Highs and Lows of Lifeboats.

The North Sea.  The Sun and a golden beach.   Mix that with kids.

This was the moment that one of the crew, all volunteers, of the Fraserburgh Lifeboat went into the water to rescue a teenage girl.  She and others had been swimming in the sea.  They were at a part where tides, currents, all combine to prevent one from getting back to the shore, in a particular area.  Ignorant of this three of them nearly drowned.  One managed it back to shore, one had a rope thrown and the last the only way to save her was the volunteer lifeboat man going in for her.  All went to hospital with hypothermia and having ingested sea water.  All now well and came back to thank their rescuers.

Then of course there is the silly season.

Days after the dramatic event above.

 Fraserburgh Lifeboat was launched this afternoon after a report that a capsized boat had been spotted in the bay in the vicinity of Cairnbulg Beacon. They were stood down some time later when it was ascertained that it had been a false alarm with good intent and the crew returned to the lifeboat's temporary berth.

I have mentioned previously that at Cairnbulg there is a wreck, the Sovereign, been there since 1985.

 Photographed by the DP during the big storm.

Along comes a tourist who sees the wreck and contacts the Coastguard. (  If you dial 999 here you are asked, police, fire, ambulance, coastguard). 

There was apparently a three way conversation between lifeboat, coast guard and concerned tourist.  And although the lifeboat coxswain was sure it was the Sovereign the crew were all paged, dropped what they were doing/working and personned the lifeboat (there are women as well as men - hence my personned...) and zoomed off to have a look see.

Are not these volunteer Lifeboat persons magnificent.  

 
1915 Fraserburgh rescue
On the 8th August 1915 the lifeboat Lady Rothes made her first rescue. The first motorboat for Fraserburgh RNLI crew had been donated by a Titanic survivor’s father only 4 days earlier. Following a report that a submarine had been sighted near two ships some 15 miles off shore the lifeboat was launched and made a search of the area.
The lifeboat found the steamer SS Glenravel, and 14 crew on a boat nearby, who had been fired on by the submarine.  Bombs had been thrown on board, presumably to save torpedoes and shells. The 14 crew were all saved.

Next year, in August, we will have the RNLI exhibition celebrating the heroic actions of the volunteer lifeboat persons in World War 1.  The exhibition will be at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.  A great honour for us to celebrate the ongoing work of the RNLI in Fraserburgh.  There are many stories of heroism in the first world war.  Fraserburgh was chosen as one for the exhibition amongst others.  We are all very proud of being chosen and still continuing to save lives.

Yesterday I cleaned my bathroom.

Funny when you stop.  Chill. Then shock, horror takes over.  So I cleaned the bathroom. Vinegar spray, borax, now pristine.

Meanwhile the Dawn Patroller was being official photographer at the Lifeboat Boxing Day Swim.  Fraserburgh Harbour.  Apaarently we had unseasonal weather and the temperature was 10 degree.  Not in the sea it wasnt.

 Just in case.....

  
Do not be fooled by the sunshine.

 I think thats our accountant!


It was a lovely sunny, still day.  But I can assure you that sea was cold.  28 people jumped in and swam.  There were hundreds of spectators, not daft them.  Hopefully they all donated loads to the R.N.L.I.

Today I dusted everything that didn't move.  Cleaned mirrors.  Not sure why we have so many, I never look in them, oh no I don't.

In the afternoon I finished off the Sun worshipping Hare, as opposed to, what everyone else does, Moon Gazing.  And finished next years Christmas Card,

Title: "You did say fly?!"

There was another reason for me going ballistic on the cleaning front.  Tomorrow evening its Open House at Chez Nous.  The DP has been busy in the kitchen. Some strange looking things have been produced.  I was in charge of inviting folks.  Just managed to stop putting it on facebook.  (There would be nowhere for them to park.) But I still have no idea on who is coming or how many.  Dont care either.  You get to that point dont you when the dust you have moved starts wafting back down on to every surface......
 

Serious stuff.

The Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat rescue of the steamer SS Glenravel, which saw 14 people saved from the sea on 8 August 1915, is to be featured in an RNLI national touring exhibition commemorating the centenary of World War One (WW1).

The charity’s exhibition, funded by Arts Council England, is called Hope in the Great War and will honour the courage and bravery of the lifeboat crew who risked their lives to save others during WW1.

Lady Countess Rothes was the husband of Norman Evelyn Leslie (19th Earl of Rothes). Best known as a Titanic survivor, 33-year-old Rothes and her cousin boarded lifeboat 8. Thomas William Jones, the seaman in charge of the boat, remarked on Rothes outspoken and take-charge quality, stating, “she had a lot to say, so I put her to steering the  boat.” Rothes headed the tiller for most of the night.

