Kessock RNLI volunteer reflects on 125 years of service to the charity across four generations in new podcast
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Generations of volunteering at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat stations across Scotland, from Aith, Anstruther, Kessock and Tobermory feature this week in the RNLI 200 Voices podcast.
A range of stories of how trust and training have saved lives and forged lifelong friendships abound has been released in aid of celebrating two centuries of lifesaving.
Tom McGuire, RNLI regional media officer said: "The aim of the podcast is to commemorate and celebrate the volunteer work our community does.
"The significance of the people involved in the podcast varies from celebrities who have contributed to regular people who have volunteered."
Today, in ‘Part of the Family’ Kessock RNLI volunteer Doug Grant reflects on 125 years of service to the charity across four generations. He recounts how the contribution stretches from his grandfather who was decorated for service at Solent RNLI, through his father also awarded a silver medal to his son who is now RNLI Lifeboat Station Mechanic at Wick.
Doug said: "I am extremely proud to be part of a family that have been involved in RNLI for so long. It is very special to be part of the podcast and celebrate this."
When talking about his first memory of the RNLI at the age of ten in 1978, Doug said: "There was a rumour around our village that there had been an accident at sea. When I looked at the end of the beach I saw a big ship, you could smell the oil in the air.
"Next thing we knew the Solent coast guard called us up saying there was a collision at sea. I felt really proud of my dad helping in that situation and doing something like that.
"It was after that when I realised I wanted to get involved with the RNLI in a big way."
The RNLI 200 Voices was launched in August in the lead up to the charity’s 200th birthday next March. The series is designed to commemorate, celebrate and inspire future generations.
In another Scottish episode ‘Never Alone’ Barry Gourley, a volunteer crew member at Anstruther RNLI looks to a time when his daughter might one day join the crew.
The unique podcast series will hear from people connected to the RNLI in Scotland and those whose lives have been touched by the lifesaving charity.
Hear from locals with a special kinship to their lifeboat station, a crew member who’s been on service for a generation, or the family of someone rescued by an RNLI frontline lifesaver.
Available across all podcast platforms and the RNLI’s website, listeners can hear from survivors, supporters, volunteers, lifeguards, celebrity ambassadors, historians and many more from across Wales, England, Scotland Ireland and beyond.
