gourlay we hear about a remarkable rescue when the crew from Anstruther Lifeboat station had to help a stricken vessel off Crail in the middle of a howling summer gale.  Volunteer from Tobermory, Dr Sam Jones, shares her passion for the history of the institution which started in a pub in 1824!   Sheena Thompson talks about her utter relief when she was rescued after a paddle boarding trip went badly wrong while beauty queen Sarah Paterson proves that crews really are made up of folk from every walk of life.   John Maclennan served as a volunteer crew member from 1971 to 1996 and helped save 122 lives – he shares some of the most memorable and then there’s the Reverend Wullie Docherty who has the RNLI to thank for saving his dog, Shaddah!

Touching, heroic, sad and sensational, join us as we celebrate 200 years of this iconic institution. 

Producer: Dan Holland
Executive Producer: Pennie Latin-Stuart

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