Father’s Day on Call - Four Sutherlands, one lifeboat crew at RNLI Fraserburgh

At RNLI Fraserburgh, lifesaving has been part of the Sutherland family since 1978. Vic Sutherland, Coxswain for almost twenty years, volunteers alongside his 21-year-old daughter Eilidh, his brother David and his nephew Declan. Together, the four family members make up part of the crew that helps save lives at sea.

Vic says: ‘It’s probably overwhelming for the rest of the crew having four Sutherlands aboard the boat – they probably feel like they can’t move for us, but I’m very proud of the family connection.’

He adds: ‘The fact I’m going to sea with David, along with my nephew Declan and now my daughter Eilidh – I’m really proud they’re carrying on the family tradition, just as we followed in our dad’s footsteps.’

The two brothers have half a century in the life-saving organisation between them, and the family’s RNLI connection goes back decades. Vic says: 'My dad was a fisherman and crew member. I remember the phone ringing and him dropping everything to go – there were no pagers then, just the house phone. You would know within a matter of seconds when it was the lifeboat calling, because my dad would drop the phone and run straight out of the house.'

He adds: ‘It certainly set myself and David up with an itch to join the crew, it was a natural progression. I think it gave us a really good grounding, it’s great for any youngster coming in. It gives you a sense of responsibility, because obviously the level of commitment that’s going to be given is second to none. It also gives you a sense of pride, the fact that you’re involved with the station.’

Eilidh, who recently joined as crew, says it felt inevitable she would follow the same path. Eilidh says: 'I grew up with the RNLI. My dad always says I’ve been going about with fundraising buckets since I could walk, and I always remember thinking I would love to be part of the crew.'

Despite their close bond, Eilidh says professionalism comes first on the boat. Eilidh says: 'It’s definitely brought us closer, but when I’m at the station, he’s not my dad – he’s the Coxswain and I’m the crew.'

Father’s Day itself will be a working one for Vic. He says: 'I’ll open my cards and get my socks or a bottle of whisky, but I’m on duty this weekend so it’s just like any other day. If the pager goes off, you’re getting on with it and doing what needs to be done. That’s been the way for the whole of Eilidh’s life.'

Vic adds: ‘My girls have experienced the pager going off at every kind of time over the years, whether it’s a Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries - if the pager goes, you just respond. It wouldn’t be the first time they had been left sitting in a restaurant or abandoned sitting in Tesco’s with their mum because they’ve went in for the shopping, I’ve been sitting in the car and the pager’s gone and they understand I’ve had to go.’

For families considering volunteering together, Eilidh says: 'Just go for it. It’s brought us closer being there for that part of each other’s lives, because it’s the biggest part of our lives. Working on the boat with my dad and going out to help people together is just an amazing feeling.’

Notes to editors

· Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact:

Emma Lees, RNLI Communications Placement for Scotland, 07710 246 495, [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 is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.