A wonderful day of celebration and appreciation for a ‘kindness never forgotten’ and the culmination of years of planning, fundraising and hard work.
By Anna Carlton, Stonehaven RNLI
On Saturday 6th September, the volunteers of Stonehaven RNLI gathered along with invited guests from the local community, fellow rescue services, senior figures from the RNLI and major donors, to formally open the new Stonehaven RNLI facilities and name the Atlantic 85 lifeboat.
As part of the official opening and handover ceremony, representatives of Professor James Allen, whose considerable generosity provided Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 85 ‘Jamie Hunter’ as well as the primary funding for the new station, were in attendance.
Professor Allen’s good friends Alan Reid and Douglas Hunter spoke of Jim’s total admiration for lifeboat crews, that he was awestruck by their extraordinary bravery.
As a young child Jim had been quite unwell, and his parents would take him to the coast to help improve his health. On one occasion he visited the lifeboat station at Fraserburgh, and he never forgot the kindness shown to him there and that they remembered him when he visited again the following year. ‘Never forget a kindness’ was the ethos by which Jim lived, and he never did. Throughout his life, and now through his legacy, he has funded at total of 7 lifeboats, including Stonehaven’s very own ‘Jamie Hunter’ as well as providing the primary funding for Stonehaven RNLI’s new station and training facility.
Leanna Lakes, RNLI Chief Operating Officer and Director of Regions, accepted the handover of the new station and lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI commenting how special a day the double ceremony was for the RNLI, and that it was a privilege for her to attend the event.
She said, ‘It was an extraordinary day for the RNLI, and I felt deeply honoured to attend and accept the handover of both the new station and the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI.
The new facility is truly remarkable, and I am immensely proud of the dedication and commitment of all the volunteers at Stonehaven. They truly embody the values and spirit of the RNLI.
Peter Esson, Stonehaven RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, said of the ‘Jamie Hunter’ that, ‘The lifeboat is an outstanding lifesaving asset, and it is an honour and a privilege for us to have such a lifeboat. We have an extremely professional and dedicated crew and I know that when the crew heads out to sea, we all have peace of mind that this lifeboat will keep them safe.’
In thanking the community and donors for their support, Peter said how humbled Stonehaven RNLI volunteers were by the immense generosity of all. He commented what a proud day it was for everyone connected with the charity and that the new lifeboat station was an amazing facility.
The ceremony culminated with the formal naming of Stonehaven RNLI’s Atlantic 85 ‘Jamie Hunter’. We were extraordinarily privileged to have with us on the day the person whom the boat was named after. A very rare occurrence. Professor Allen, in appreciation of his friend Douglas Hunter’s friendship requested the Atlantic 85 for Stonehaven be named after his youngest son. Jamie, along with his young nephew – Douglas’ grandson, honoured us with officially naming the ‘Jamie Hunter’. Christening it with a specially bottled local Fettercairn whiskey.
Jamie Hunter and nephew