James Dougal has been assistant second coxswain/ assistant mechanic of Eyemouth lifeboat since 1991. He joined the crew in 1972 and served as assistant mechanic from 1982 until taking up his present position.

A collective framed letter of appreciation, signed by the chairman of the Institution, the Duke of Atholl, was awarded to James in recognition of a commendable service lasting for nearly eight hours on 15 March 1983, when the relief lifeboat Wavy Line, in a strong north-north-easterly gale and a rough sea rescued the crew of three of the trawler Hatdiffe and saved the vessel.

In 1991, as acting coxswain, he was awarded a silver medal in recognition of his courage, leadership and seamanship when the lifeboat under his command rescued two skin-divers in difficulties north west of the Ebb Carr Rocks in hurricane force northerly winds and very heavy 30ft-35ft seas breaking over rocky outcrops, with visibility reduced drastically by rain, spume and spray on 6 October 1990.

James also received the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of life-saving in 1990 for this service..