East of Scotland – Aberdeenshire
- Allan & Helen
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
After a long day on Shetland we were looking forward to a more relaxing day as we headed up the Aberdeenshire coast. Our final visit would be to Fraserburgh to join their Open Day.
Stonehaven Lifeboat Station
Our first stop was south of Aberdeen at the beautiful harbour town of Stonehaven. After parking up we headed to the spectacular new station building to take our evidence photo. Here we were met by Press Officer Anna and crew member, Caroline. We chatted about the new station which was due to open later in the summer and would house their existing Atlantic 85 boat. It had improved crew facilities and a visitor centre with shop. Anna and Caroline then took us to the existing accommodation which is a couple of Portacabins that had certainly seen some weathering over the years.
The crew were due to move the Atlantic 85 from the existing boathouse to a mooring in the harbour and so it was an ideal opportunity to meet the many crew and see the boat being launched. We headed to the boathouse which was built in 1868 by the RNLI in the historic north side of the harbour. Lifeboat operations started in Stonehaven in 1854 by the Kincardineshire Lifeboat Association. The station closed in 1934 until an Inshore Lifeboat Station was opened in 1967. This was again closed in 1984 but re-established in 2013.
As the crew prepared to launch the Atlantic 85, we took the opportunity to speak to the many shore crew that were attending to assist with the launch. As the boat is taken out onto the road and onto a busy pedestrian area before heading down the slipway, it requires good numbers of crew to stop traffic and pedestrians. They certainly had their work cut out with some tourists that were completely oblivious to the large orange boat looming towards them.
We watched the launch and took some photos of the boat. We are so grateful to all the crew who allowed us to witness the launch and take time to chat with us. Thank you to Anna and Caroline, Head Launcher Stevie, man of many roles, Gav, boat crew Steve, Phil and Pete, shore crew and tractor driver, Suzanne, Helm Kenny, shore crew Kenny and finally new recruit Chelsea.
Aberdeen Lifeboat Station
Heading north back towards Aberdeen we arrived at the port of Aberdeen.
We had made prior arrangements to ensure that we could get into the port gates and all was well. Parking up at the station we were greeted by Trainee Mechanic, Aaron initially and then joined by Grant later during the visit. Aaron gave us a fantastic tour of the station.
Aberdeen is one of the oldest station in Britain, opening in 1802, and was operated independently of the RNLI for over 100 years. The RNLI took over in 1925.
Their D-Class, Buoy Woody (D-830) was out on exercise so Aaron took us down to the Severn Class, Bon Accord (17-24) moored on the jetty. Aaron was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a very detailed tour of the outside of the boat whilst we waited for Grant to locate the keys to the door.
We watched the D-Class return from exercise and it then became apparent where the Severn’s keys were – in the helms pocket!! After gaining access, Aaron continued the tour of the inside of the boat and it was clear how passionate he was about his role and the boat itself.
As the crew were washing down the D-Class, we said our goodbyes and headed north to Peterhead.
Peterhead Lifeboat Station
We knew that the crew and the boat would not be at the station as they were at the Fraserburgh Open Day. So we parked up just outside the station, took a photo of the sign and headed on up to Fraserburgh.
Peterhead is one the largest fishing ports in the UK and sits on the easternmost point of mainland Scotland. The station is located in the busy port on the quayside. Opened in 1865 by the RNLI, the station was struck with tragedy when, in December 1914, their first motor lifeboat Alexander Tulloch was wrecked with the loss of three of the twelve crew members.
Having taken the photos we headed up the coast to Fraserburgh.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station
The area around the dock was very busy with visitors when we arrived. We made our way to the moored lifeboats from Fraserburgh and Peterhead and were invited onboard.
There is such a great friendly relationship between the flank stations and plenty of banter was flying around. Both crews made us feel so welcome and we stood on the boats chatting for over an hour. We had several photos taken with the crews and then headed to the station to get a bite to eat. Here we were met by Fraserburgh Coxwain, Vic who sat and chatted with us for a good while and introduced his three daughters who were also crew and his wife who volunteers at the station.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station opened in 1806 with one of the first lifeboats built by the famous Greathead company of South Shields. After a short closure between 1850 and 1858, the station was reopened by the RNLI. The current station was built in 2007 with their Trent Class being moored in the outer harbour alongside the north pier.
Fraserburgh has seen its fair share of tragedy with the loss of crews on three separate occasions. In 1919 the first and second Cowains were drowned when their boat capsized. In 1953, six men were lost when their Watson Class boat capsized and in 1970, five of the six crew perished when their boat, Duchess of Kent, capsized. A memorial statue to the lost crew stands proudly looking out to the North Sea.
It was fantastic to see a Tamar Class and Trent Class lifeboat moored alongside each other and we were give an fantastic tour by both crews.
Peterhead Lifeboat is the Tamar Class. Currently they have a relief boat 16-01 Peter and Lesley Jane Nicholson, whom we first saw at our local station, Shoreham on Sea.
Fraserburgh have the Trent Class, 14-34 Willie and May Gall, on station in 2002.
As the crowd left and the clearing up begun, we watched the Peterhead boat leave the mooring, had some more photos at the station, said our goodbyes and headed to our accommodation.
A busy day and some amazing visits with a fantastic Open Day where we were made to feel so welcome. We stayed along the coast in a beautiful harbour town of Portsoy where we enjoyed a lovely stroll and meal in a local restaurant, trying Cullen Skink for the first time.
댓글