The RNLI Fraserburgh Lifeboat introduced to service in 1915 was named "Lady Rothes" by the Countess herself. The lifeboat was provided out of a gift from Mr Dyer-Edwardes, father of the Countess in gratitude for the saving of lives at sea.



 GLENRAVEL, 1,092/1906, Antrim Iron Ore Co, Belfast-reg, 14 crew, Mr A Cameron, Belfast for Leith with 800t iron ore and general cargo. U.17 approached around 0650 from two miles distant, Glenravel headed for the nearest land at top speed, from 0700 for the next hour several shells fell close until the U-boat came up within a quarter mile, ship stopped, crew took to the boats and Germans went alongside. Explosive scuttling charges placed below decks and Glenravel slowly sank stern first at 1025, 25 miles N of Kinnairds Head, Fraserburgh (L/wi - 12 miles NNE of, in 57.54N, 01.53W); crew headed for shore, met and taken in tow by Fraserburgh lifeboat Lady Rothes, landed at Fraserburgh.

I do appreciate that the Germans on the U boat waited till the crew got off the Glenravel and into lifeboats or similar and then scuttled the main ship.  Then it was up to the brave crew of the lifeboat Lady Rothes to rescue the sailors.  Not knowing if bombs would then be aimed at them.  Pity that sort of humanity does not prevail in todays warfare where everything and everyone is destroyed, children, and all.

I was approached some time ago with the possibility of Fraserburgh's story of the First World War lifeboat rescue and was more than happy to promise the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses would be honoured to hold the exhibition.  And Fraserburgh's story was chosen.  So 2015, if I am spared, we will be hosting the exhibition.  I also hope that all the artists in the Broch will be doing their bit to portray the brave men and women volunteers who risk their lives to rescue anyone at risk in or on the sea.

Windless!!! Visit Fraserburgh NOW!

Now why would you want the Mediterranean?

Golden sands.  Deserted Golden Sands.  

Calm down dear, calm down.  

Okay.

The last weekend saw tourists visiting the Lighthouse Museum in droves.  There were twice as many as the above containing a number of Italian guests.  Now I have used my schoolgirl French in the past, but this lot.... Ciao. Thats the limit, after that my teenage Spanish (holidays to Mallorca) went into mumble mode.

Also at the weekend was the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Open Day.  And I have no chance with Doric either.

Remember that Lifeboats depend on donations....  Leading the Pipe Band a volunteer (they all are) Lifeboat Person.

And one getting wet from sponges.  Getting wet he is used to.

Sunday was the Vintage Car Rally, its 22nd year, at Fraserburgh.

I have to say, though there are no pictures, that the cars I learned to drive in and then drove are now classed as Vintage.  Not good, really not good.

The weekend has been a fantastic one.  I almost forgot, that Saturday night was the 
Moonlight Prowl.  Another event that happens in the Broch every year.

To raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research.  Hundreds of women, dressed in pink, walking, running to raise money.

After my morning of bits and pieces after lunch it was into the garden.

The Rogersii dripping with nectar is enjoyed by a Greenfinch.

A House Sparrow feeds a baby, though I have also seen Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows just shoving food into any beak that is open, cross species feeding RSPB take note!

A Jackdaw filling his beak to take to his/her young.

A Magpie coming into land.

Clematis in bloom up the fence.

Rhubarb at the bottom of the fence.  Leaving it unpulled this year so it can recover being crammed in a pot since we moved.

Cannot remember what the above white flower is, tho I planted it.  But look at the buds on the Oriental Poppy.

Lots of buds too on the Paeonies.
Weeding, planting, a lot of admiring of previous efforts (!)

Now shattered.  Though I did manage a quick sketch of a flock of sheep which will be getting a scary paint job in the next few days.

So, the sun is still shining, 7.30p.m. there is no wind.  Time for a wine down.  

So we had Spring, all one day of it.

Back to normal.

The Broch (Fraserburgh) lifeboat out on manoeuvres.

I believe it is a bank holiday today.  We don't take much notice of them up here.  Hogmanay, well that's different, the whole country closes for two days.  But anything in May nah.

So to brighten the end of your May celebrations here are some garden ornaments displaying in New Aberdour.

And a wee croft/cottage/dump being lived in and has been for many years, near Mintlaw.

I just love the eccentricities around.

And finally a quick tour round Fraserburgh Harbour.

One of our permanent residents.

Having had his tea.

Hope you all had a good day.

History in more ways than one.

