RNLI Montrose

27/05/2026

Our Shannon class lifeboat, RNLB Ian Grant Smith, has been away since mid-March undergoing scheduled maintenance. As part of the work, she’s receiving a full hull repaint along with a brand new gearbox to help keep her in peak condition and ready to answer the call when needed 📟.

While she’s away, cover for our shores continues to be provided by relief lifeboat RNLB Brianne Aldington, ensuring the same service remains on station 🌊.

The photos show RNLB Ian Grant Smith currently in the boatyard during her repaint - and although we don’t yet have a date for her return, we’re already looking forward to seeing the finished glow up! She’ll be coming back looking shiny, fresh, and very bright orange indeed 🧡.

25/05/2026

Ever wondered who’s responsible for organising this chaos into an actual crew photo? 👀📸

Meet Sally - our Lifeboat Press Officer, professional people-herder, story-sharer, media wrangler, and part-time “can everyone please look this way?” specialist.

Sally could do with a hand so we’re launching a search for a Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer to join our station 🙌🏼.

The role is far more than taking photos (although getting one where nobody blinks is a genuine achievement) 😂.
You’ll work alongside Sally to help tell the stories of RNLI Montrose through social media and writing up press releases on launches and other station news. You’ll get involved in campaigns, work with video footage and liaise with media outlets for press coverage.
Are you a great storyteller who could help bring our work to life through photo and video? There’s loads of space to get creative, try new ideas, and show people what really happens behind the scenes at a lifeboat station 🚤.

Also:
☕ Tea is plentiful
🍪 Biscuits appear regularly
🎥 You’ll get access to launches, training and footage most people never see
🎨 There’s loads of freedom to be creative with content and storytelling

Could you be our DLPO? Apply below 👇🏼.

🤔 Not sure..? Arrange a chat with our LPO by emailing [email protected] 📧

Link - https://shorturl.at/00RqE

📸 Sally rounding up the crew for a recent photo!

24/05/2026

Congratulations to our crew member Ian on successfully completing the 5 day Introduction to DC Electrics course at the RNLI College in Poole last week 🎉.
The course forms part of Ian’s ongoing training and development as he works towards progressing into a mechanic role within the crew. During the week, Ian gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in DC electrical systems which are essential in helping keep our lifeboats operational and ready to answer the call 📟.
Well done Ian 👏🏼.

22/05/2026

Today marks 12 years since one of the most memorable callouts for several of our lifeboat crew - when we were launched to bring home two missing fishermen who had set out 2 days earlier from Gourdon in thick fog.

Back in 2014, RNLI Montrose’s inshore lifeboat and RNLB Moonbeam, alongside RNLI Aberdeen’s all-weather lifeboat, the RAF Lossiemouth SAR helicopter, and HM Coastguard rescue teams, were all involved in an extensive search after the fishermen failed to return.
For more than two days, crews searched in extremely poor visibility, with no sign of the men. Then, over 48 hours after they had left for sea and more than 44 nautical miles offshore, the fishermen managed to alert the watchkeeper of a passing deep-sea trawler. Thankfully, they were brought safely onboard and HM Coastguard was notified.
RNLB Moonbeam was launched to meet the trawler and bring the two fishermen safely back to shore, reuniting them with their anxious family. It was a fantastic outcome and a memory that still sticks with several of our crew today.

The newspaper clippings in these photos show just how big the story was at the time, and many locals will still remember the relief felt when the fishermen were found safe and brought back home.

21/05/2026

Our LPO has recently stumbled upon some station archives, uncovering a fantastic collection of old photos, rescue stories, and memories from Montrose RNLI’s history.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be sharing some of these here on Facebook - and first up, we’re throwing it back to the year 2000 with this photo from 26 years ago!
What’s remarkable is a few of the volunteers that are pictured are still serving today, or have only recently retired. It’s a real testament to the dedication, commitment, and community spirit shown by our volunteers here at Montrose RNLI 💙🙌🏼.

19/05/2026

Today’s RNLI fundraisers are part of a tradition stretching back more than 130 years. 💙

Many people don’t realise that the world’s first ever charity street collection was organised in aid of the RNLI on 10 October 1891.

Following the loss of 27 lifeboatmen in the Mexico disaster off the Lancashire coast, Sir Charles and Lady Marion Macara organised what became known as “Lifeboat Saturday” in Manchester. Bands, floats and even lifeboats paraded through the streets while thousands of people flocked into the city to witness the spectacle and support the cause, with volunteers collecting donations in buckets and tins from the crowds.

