Sick man transported to mainland In the early hours of 21 September 1991, Oban's Brede class lifeboat Nottinghamshire was called on to transfer a sick man from Lochaline to Oban hospital.

Following a request at 0200 from the coastguard, the lifeboat proceeded at 0217 with the honorary medical adviser and ECG equipment aboard, as the patient was suspected of having suffered a heart attack.

On arrival at Lochaline, there was no landing place available. The patient lived one mile off the main road along a track and the service report records that 'there was some carrying involved' to transport the man over rough ground back to the main road.

Conditions for the transfer were not good. Sea conditions were deteriorating so much that it was necessary to rig a veering line to aid the recovery of the inflatable dinghy arid the patient.

The lifeboat returned to Oban and an awaiting ambulance at 0510. The lifeboat was ready for service again at 0538.

The honorary secretary noted in the report that, 'this service was performed under very difficult conditions...A sound, seamanlike service performed by all concerned.' Chief of operations Commodore George Cooper wrote in a letter of thanks, 'This service was carried out in a seamanlike way, and 1 would like to congratulate the coxswain, crew members and the honorary medical adviser for a fine team effort conducted in a very professional manner'..