Buckie RNLI family set for first Christmas on call together
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CHRISTMAS is a time for family, and for many, a time for sharing stories of times and generations past.
However, for some, it is a time dedicated to saving lives at sea while others tuck into their Christmas turkey.
For two Buckie RNLI lifeboat crewmembers, being on call on Christmas Day will be a family affair. Elaine Mair, from Buckie and her nephew, Aidan, will be sitting by their pagers ready, along with their on-call crewmates, to come to the aid of people in trouble at sea.
They join generations of people from all walks of life who have volunteered their time and commitment 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure the charity’s lifesaving service has continued for nearly 200 years. In order to help them continue to do so, the RNLI have launched their Christmas appeal.
Elaine, an ambulance technician, joined the Buckie RNLI lifeboat crew in May 2016, after years of living by the coast and wanting to give back to the local community.
She said: "I’ve always had an affiliation with the coast, and loved giving back and helping people, and this was the perfect opportunity to do that.
"I’m very proud to volunteer for the RNLI and learn new skills along the way."
Earlier this year, she was joined by her 18-year-old nephew, Aidan, who also decided to join the crew to help save lives at sea. This will be his first Christmas as an RNLI volunteer.
After a number of familiarisation trips out on the lifeboat with the crew, including his Aunt Elaine, Aidan officially joined in August.
Elaine continued: "I’m so proud of Aidan for joining the volunteer crew at Buckie RNLI.
"It was his own ambition to join the lifeboat crew, and here we are, celebrating our first Christmas with us both on the crew!
"We haven’t been out on a shout together yet, but I’m looking forward to the day we do. It’s an honour to volunteer alongside him at Buckie RNLI."
Elaine and Aidan are not the only volunteers at Buckie RNLI lifeboat station sharing lifesaving stories. Jeff Tuckerman, an RNLI volunteer crew member, is joined at the station by his father, Jim, a retired GP, who is the volunteer chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group.
Jeff commented: "Although we don’t volunteer side by side at the station, we still find ourselves sharing stories and talking about the RNLI over Sunday tea, and I imagine Christmas will be no different!’
He joined the RNLI in Buckie back in February 2019 while in the Merchant Navy. He decided to volunteer to ultimately help save lives at sea, but to also learn new skills.
"My father joined Buckie RNLI last year and had no previous experience with the lifeboat station," he added.
"It’s something that the two of us share together, but I hope that our lifesaving work stays with our family for many years to come. I have two younger daughters and they love spending time at the lifeboat station.
"It would be great if it became a family tradition within Buckie.’
To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable volunteers like Elaine, Aidan and Jeff to continue their lifesaving work, visit RNLI.org/WinterAppeal
Buckie lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/buckie-lifeboat-station or visit the station's Facebook page.
