In terms of the overall history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the placement of a lifeboat at Oban is a relatively recent decision. An Inshore lifeboat was first stationed here in 1972.[1]
The station currently operates 13-50 The Campbell Watson (ON 1357), a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2024.[2]
History
With a general increase in leisure boating activity, and with the nearest lifeboat stations at Islay and Mallaig being over 50 miles (80 km) away, following a coastal review in 1971, the RNLI decided to place one of their larger Inshore lifeboats at Oban.[3]
An 18-foot A-class (McLachlan) Inshore lifeboat A-505 (previously given the All-weather designation 18-005) arrived at Oban on 5 May 1972. The boat was kept at a mooring off the wooden pier, and a small 8 ft (2.4 m) inflatable dinghy was donated by local architect and hotelier Bill Crerar, to be used as the boarding boat. A tin-roofed shed on the South Pier leased from the local council would become the 'lifeboat station', as a place to store all essential equipment.[1][3]
The first call for the lifeboat was just 19 days later on 24 May 1972, when three children, who had set out in their parents' sailing dinghy, found themselves unable to return in the strong winds, and were rescued as their boat headed towards the rocks of Creag Island.[3]
A new A-class (McLachlan) lifeboat (A-511) was sent to the station in 1973. A contribution of £5000 towards the cost of the boat was received from the North British Hotel Trust. The North British Hotel Trust was set up in 1902, with half the shareholding placed in trust, to ensure that a percentage of the profits were distributed to charitable organisations.[4]
A service on 24 June 1974 resulted in the lifeboat towing a 16-ton vessel. Another call to two fishing boats, aground at Ardmore Point on Mull, took over two hours to reach the vessels. By 1976, it was clear that the lifeboat was being pushed to her operational limits, and sometimes beyond. In August 1978, Oban became an All-weather lifeboat station, with the arrival of a 42ft Watson-class lifeboat, the Watkin Williams (ON 922). The boat was already 22-years old at that time, but had served well at Moelfre, and been involved in at least two RNLI Gold Medal rescues under the command of Richard Evans. The Inshore boat would remain on service.[1][5]
Watkin Williams served Oban for 3 years, before being transferred to the relief fleet in 1981, and sold out of service in 1983. She was replaced for just one year by the Dorothy and Philip Constant (ON 967), another 42ft Watson-class heading for retirement, but this boat had the advantage of being equipped with radar. However, at 8.25 knots, speed was still an issue.[3]
In 1982, the A-class (McLachlan) lifeboat was withdrawn, and Oban was the first station to get a new class of lifeboat to replace the Dorothy and Philip Constant. The Brede-class was a 33 ft (10 m) intermediate size lifeboat, with a crew of four, designed to meet operational requirements between the rigid inflatable Atlantic 21 class, and the larger lifeboats. Built by Lochin Marine of Rye, it had a GRP (Glass Reinforced Polymer) hull, and her twin Caterpillar 3208NA diesel engines would deliver 19 knots.[6]
Keen seafarers James and Ann Ritchie, of the Isle of Man brewing company Heron and Brearley, funded a lifeboat for Ramsey, the James Ball Ritchie (ON 995), which arrived on service in 1970, shortly after James' death. Ann Ritchie, née Gough, President of the Ramsey Ladies Lifeboat Guild, decided to fund two more lifeboats: one for Port St Mary, 54-06 Gough Ritchie (ON 1051), and one for Oban.[7] The new Oban lifeboat was named 33-02 Ann Ritchie (ON 1080). Ann formally named the boat at a ceremony on 7 May 1983, and after a short trip on the boat, she was presented with a painting and a Caithness Glass bowl. These were returned to the station on her instruction, following her death in 1990. The residue of her estate became the Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust. One third of its income is distributed to the RNLI for use on the Isle of Man, and has so far funded two more lifeboats.[8]
At 03:32 on 31 January 1985, the Oban lifeboat Ann Ritchie was called to the aid of the 80-ton fishing vessel Shemara, aground on Lady's Rock, to the south west of Lismore Island. In poor conditions and shallow water, and in the dark, the 8 crew were rescued after 14 attempts. Awards were made to the coxswain and crew.[2][9]
1990s onwards
Trent-class lifeboat 14-23 Mara Edith Macdonald (ON 1227)
On 16 July 1997, Oban received the 14.30 m (46 ft 11 in) Trent-class lifeboat 14-23 Mara Edith Macdonald (ON 1227). This was a much larger, and much more powerful lifeboat, her twin MAN diesel engines giving a top speed of 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h). The Trent-class lifeboat served Oban for more than half of the time the station has existed. In some years, over 100 callouts were made.[2]
In 2005, Mara Edith Macdonald was launched to the aid of the yacht Classic Wave which had lost power, with three people aboard. When the lifeboat arrived, the boat was aground on a shelf, and taking in water. Third mechanic Peter MacKinnon was sent aboard with a pump, but it had little effect, and it was decided to abandon the vessel. During this process, the boat suddenly slipped off the shelf and sank, a rope dragging MacKinnon under the water, but he managed to resurface, and all four men were rescued.[3]
Three men and a woman were rescued from an upturned dinghy on 16 July 2023, off the Isle of Lismore. Spotted by a passing yacht, none were wearing life-jackets, and they had been unable to call for help as they had no radio, and their phones were submerged.[10]
After 27 years on station, Mara Edith Macdonald was withdrawn to the relief fleet. Oban received a £2.2 million Shannon-class lifeboat on 4 March 2024, the same day as the RNLI 200th anniversary. The boat was 2⁄3 funded from the legacy of Mrs Elizabeth Watson, née Campbell, who died aged 90 in May 2021. Two other legacies also helped fund the boat.[11]
