COMMUNITY
First shout for RNLI new recruit Tobermory RNLI’s newest crew member is keeping it in the family. Aged just 18, Bobby MacLeod Gunn, who joined the volunteer crew following a long family tradition earlier this year, has just had his first shout. Bobby’s great-grandfather Bobby MacLeod, the acclaimed accordionist, was on the crew in the 1940s and was instrumental in the reopening of the lifeboat station in 1990. And his grandfather, Robert M. MacLeod was a mechanic on the Waveney class 18 was to help a yacht with lifeboat when the station engine failure in the Sound reopened and later became of Mull. On their way to the the honorary secretary - a yacht, the crew assisted the job now known as lifeboat Tobermory Harbour Authority operations manager. RIB which was dealing with Bobby’s uncles Robert another yacht that had broNorman MacLeod and ken its mooring in the strong Donald MacLesouth-easterly od also both wind. The This was a served on the lifeboat quickly busy couple crew for many brought the years, and his of days for our yacht alongside dad Paul ‘Gunthe harbour volunteers. ny’ Gunn is the pontoons The informant current station before heading on Tiree did mechanic. out to assist absolutely the This month the yacht with right thing by the volunteer engine failure. crew responded Crew pagers calling the to three shouts had gone off Coastguard in 36 hours, 24 hours earlier including going after the UK to the aid of a woman on a Coastguard alerted them to yacht with a serious head a woman on a yacht with injury and carrying out a a serious head injury who search in rough weather off needed casualty care before Tiree. being transferred by the lifeBobby’s first shout on May boat to hospital in Oban.
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Pagers sounded off yet again on May 18, just before 11pm, after a report of a flare being sighted in Gott Bay on Tiree. The crew were tasked to carry out a search with the Coastguard and rescue helicopter from Prestwick. On arrival in Gott Bay after an 80 minute passage in rough weather with gale force winds and two-to-three-metre seas, the lifeboat was stood down because the helicopter’s search had revealed nothing untoward. Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Dr Sam Jones said: ‘This was a busy couple of days for our volunteers. The informant on Tiree did absolutely the right thing by calling the Coastguard. If you see anything which suggests that someone might be in trouble at sea, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’
MULL & IONA LIFE
Mull & Iona Life issue 46.indd 27
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17/06/2022 14:52:18
