Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station

Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located in the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the north-east corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed at Fraserburgh in 1805, later becoming the first Scottish station of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), in 1858. The station currently operates a Trent-class All-weather lifeboat, 14-34 Willie and May Gall (ON 1259), on station since 2002. History It is recorded that in 1805, renowned lifeboat builder Henry Greathead was constructing a lifeboat for Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners (FHC), funded by donor Sir William Forbes. No details have been found, but it is likely that it was a 30-foot non-self-righting boat. A second boat was provided to Fraserburgh in 1831, manufacturer and specification unknown, and was recorded as unfit for purpose by 1851. In November 1857, Mr. Lewis Chalmers, Chief Magistrate, wrote to the RNLI, to highlight 13 shipwrecks in the area, over a period of 10 years. Following a visit to the town, Capt. Ward, Inspector of Lifeboats, recommended the establishment of a lifeboat station, which was agreed in March 1858. A lifeboat was ordered from Forrestt of Limehouse, London, a 30-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, and costing £182-1s-2d, along with a launch carriage from Robinsons. A boathouse was constructed by the Harbour Commissioners. The boat was delayed, as it was damaged in a fire at the Forrestt workshop, only arriving in Fraserburgh on 26 October 1858. The boat was named Havelock. Lewis Chalmers was appointed Honorary Secretary. A motor-powered lifeboat was placed at Fraserburgh in 1915. Costing £3,715, construction was started at Thames Ironworks, but completed by S.E. Saunders of Cowes, when the Thames Ironworks company failed. The 42-foot lifeboat had a 40 BHP "Tylor" petrol-engine, and delivered a speed of 7.45 knots. The lifeboat was funded by Thomas Dyer-Edwardes, as a "Thankyou" for the life of his daughter, Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes, who had survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and was duly named Lady Rothes (ON 641). On 9 February 1953, the first of two disasters struck the Fraserburgh lifeboat. The John and Charles Kennedy (ON 790) was launched to assist a number of fishing boats that were struggling to re-enter Fraserburgh harbour due to the poor sea conditions. Having escorted two vessels to the harbour, it would be the lifeboat that failed to make the return trip a third time, capsizing as it tried to enter the harbour. A non-self-righting 46ft Watson-class, five crew were trapped and drowned in the wreck, and the Coxswain, thrown clear of the capsize, was hit by a piece of wreckage and killed. The John and Charles Kennedy had been launched 99 times, and saved 199 lives. In just 12 days, enough volunteers had come forward to form a new crew, including Second Coxswain Charles Tait Jnr, sole survivor of the wreck, and son of Bowman, Charles Tait Snr, lost in the disaster. After a short period with the relief lifeboat John Russell (ON 699), a replacement lifeboat Duchess of Kent (ON 908) was placed at Fraserburgh. She would serve 16 years at Fraserburgh, launching 46 times, and saving 11 lives. In 1970, Fraserburgh would suffer a second disaster. The Duchess of Kent was launched on 06:30 on 21 January 1970, into a force 8 to 9 gale, to the aid of the Danish fishing boat Opal, which was taking on water some 40 miles (64 km) off Fraserburgh. She arrived on scene at 11:00, to find the Opal in tow from a Russian trawler, and a number of other vessels, including the large Russian ship Victor Kingisepp standing by. Suddenly, a large wave lifted up the bow, and the lifeboat was capsized bow over stern. Great efforts were made to right the vessel by the crew of the Victor Kingisepp, which was achieved by 14:31, but too late to save the crew, with the exception of mechanic John Jackson Buchan, who had been thrown into the water, and was