Crowds back lifeboat open day in style

PEOPLE from all over Tayside turned out to the first Broughty Ferry RNLI open day in three years.

The volunteer crew welcomed back members of the public to see the lifeboats and learn about the history of the RNLI yesterday afternoon.

Since Covid, the crew have been unable to host many fundraising events to raise money for the life-saving charity.

But locals were ecstatic to be around the crew again and support them by donating cash to a worthy cause.

The event is the last one Broughty Ferry lifeboat coxswain, Murray Brown, will host as he steps down after 30 years of service.

Murray said: “I started this a few years ago and I was amazed by the amount of people who see the boat but have never been on it.

“The community buy the lifeboat so it’s the community boat.

“We’re lucky that we get to take the boat to sea, but it’s their boat as much as it’s ours.

“Loads of people come and tell us thank you, and say: ‘I’ve never ever needed a lifeboat, but we know you’re there.’

“It’s good to have a bit of payback to the crew – they’ll maybe say they don’t like it, but they do a bit.”

Murray said the crew already have a range of bigger things planned for the open days over the next couple of years to increase the interest levels.

He added: “This car park is new for us, it was very tiny before so we’re hoping maybe next year we can get the fire brigade down and make it a bit bigger, a community event.

“Raising the funds are important but we’re also raising awareness about kids on beaches.

“You never know, you might save some kids’ lives in the background.”

The crew were joined by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, who were also raising funds. Area coordinator Paul Smith said: “We’re the primary responder for marine mammals – so anything from the smallest seal to the biggest whale, we’ll deal with any rescues that happen.

“We use the RNLI a lot of the time for our safety cover.

“If we’re out in the beach obviously it’s a dangerous environment, so the crew keep us safe along with the Coastguard.”