Dougie praised for commitment and dedication after 47 years on Thurso lifeboat
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Coxswain Dougie Munro has stood down from the Thurso lifeboat crew after 47 years of service.
His commitment and dedication to the RNLI has been described as "truly remarkable".
During his time as a volunteer, Dougie was involved in numerous rescues and received awards for heroism and gallantry.
He officially retires on his 65th birthday on November 15 but has handed in his pager and stepped aside as coxswain – a role he had held for five years after succeeding his older brother, William "Wing" Munro.
Dougie left school at 15 and went to work on a local fishing boat. He began helping out on the lifeboat and was a crew member by the age of 18.
In 2005 Dougie received a gallantry award from the Princess Royal, in her role as patron of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society (SMS), at a ceremony in London. The Lady Swathling Trophy – awarded by the SMS to mark outstanding seamanship, leadership and courage – was in recognition of Dougie's part in preventing a Norwegian vessel, Arnøytrans, from running aground on rocks on the north coast of Caithness.
Dougie and six colleagues also received heroism awards from the RNLI following the rescue.
Dougie, who lives in Scrabster, has featured along with fellow Thurso crew members in the BBC TV series Saving Lives at Sea, which shows the work of the men and women of the RNLI.
Dougie’s last official training exercise took place last Sunday. To mark the occasion, the Longhope lifeboat joined Thurso lifeboat in some manoeuvres in Thurso Bay.
Afterwards, crew members from both lifeboats, along with friends, joined Dougie for a barbecue at the lifeboat station.
Thurso RNLI press officer Ron Gunn said: "On behalf of the Thurso RNLI crew, fundraising committee, volunteers, helpers and the wider Caithness community, I would like to thank Dougie for his commitment and dedication over the last 47 years – a truly remarkable achievement that deserves recognition.
"Dougie has been involved in many rescues and his extensive knowledge of local waters has been invaluable to RNLI. His experience has also been critical in the training of new recruits.
"I'm sure everyone will join me in wishing Dougie a happy and healthy retirement for many years to come."
