Oban lifeboat crew wants new recruits

Oban lifeboat is searching for two new volunteer crew members.

To find out what it takes to be part of a life-saving team aboard the all-weather lifeboat, the RNLI is inviting potential volunteers to go along to a recruitment night on Monday November 25 at the town’s station at the South Pier, starting at 7pm.

Launching the Mora Edith MacDonald 54 times in 2018 and helping 97 people, the station needs to build up its daytime crew and specifically wants to hear from would-be volunteers who could respond to call-outs from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The charity is hoping to attract people from all walks of life and new recruits don’t need to have sea-going experience to get involved.

Station coxswain Ally Cerexhe said: ‘Volunteering with us gives people the opportunity to make a real difference in their local community, to save lives and become part of the larger RNLI family. We can’t keep people safe without the support of our wonderful volunteers, who truly make a difference every day, no matter which role they are fulfilling.’

The role of all-weather

Could you join Oban lifeboat crew?

lifeboat crew is to keep up training, be on call for lifeboat shouts, to attend exercises and to contribute to the overall upkeep of the station, lifeboats and equipment.

Oban’s Trent-class lifeboat is suited to the challenging conditions found in and around the sea lochs of western Scotland and successful applicants will get comprehensive training to serve as crew.

To fit the bill, recruits would need to live or work within 10 minutes’ drive from the station, be able to commit to training, have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, be aged between 17 and 55 and be able to work well as part of a team.

Interested in finding out more? Turn up to the open night for an informal discussion.