rescued from the upturned hull. It would be eight years later, in 1978, before another lifeboat would be placed at Fraserburgh. In 2001, the RNLI announced that Fraserburgh would receive a new Trent-class lifeboat. Moulded in Fibre Reinforced Composite, and fitted out by Souters of Cowes, she had twin MAN diesel-engines, developing 808 BHP, giving a top speed of 25 knots. Costing £1,240,452, she arrived in Fraserburgh on 8 May 2002. The majority of the cost of the lifeboat was met by the legacy of £1 million from Mrs May C. Gall, of Newburgh. In 1942, her late husband William had been instrumental in the rescue of crew from the capsized Newburgh lifeboat. At a ceremony on 7 September 2002, the lifeboat was named 14-34 Willie and May Gall (ON 1259). It was announced by the RNLI on 9 February 2026, that Fraserburgh would receive a Tamar-class lifeboat to replace their long-serving Trent class. Following a full refit, 16-61 John Buchanen Barr, previously on service at Portpatrick, arrived on station at 16:21 on 19 April 2026. With a period of training on the Tamar-class lifeboat completed, and after serving Fraserburgh for 24 years, 14-34 Willie and May Gall (ON 1259) was stood down from service at 14:34 on Saturday 30 May 2026. Station honours The following are awards made at Fraserburgh RNIPLS Gold Medal Lt. Charles Holcombe Bowen, RN, H.M Coastguard – 1827 Lt. Charles Turner, RN – 1831 RNIPLS Silver Medal Capt. James Scott, Master of the Sarah – 1835 RNLI Silver Medal Godfrey Bosville McDonald Beatson, Chief Officer of H.M. Coastguard – 1858 Godfrey Bosville McDonald Beatson, Chief Officer of H.M. Coastguard – 1863 (Second-Service clasp) Alexander Forbes, Shipbuilder - 1863 Mrs Whyte, Farm Labourer's wife – 1884 Andrew Noble, Coxswain – 1909 Andrew Noble, Coxswain – 1909 (Second-Service clasp) James Stuart Sim, Second Coxswain (For a service in 1912) – 1929 Capt. Andrew Stephen, Harbour Master, Joint Honorary Secretary – 1940 RNLI Bronze Medal James Stuart Sim, Coxswain – 1936 David Hay, Coxswain – 1940 Capt Andrew Stephen, Harbour Master, Joint Honorary Secretary – 1940 George Flett Duthie, Mechanic – 1940 John Downie May, crew member – 1940 Alexander John Duthie, Acting Coxswain – 1960 Frederick Alexander Kirkness, Mechanic – 1960 Albert Sutherland, Coxswain – 1997 Medal Service Certificate J. Stephen, Acting Second Coxswain – 1960 J. Strachan, Bowman – 1960 C. Baillie, Assistant Mechanic – 1960 G. Duthie, crew member – 1960 B. Strachan, crew member – 1960 J. Reid, crew member – 1960 Victor Sutherland, Second Coxswain – 1997 Thomas Summers, Motor Mechanic – 1997 Alan Smith, Deputy Second Coxswain – 1997 Graeme Campbell, Assistant Mechanic – 1997 Rafael Alcarez, crew member – 1997 David Sutherland, crew member – 1997 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Capt. Alexander Thomson, Master of the Lively – 1909 Alexander Ritchie, crew member – 1929 (For a service in 1912) Andrew Ritchie, crew member – 1929 (For a service in 1912) James Mitchell, crew member – 1929 (For a service in 1912) Robert Strachan, Assistant Mechanic – 1940 John Buchan, crew member – 1940 Andrew Ritchie, crew member – 1940 James May, crew member – 1940 William Noble, crew member – 1940 Albert Sutherland, Coxswain – 1989 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution Albert Sutherland, Coxswain – 1995 Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Fraserburgh lifeboat. On service to H.M. vessel Eminent, 28 April 1919, Andrew Noble, Coxswain Andrew Farquhar, Acting Second Coxswain On service to multiple fishing boats, 9 February 1953 Andrew Ritchie, Coxswain George Duthie, Mechanic Charles Tait Snr, Bowman James Noble, Assistant Mechanic John Crawford, crew member John Buchan, crew member On service to Danish fishing boat Opal, 21 January 1970 John Stephen, Coxswain Frederick Kirkness, Mechanic William Hadden, crew member James R. S. Buchan, crew member James Buchan. crew member Fraserburgh lifeboats Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list. Motor lifeboats See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station