Couple take on roles with Lerwick lifeboat

THE LERWICK lifeboat crew has been bolstered with two new additions as a couple take up roles at the town’s station.

Paul Hutchison is the lifeboat’s new full-time mechanic, who has moved to Shetland with his partner Emily Hague.

Hague has also joined as a volunteer crew member. The pair have relocated to the isles from the East Neuk of Fife.

Hutchison has a background in facilities management and engineering, and previously worked for 12 years in the hotel industry in St Andrews.

During that time he volunteered as a member of the local coastguard rescue team, latterly as officer-in- charge.

Hague has volunteered as lifeboat crew at RNLI Anstruther lifeboat station for the last five years.

Hutchison will work alongside full-time coxswain Stephen Manson, and together they support lifeboat operations at the station, ensuring that the volunteer crew and the Severn-class lifeboat maintain operational readiness.

Paul will soon spend five-weeks at the RNLI College in Poole Dorset on Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved training courses, with topics including marine diesel engines, marine electrics, crew emergency procedures, and a two-week coxswain/afloat mechanic course.

He will have regular on-station training in the coming months, and is expected to sit an assessment later this year.

Hague is a marine biologist and is currently in the final stages of her PhD studies at Heriot-Watt University, exploring the effect of human activities on marine mammals – whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals – around Scotland.

The couple both expect to attend training and call-outs together as members of Lerwick lifeboat crew.

One of the lifeboat’s most recent call-outs was to a sinking fishing vessel east of Shetland.

Lifeboat operations manager Malcolm Craigie said: “We’re delighted to have Paul and Emily join the station – for Paul as our full-time mechanic and for Emily as lifeboat crew. With their previous experience, we hope they’ll both make a valuable contribution.

“The costs of their training and kit – and those of all our crew – are paid for entirely by donations and fundraising, and we’re grateful to all those who continue to support the RNLI to help us save lives at sea.”