Fraserburgh has had a local lifeboat on service since 1806 which was run privately by the local Harbour Board until the first RNLI operated station opened in 1858. This was the first official RNLI station opened in Scotland. Throughout the 20th century, Fraserburgh suffered three lifeboat disasters. First, in 1918, the 'Lady Rothes' capsized while assisting H.M. Drifter Eminent. Coxswain Andrew Noble and Acting Second Coxswain Andrew Faquhar drowned. Second, on the 9th February 1953, six crew members lost their lives when the lifeboat capsized while escorting fishing vessels to the harbour. On this occasion Coxswain Andrew Ritchie, Mechanic George Duthie, Bowman Charles Tait, Assistant Mechanic James Noble and Crew Members John Crawford and John Buchan all lost their lives - the only survivor was Charles Tait. Lastly, on 21 January 1970 while on service to the Danish fishing vessel Opal, the lifeboat The Duchess of Kent capsized with the loss of five of her crew of six. Those killed were Coxswain John Stephen, Mechanic Frederick Kirkness and Crew Members William Hadden, James RS Buchan and James Buchan.^[6] In 2009, a local campaign was started to raise £40,000 to erect an official monument to the 14 men who lost their lives whilst serving on the Fraserburgh Lifeboat. Coxswain Victor Sutherland announced in June 2010 that the total had been achieved. The monument was unveiled by Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun, in August 2010.

Heres the monument.

Jane Whyte - Our own local Grace Darling

Jane Whyte lived in a cottage at Waulkmill, on the shore of New Aberdour bay with her husband and 9 children. On the morning of the 28th of October 1884, she spotted the wreck of the steamer "William Hope" of Dundee. Its engines had failed during a storm and it had been driven aground on the rocks during the night. It was now mostly submerged, sitting on the rocks.

Jane could see 15 sailors were clinging to the rigging. A rope was thrown by the sailors towards the shore. Jane waded out through the raging surf to reach the rope and bring it ashore. All 15 survivors then pulled themselves to the shore and safety.

She was awarded the silver medal by the RLNI and £10. ( equivelent to 3 months pay for a top rate labourer ).

Not much now remains of her cottage. A plaque there commemorates this daring feat of heroism.

Webhistorian.co.uk.

Nine children?  She was probably escaping.  I frequently did and I only had four.

THURSDAY, 31 JANUARY 2008

Aberdour Beach. Twenty minutes away.Spooky caves.

Severe weather warnings, I hear on the radio that lorries are blown over and the road bridges are either restricted or closed. We have blue skies, gentle breeze, and its 4 degrees. So a bit chilly out there, definitely a hibernating day, but beautiful to look out on!

Hundreds of geese going over the house to their feeding fields.

Our garden feeders are emptying rapidly with greenfinches, tree sparrows, blue and great tits, chaffinches, a robin, starlings, crows. Feeding them costs more than the t.v. licence, but they are far more interesting to watch than the rubbish on the 'box.'

Now heres a turn up!  Googling Aberdour Beach so as to appear very knowledgeable I came across my first ever blog!  Greenbrae Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast.  

Theres chunks of my life on Google!!!!  Really must be more careful.

Back to today.  Calm down.  

I have been asked to paint a friends house.  No not the big bucket, and big brush, in this weather?

The outside of the house has harl on it (like pebbledash) and I had the idea of using salt in the paint to give the effect.  When I read up on this it did warn about the salt exploding.  Exploding?  What damage could exploding salt do?

Well it makes it look mouldy!

Some people think history is mouldy, but I dont.  Away off to read what I got up to in 2008.

Happy Anniversary!

Two hundred and twenty five years since Kinnaird Head Lighthouse was built.  And the light shone out to protect those out at sea from foundering, drowning and getting their feet wet. 

The light was kept lit by many, the one below is John Scott.

This is Lachlan McInnes, and his cat, who also kept that light beaming out to sea.  

And this is Ian Dyga, who won first prize in the raffle to turn the light on again after many years of darkness from the original Kinnaird Head Lighthouse.

He was so thrilled to have won this honour he wore a suit.

88 rotations winds the weight back to the top of the lighthouse, on the sounding of the alarm bell.  This rotation had to be manually performed.  This is what kept the light on.

Here you can see the weight coming up in the stairwell.

The next pictures are of the three 'lucky' people who bid on ebay for the chance to do that winding.  Four hour shifts throughout the night.  

And this is what they all achieved.  The light from Kinnaird Head shining out across the sea.  The light at 15 second intervals identifies it as Kinnaird Head.  Each Lighthouse had a different time, so those at sea knew where they were.

The reason why all these people are dressed in very warm clothing is that there is no heat in the lighthouse.  I think they should have been paid to be there, tho running up and down the stairs does keep you warm, having done it a few times myself.  

On that same night, 

There was a wedding!  The happy couple were married in the Museum in front of one of the huge ancient lights, which turned her white dress into a spectrum of colours.  She and some of the bridal party braved the weather and shot off to the actual lighthouse and had their picture took.

There were a lot of shattered people at the end of all this, including the ones who got married, more from the champagne than the running up and down the stairs and the winding.

The Christmas Tree is up in the Lighthouse Cafe. 

And the card designs and cards from Primary age children for the Lighthouse Christmas Card Challenge.

But Best of All, Santa has arrived, via the Lifeboat!