09/07/2009
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP today joined a training trip with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers in the Borders.
He accompanied members from the lifeboat station at Eyemouth as they took to the seas to carry out one of their regular training exercises.
Mr Fergusson was told about the life-saving work carried out at the station – which deals with an average 20 call-outs every year.
The Presiding Officer said: “It has been fascinating to learn about the life-saving work these brave and hard-working volunteers at this station undertake.
“The courage and selflessness of these volunteers is incredible. To hear first hand about just some of the many rescues they have carried out is very humbling indeed.
“No-one could overestimate the vital sea rescue service provided by the RNLI – a service which rescues around 1,000 peoples’ lives in Scotland every single year, and which is funded by voluntary public contributions.”
Mr Fergusson met with local fundraising and operational volunteers from the Eyemouth station including locals whose full-time jobs include working as a chef, a butcher, a painter and decorator and a janitor.
James Tarvit, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat station said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Presiding Officer and to be able to introduce him to the local volunteer lifeboat crew and fundraisers.
“During the visit we took Mr Fergusson aboard the lifeboat to demonstrate some of our lifesaving skills.”
The RNLI lifeboat station in Eyemouth was established in 1876. Its first motorboat came into operation in 1937. The current Trent class All Weather Lifeboat ‘Barclaycard Crusader’ has been on service in Eyemouth since 1996.
The RNLI relies on voluntary contributions and it supplies 24 hour cover around the UK and Irish coastline.
Mr Fergusson visited the Eyemouth lifeboat station as part of his summer programme of visits to engage with communities across Scotland to mark the 10 th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.