Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat

Fraserburgh was the first RNLI Station in Scotland, opening in 1858. It is thought that the station was closed for sometime between 1848 and 1858 when the lifeboat was placed in the town at the request of the residents. Three times in the 20th century thirteen men and three Fraserburgh lifeboats have been lost whilst going to the aid of others in distress:

1919 – The ‘Lady Rothes’ capsized and two lives were lost.
1953 – The ‘John and Charles Kennedy’ capsized at the harbour entrance and six of the seven crew were lost.
1970 – The ‘Duchess of Kent’ capsized about 38 miles off Fraserburgh and five of the crew of six were lost.

Fraserburgh’s new Trent class lifeboat the ‘Willie and May Gall’ arrived in May 2002. It has a top speed of 25 knots and carries a crew of six. The cost of £1 1/4 million was funded by a legacy from Willie and May Gall who lived in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.