Our 10 Year Anniversary
Ten years ago, in 2015, the community of St Abbs was going through a seismic shift as its RNLI lifeboat was removed, and a campaign was started to bring an independent community-owned boat into existence. It’s no spoiler that the community triumphed, but it is easy to forget some of the detail of how the tale unfolded over the months of the campaign. We are therefore going to revisit the drama and commemorate the key steps in “Ten Moments from Ten Years” as we run up to the 10 year anniversary of the official launch on 17th September 2026.
The story of how hard fought the campaign was, how strong the community endeavour has been since that day, and how proud we all are of our independent lifeboat, has moved and inspired many people over the last ten plus years.
7. Remembering 24th March 2016 : The Order
With the organisation now structured and finances secured, advice taken and research done, it was finally time to place the order for the new boat. This happened on 24th March 2016. The chosen manufacturer was Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST) based in Liverpool who make boats for military and specialist…
6. Remembering 11th December 2015 : The Paperwork
As 2015 drew to a close, with the boat in the bag so to speak, there was still a huge amount of work to be done on administration, logistics and finance. On 11th December the constitution of the new charity “St Abbs Lifeboat” was sent to the Scottish Charity Regulator…
5. Remembering 24th November 2015 : The Teacake
At the beginning of the Support St Abbs Lifeboat campaign, letters had been sent to people like Sean Connery and Boyd Tunnock of the leading Scottish company “Thomas Tunnock & Sons Ltd” and Boyd had replied enclosing a £10,000 cheque (but Sean didn’t bother – shame on you Sean!). An…
4. Remembering 1st October 2015 : The Appeal
Since the first notification came of closure of the Lifeboat Station in St Abbs, funds had been donated and raised from communities, businesses, clubs and individuals as a way of them showing their support for the Save campaign and the Lifeboat in general. Whilst there was never really a break…
3: Remembering 13th September 2015 : The Meeting
The boat had left the week before. A meeting could have been held the very next day, but the community took a breath to reflect, book the village hall and put out notice of a meeting, and discussions were held quietly behind closed doors about the enormity of the next…
2. Remembering 8th September 2015 : The Farewell
Whilst this is also not a day we really wish to commemorate, it is nevertheless a fundamental part of the St Abbs Lifeboat story. The day began at 09.02 when the St Abbs Lifeboat pagers sounded in the kitchens and bedrooms of the crew one final time saying “Station is…
1. Remembering 1st September 2015 : The Petition
We start this story having already passed one ten year anniversary, but it was not one that we really wished to celebrate. In May 2015 the RNLI informed us that the Lifeboat Station in St Abbs would be closed, and instead a second inshore boat would be placed in Eyemouth.…
Liz Saville
I recall how shocked I was when I heard the news about the RNLI closing St Abbs lifeboat. I set up the online petition, my dive club Robinhood dive club shared the link far and wide! We did fundraisers with chilli nights at the local bonfire and held a car…
Rachel Crowe in conversation with Colven Wilson today!
Rachel : “Have you still a copy of the letter your dad wrote to the Queen??” Apparently he purchased quite a few items of St Abbs Lifeboat merchandise to send to Her Majesty. Colven : “ahm no shair….he was gie ***** when they said she couldnae accept the gifts as…
Johny Rangeley
One of the first donation to St Abbs Lifeboat from Robin Hood Dive Club. How young we all looked then!! The club may be no more, but the members still support St Abbs Lifeboat in any way they can.
Recollections of Peter Nisbet
I was annoyed. Annoyed at the RNLI’s decision to close St Abbs Lifeboat Station. It followed me on the thirty minute drive to and from work. At home, with a newish wife, Morag, and a very new baby, Wee Peter, I didn’t have much time to dwell on it. But…