A day of double celebration for Stonehaven RNLI
A wonderful day of celebration and appreciation for a ‘kindness never forgotten’ and the culmination of years of planning, fundraising and hard work.
On Saturday 6th September, the volunteers of Stonehaven RNLI gathered along with invited guests from the local community, fellow rescue services, senior figures from the RNLI and major donors, to formally open the new Stonehaven RNLI facilities and name the Atlantic 85 lifeboat.
As part of the official opening and handover ceremony representatives of Professor James Allen, whose considerable generosity provided Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 85 ‘Jamie Hunter’ as well as the primary funding for the new station, were in attendance. Professor Allen’s good friends Alan Reid and Douglas Hunter spoke of Jim’s total admiration for lifeboat crews, that he was awestruck by their extraordinary bravery.
As a young child Jim had been quite unwell, and his parents would take him to the coast to help improve his health. On one occasion he visited the lifeboat station at Fraserburgh, and he never forgot the kindness shown to him there and that they remembered him when he visited again the following year. ‘Never forget a kindness’ was the ethos by which Jim lived, and he never did. Throughout his life, and now through his legacy, he has funded at total of 7 lifeboats, including Stonehaven’s very own ‘Jamie Hunter’ as well as providing the primary funding for Stonehaven RNLI’s new station and training facility.
Leanna Lakes, RNLI Chief Operating Officer and Director of Regions, accepted the handover of the new station and lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI commenting how special a day the double ceremony was for the RNLI, and that it was a privilege for her to attend the event.
She said, ‘It was an extraordinary day for the RNLI, and I felt deeply honoured to attend and accept the handover of both the new station and the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI.
The new facility is truly remarkable, and I am immensely proud of the dedication and commitment of all the volunteers at Stonehaven. They truly embody the values and spirit of the RNLI.
Peter Esson, Stonehaven RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, said of the ‘Jamie Hunter’ that, ‘The lifeboat is an outstanding lifesaving asset, and it is an honour and a privilege for us to have such a lifeboat. We have an extremely professional and dedicated crew and I know that when the crew heads out to sea, we all have peace of mind that this lifeboat will keep them safe.’
In thanking the community and donors for their support, Peter said how humbled Stonehaven RNLI volunteers were by the immense generosity of all. He commented what a proud day it was for everyone connected with the charity and that the new lifeboat station was an amazing facility.
The ceremony culminated with the formal naming of Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 85 ‘Jamie Hunter’. We were extraordinarily privileged to have with us on the day the person whom the boat was named after. A very rare occurrence. Professor Allen, in appreciation of his friend Douglas Hunter’s friendship requested the Atlantic 85 for Stonehaven be named after his youngest son. Jamie, along with his young nephew – Douglas’ grandson, honoured us with officially naming the ‘Jamie Hunter’. Christening it with a specially bottled local Fettercairn whiskey.
Notes to editors
· Stonehaven RNLI was re-established in 2013 with the placing on service of a B-Class Atlantic 75. The current Inshore lifeboat is an Atlantic 85 B-Class the ‘Jamie Hunter’
· On 25th February 2024- Stonehaven RNLI commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy of the 1874 Stonehaven lifeboat disaster
RNLI media contacts
Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer for Stonehaven RNLI, 07530 338562, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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.