Full Breakdown
St Abbs Lifeboat Station Reopens After Community-Led Fundraising
By Drooid · · How we work
Historical Roots and 2015 Closure
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) established a lifeboat at the coastal village of St Abbs in August 1911, following the tragic wreck of the cargo vessel *Alfred Erlandsen* in October 1907, which may have claimed 17 lives. For more than a century the station rescued hundreds of people and became a central part of village life. In 2015 the RNLI announced, after an “extensive review,” that the service would be withdrawn, citing proximity to the Eyemouth station. On September 8, 2015 the station closed, and a petition against the move gathered roughly 13,000 signatures. An appeal was launched to raise the £500,000 needed for an independent lifeboat.
Community Fundraising and Sir Boyd Tunnock’s Donation
Local campaigner Alistair Crowe led the appeal, and businessman Sir Boyd Tunnock responded with a £250,000 contribution—half the target amount. The remaining funds were secured through additional community fundraising, enabling the launch of the new Thomas Tunnock lifeboat a year after the closure.
Current Operations
Barry Shaw, who moved to St Abbs in 2020, notes that the crew remains largely local—fishermen, dive-boat operators, and long-time volunteers. While some original crew members have retired, new volunteers have stepped in, maintaining the same operational procedures as a decade ago.