Out and about last week with Mark Stephen from BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors programme. He was doing a piece on the importance of the new St Abbs Independent Lifeboat to locals and visitors to the area alike. We at the National Trust for Scotland have been staunch supporters of the campaign to make sure St Abbs retains a lifeboat, right from the start. 50,000 people visit St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve each year, so it is inevitable that some will need emerge...ncy assistance on ocassions. With a lifeboat based at St Abbs, and it being capable of 45 knots (its the fastest rescue vessel in the country) help can arrive literally within minutes.

Unexpectedly we got to go out on the boat and experience what it can do first hand - a fantastic experience. With the state of the art vessel, and the highly trained crew, who, as fishermen, dive boat operators and dive instructors, know this stretch of coast like no one else, we are all in safe hands.
The programme is due to be aired at 6.30am this coming Saturday, 20th January.
Pictured below, Mark Stephen and Sarah Russell from St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve.
Liza.