# Lochinver Lifeboat Station

Lochinver Lifeboat Station is located at Harbour Road in Lochinver, a harbour town at the head of Loch Inver, on the north-west coast of Scotland, formerly in Sutherland, now in the administrative region of Highland.
A lifeboat was first placed at Lochinver by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on 18 August 1967.
The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard (ON 1271), on station since 2003.

## History

During the winter of 1966–1967, lifeboat trials were carried out at Lochinver. Following a review of both trials and future requirements by the RNLI, it was decided to place an All-weather lifeboat at Lochinver.
On 18 August 1967, the 46ft Watson-class lifeboat Dunleary II (ON 814) was initially placed on service at Lochinver. Built in 1938, she had already served 29 years at Dún Laoghaire, and was in her last few years of service.
Lochinver's permanent lifeboat, a 48-foot 6in Oakley MkIII, more commonly known as a Solent-class lifeboat, arrived on 25 July 1969. Built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, 48-004 George Urie Scott (ON 1007) was funded by Mrs George Urie Scott, and cost approximately £70,000. Unlike the earlier Oakley lifeboats, the Solent had a steel hull, sub-divided by watertight bulk-heads. It was powered by twin Gardner 6LX engines. This class of life-boat required a crew of seven, and could carry a maximum of about 100 survivors.
Between 1978 and 1985, the Solent-class lifeboat was replaced with a MkII 52-foot Barnett-class, the Ramsay Dyce (ON 944). Built by Groves and Guttridge in 1958, she too was another boat at the end of her service life. When she was retired in 1985, in what is probably a unique circumstance for a lifeboat station, the previous lifeboat, 48-004 George Urie Scott (ON 1007), was brought back to the station, and served for another four years. In 1989, the station would receive the 52-foot Arun-class lifeboat 52-42 Murray Lornie (ON 1144).
Retired lifeboat Ramsay Dyce (ON 944) would perform one more service on 3 May 1992. Sold from service, and used as a dive boat, she responded to a coastguard alert, to any vessels in the Ardmucknish Bay area, for a small inflatable boat with 5 divers, having suffered engine failure. The former lifeboat was soon with the boat, and all were returned to Dunstaffnage Bay.
In 1992, the RNLI would receive an extraordinary bequest, a sum of £4 million from the estate of Mrs Eugenie Boucher, specifically to be used for the construction of new boathouses. A native of Penza in Russia, eight so named 'Penza' boathouses would be constructed, including the one at Lochinver.
A new Severn-class lifeboat was placed at Lochinver on 25 November 2003, and in 2004, a new pontoon berth was constructed, at a cost of £291,798. At a ceremony on 17 April 2004, the Severn-class lifeboat was named 17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard (ON 1271).
At 19:59 on Sunday 7 December 2014, Stornoway Coastguard received a distress call from the fish carrier Norholm, drifting towards Cape Wrath in gale-force winds, with no power, and 4 people aboard. Julian and Margaret Leonard was launched at 20:39, arriving with the vessel nearly two hours later at 22:24. In worsening weather, hail stones, with thunder and lightning, getting a line thrown across to the vessel proved impossible, so with skilful seamanship in difficult conditions, a line was floated over to the Norholm, and a tow commenced. Eventually, the vessel was brought 2 miles (3.2 km) off-shore, and at midnight, the rescue helicopter was stood down. The Thurso lifeboat was called to take over at 01:45, with the Lochinver lifeboat returning to base at 07:45. For this service, Coxswain David MacAskill was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.
On 10 January 2024, Coxswain David MacAskill was formally appointed as a deputy lieutenant for Sutherland.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Lochinver.
* RNLI Bronze Medal
       David MacAskill, Coxswain - 2016
* A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       Stuart Gudgeon, Mechanic - 2016
       Robert Kinnaird, Navigator - 2016
       James MacAskill, crew member - 2016
       John K. Templeton, crew member - 2016
       Joseph MacKay, crew member - 2016
       Lachlan D. MacAskill, crew member - 2016

## Lochinver lifeboats

| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Class |
| 814 | – | Dunleary II | 1967–1969 | 46-foot Watson |
| 1007 | 48-004 | George Urie Scott | 1969–1978 | Solent |
| 944 | – | Ramsay Dyce | 1978–1985 | 52-foot Barnett |
| 1007 | 48-004 | George Urie Scott | 1985–1989 | Solent |
| 1144 | 52-42 | Murray Lornie | 1989–2003 | Arun |
| 1271 | 17-40 | Julian and Margaret Leonard | 2003– | Severn |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.