Mums Saving Lives At Sea
The amazing volunteers of the RNLI
“There’s no one like my mum”
Louise Whiteman has been a volunteer crew member for Anstruther RNLI in Fife for four years, a role she manages around her busy life as a working mum to
Isla (14) and Charlie (8).
“I am really well organised but when that pager goes off, ever ything goes on hold for me. I could be out for one or two hours or as much as up to 12 hours, it totally depends on what type of shout comes in.
“We get around 50 shouts each year but there is a lot of variation – the winter can be quieter while at other times we can have five or six shouts in one week, sometimes within a couple of hours of each other.
“On a busy shout, the adrenaline takes over and you aren’t even really aware of just how long you’ve been out or what your body has gone through. Once back home, I’ll have a ver y large coffee and just get on with the family and work routine.
“I’m really lucky to have my mum, Cath, close by. If my pager goes off, she’ll come over and organise the kids and my house, ready for my return. She never complains, no matter how many hours she needs to look after them.
“If we need to call her in the night, she heads straight to us. She’s here by the time I’m ready to go.
“Mum understands the commitment that is required as I come from a very dedicated lifeboat family. My grandfather was awarded an MBE for 33 years of service and my uncle was crew for almost 19 years. I think that Charlie will carry it on – he is very keen on lifeboats and he loves everything to do with the sea.
“Volunteering on the lifeboat is a family affair, and without the support of my own mother and family in everything that I do, I couldn’t be a lifeboat crew volunteer myself. Mum is the backbone of my little family unit and she volunteers her time to look after her grandchildren and to support me so that I can give up some of my time to support others that need it.
“I’m so grateful for everything she does. Mum is definitely special. There is no one else like her, that’s for sure.”