Thurso Lifeboat Crew History

11/09/2025

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It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that probably one of the best known members of Thurso lifeboat crew has passed away.
William (Wing) Munro passed away peacefully early this morning (Thursday 11th September) in Wick General Hospital.

Wing was a teenager when he joined the RNLI in January 1970, serving as full-time coxswain from January 2002 until November 2017.
He took part in countless shouts and was involved in some of the most notable rescues undertaken by the Thurso crew. Wing received multiple awards from the RNLI including the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum following the rescue of the scallop boat, Aztec, in Loch Eriboll in 1997, and a bronze certificate in the aftermath of the multi tank, Ascania, incident in 1999.
Wing completed 55 years with the RNLI, the last few years as deputy LOM.
During King Charles III's recent visit to Scrabster the King presented Wings daughter Dee with The King’s Coronation Medal, sadly Wing was too ill to attend.
He was an inspiration to many of the lifeboat crew members and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends.
Thurso RNLI station and the local community has lost a local hero and legend, as a mark of respect the RNLI flag is flying at half mast.

22/05/2025

A great exhibition done by Dawn Maclean in the north coast visitor centre Thurso with pencil portraits she has done of local fisher folk.
A bit there also with information from the last surviving crewman from the Thurso lifeboat Ali Simpson who was involved in the ill fated Longhope lifeboat disaster in March 1969.
Well worth a look, on until June 7th.

22/03/2024

25 years ago this week.

The Chemical Tanker Multitank Ascania Date: Summer 1999 Volume: 57 Issue: 549 Search term appears: 0 times Back to results Share facebook twitter email View original layout in PDF (11.66Mb) Environmental disaster prevented Bronze medal for Thurso Coxswain and awards to Thurso and Longhope crewsThurs...

09/11/2023

Here is ex coxswain Dougie Munro with his son Michael when he was about 14 on his first shout after being out on a Sunday exercise run on the boat when they got a call .
Michael has been involved from a very young age.
With his uncle Wing also ex Coxswain before Dougie and very good friends with the Farquhar’s.
Michael has now finished with the RNLI after about 13 years service .

13/10/2023

End of an era !
The Farquhar name has been involved with Thurso lifeboat since 1969 with the late coxswain Billy Farquhar . His son Scott since 1994 when he was 16, unofficially had a pager Billy had given to him😉
On the 7th of October Deputy coxswain Scott made the decision to turn off his pager and finish with the RNLI.

08/09/2022

Ex Coxswain Billy Farquhar centre here with the Queen.👍

17/05/2022

Some retired and older crew with Kevin the Longhope coxswain.

17/05/2022

Thurso lifeboat with Longhope lifeboat arriving in Scrabster after a joint exercise in the Pentland Firth.
Longhope Coxswain Kevin Kirkpatrick who is due to retire from RNLI after 32 years service was piped on arrival from ex crewman Bruce Farquhar’s wife Carol Ann.
Kevin was presented with a retirement gift from former Thurso Coxswain 'Wing' Munro.
Thurso and Longhope have had a very close friendship since the Longhope lifeboat disaster in 1969 where Thurso lifeboat found and towed the ill fated T.G.B back to Scrabster. This shout was the late Ex Coxswains Billy Farquhar’s first ever shout.
Kevin lost his father, uncle and grandfather in the disaster .

31/08/2021

30/08/2021

The old Queen Mother squeezing into Sandside harbour .