Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond called into Queensferry Lifeboat Station on 22 June. He was shown around the station, introduced to the crew and presented with a framed photo of Queensferry’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat Donald and Ethel Macrae.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Tom Robertson said: ‘The visit went very well; everyone was delighted to meet the First Minister. I was most impressed that he took time to speak to everyone and showed a great deal of interest in plans for the new station.’

The RNLI is planning a new lifeboat station for Queensferry, with enough space for an Atlantic 85 lifeboat and more modern crew facilities. Planning consent has been given. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat is bigger and faster than the station’s current lifeboat, with more advanced search and rescue technology.

On 9 June, Mr Salmond had presented Dunbar Coxswain Gary Fairbairn with a Brave@Heart community award.