Tunnock’s chief gets taste of lifeboat
Biscuit boss Boyd Tunnock took to the high seas this week in a lifeboat named after his late brother and grandfather.
Boyd, a keen sailor for 46 years, put the Thomas Tunnock through its paces ahead of the official launch at St Abbs, Berwickshire, this Saturday.
He threw a lifeline to the St Abbs lifeboat appeal by donating £ 260,000, more than half of the £ 500,000 required, after the RNLI shut the station a year ago.
Boyd, 83, said: “The Thoma s Tunnock is wonderful. It’s some boat.
“It can do 42 knots – the equivalent of about 50mph.
“If the waves are big you can’t do that speed as it feels like you are falling off a cliff.
“But it was great fun getting behind the controls.”
Boyd was inspired to donate after years of sailing and a respect for the water.
He sent a £10,000 cheque then when the St Abbs committee phoned to say thanks, he offered another £ 250,000 and told them to keep the first cheque too.
Boyd, who has a yacht Lemarac – Caramel spelt backwards, has sailed to Orkney, France, Dublin and the Isle of Man.
He said: “I’ve had to call out lifeboats to help others in distress so I know how important they are.
“St Abbs is the one donation I have made over the years that has given me the greatest of pleasure.”
The Thomas Tunnock will be named and launched at St Abbs Harbour on Saturday at 2.30pm.