The event raised more than £5,000 in a single day - an extraordinary achievement at the time. For context, that would be around £825,000 today, showing just how incredible the public support for the RNLI was even back then.

What started as an effort to support lifeboat families and future lifesaving work became the model for street collections used by charities across the world today.

More than a century later, RNLI fundraising teams across the UK and Ireland continue that same tradition of community support, dedication and volunteering.

Here in Montrose, our fundraisers are every bit as important to the station as the crew on the boat. Their hard work helps provide vital training, equipment and support that keeps our volunteers ready to launch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

From collecting tins in 1891 to today’s fundraising events, one thing has never changed - every donation helps save lives at sea.

📸 The world’s first street collection for the RNLI, in Manchester, 1891.

RNLI Montrose Fundraisers

17/05/2026

Big well done to our Montrose RNLI volunteers taking part in the Mayday Mile challenge, who have now passed the halfway point!👏🏼

Head to the press release in the comments below to see how they’re getting on.

There’s still time to sponsor them and help spur them on to the end of May - links to their sponsorship pages can be found in the press release 💛🙏🏼.

16/05/2026

Another productive exercise this morning aboard our Shannon class lifeboat.

Our trainee crew spent time practicing anchoring procedures, while Callum and Lewis both had the opportunity to spend some time at the helm developing their boat handling skills. The crew also carried out some man overboard drills as part of the exercise.

We were also lucky enough to see the dolphins again today. While we were stationary, they put on quite the display, jumping clear out of the water around us. We’re fortunate to see them regularly and it’s always really special having them here on our patch. 🐬

15/05/2026

After 27 years of volunteering with the RNLI, Derek Smart has retired as Lifeboat Operations Manager at Montrose RNLI.

From 2nd Coxswain and Helm to Launch Authority and LOM, Derek’s dedication, leadership and commitment to saving lives at sea has been extraordinary.

Everyone at Montrose RNLI thanks Derek for his remarkable service and wishes him a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.

Please join us in thanking Derek and wishing him well in his retirement 👏🏼🎉.

Full story in the press release below.

Derek Smart has retired as Lifeboat Operations Manager at Montrose RNLI after an incredible 27 years of volunteering for the charity. During his time at the station, Derek served as lifeboat crew, Launch Authority and Lifeboat Operations Manager.

12/05/2026

A big thank you to Kathleen Bandeen from St. Cyrus primary school, along with the children and parents of P3/4, for organising a coffee morning to support Montrose RNLI. It looked like the kids had a wonderful time, and they managed to raise an impressive £168.07 through the fundraiser. Additionally, the RNLI shop stall made another £182, bringing the total to an amazing £350.07 👏🏼👏🏼.
Thank you for thinking of us, we truly appreciate your support! 💙

10/05/2026

We are so proud of everything that our volunteers do, and we are delighted to announce that one of our own, Sally McKay, was presented with an ‘Excellence in Volunteering’ award by the Chief Executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes, in person when he visited the lifeboat station! 🏅

During the visit, Peter took the opportunity to present Sally, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO) and volunteer trainee Lifeboat Crew, with the award on behalf of the charity.

The accolade is given in recognition of Sally’s outstanding contribution to the RNLI, and is awarded to volunteers who have continuously displayed the RNLI values of selflessness, courage, dependability and trustworthiness. The award recognises that Sally’s contribution has helped the RNLI to save lives at sea.

Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive, says: ‘When we have somebody who goes that extra mile, they are deservedly recognised by their colleagues, peers, crew mates and the Region. The thing that I love most about my job is to be able to recognise those who go above and beyond, those people who selflessly and kindly support everybody else.’

Jim Candy, Lifeboat Operations Manager at RNLI Montrose says: ‘Sally has made a significant contribution to the RNLI in Scotland through her role as LPO at Montrose Lifeboat Station, alongside her commitment as a trainee Crew Member. In her LPO role, she manages the station’s public relations and communications, helping to promote the work of the crew and the RNLI across the station, local community and wider region as a whole.

She also played a key role in managing communications for the first-ever RNLI Women in Search and Rescue Scotland event last year, helping to support and showcase operational women from across the country.

Here at RNLI Montrose, we are all incredibly proud of Sally receiving this well-deserved award in recognition of her outstanding work as LPO and for her contribution to the Women in Search and Rescue Scotland event. We thank her for all the hard work and dedication she continues to give to the station and the wider RNLI community.’

PS Sally usually takes good care of our social media posts, but one of our crew has written this one as she is too humble to post about herself!

Please join us all in congratulating Sally for this outstanding achievement! 👏👏👏🧡💙🌊