Teacake tycoon revives coastal lifeboat station
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Residents of St Abbs, a small coastal village in the Scottish Borders, worked to reinstate their lifeboat station after the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) closed it in 2015.
The RNLI determined the station was no longer needed because of nearby coverage from Eyemouth, but locals protested and began fundraising to fund an independent service. The history of the St Abbs lifeboat station began in 1907 after the cargo vessel Alfred Erlandsen wrecked near the village.
Villagers could only listen to the cries of the crew, and the tragedy prompted local philanthropist Jane Hay to call for a lifeboat. The RNLI established a station there in 1911. After the RNLI closed the St Abbs station in 2015, businessman Sir Boyd Tunnock, known for his teacakes and caramel wafers, donated £250,000 towards a new boat. This allowed the community to launch the Thomas Tunnock lifeboat just a year later, honoring Tunnock’s family.
Current operations manager Barry Shaw said the station continues to provide a vital service, crewed by local fishermen and dive boat operators who know the surrounding waters well.
