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Scotland & NI 00102
11 January 2002

'MIXED FEELINGS' AS COXSWAIN STANDS DOWN
from John O'Groat Journal, January 11, 2002.
by Corrina Thomson

THURSO lifeboat coxswain William Farquhar retired on his 55th birthday yesterday after serving with the RNLI in Thurso for 32 years.

During that time his bravery and seamanship has been rewarded twice by the RNLI, including a bronze bravery medal for his service to the 'Multitank Ascania'.

 


RNLB 'The Queen mother'
Mr. Farquhar explained that he had grown up in Scrabster and had always been interested in the RNLI. “I stayed at Scrabster and I used to go down and pester the mechanic,” he recalled. “Then, after leaving school, I went into the merchant navy and then to the fishing industry. The skipper of the boat I was on was coxswain of the lifeboat and that’s how I got involved.”

In March 1969, Mr. Farquhar became a crew member of Thurso lifeboat and his first service was to the ill-fated Longhope lifeboat 'TGB'.  He became assistant mechanic in 1972 and progressed to become coxswain three years later, when he took over from Gilbert Reid.

In 1983 he took on the responsibility of mechanic from Angus Reid, “Hootna”, and held both positions until 1998.  Mr. Farquhar, known as Billy to his crewmen, has carried out over 260 services and helped save more than 80 lives at sea.  He has earned two awards in that time – although he stressed that he did not serve with the RNLI for recognition.  The first award was a Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum for service to the trawler 'Arctic Crusader' in November 1982 and the second was a bronze medal for service to the 'Multitank Ascania' in March 1999.
 


Multitank Ascania

The burning 'Ascania' threatened to wreck off Dunnet Head while carrying a cargo of vinyl acetate and many people were evacuated from their homes, but the tanker was brought under control due to the bravery of the RNLI. 

Mr. Farquhar recalled: “The Arctic Crusader broke adrift on a wild night.

We were thinking to take the crew out and the engine had broken down.  In the end he managed to get into Scrabster, but it was wild – a force nine or ten gale.” “The 'Ascania' was a chemical tanker that had broken down and caught fire.  People were taken ashore by helicopter and the tug tried to manoeuvre it.  We had to go in and get them clear.”  Mr. Farquhar said that, on reflection, the 'Ascania' was one of the most significant rescues he had been involved in.

Describing the boats he has served on during his time with Thurso RNLI, the retiring coxswain said: “I’ve served 32 years, and all at Thurso, since 1969.  The first boat was a 48ft Watson called the 'Pentland', then there was a 48ft Solent called the 'Three Sisters' and the last was an Arun class, the 'Queen Mother', which is here now.  We also had a trial run of an Arun class called the 'City of Bradford' before the 'Queen Mother'. The 'Queen Mother' is the best because it’s faster and more comfortable.  It’s a sign of the modern era.”  Better boats and the increasing amount of health-and-safety paperwork are two major changes Mr. Farquhar has witnessed in his long service. “The biggest changes were from the old boats to these ones now.  Over the years they’ve improved and the boats now are much, much superior.  There was nothing wrong with the old ones, but when we saw other stations getting nice new boats we were a bit envious.  “In the past two to four years, with health and safety, there’s been more restrictions and things like that.  Every job is the same, all we are doing is burying it in a paper mountain, but you’ve got to move with the times.”  Retirement at the age of 55 is RNLI policy and Mr. Farquhar admitted: “It’s mixed feelings for me really.  I’m relieved, and we’ve got to go at 55, but I have mixed feelings.  On the whole I’m quite relaxed and there’s no need to worry about stormy high seas and getting up in the middle of the night. “They took retirement age down.  Some people agree with that – we’ve accepted it’s got to be like that.  When you feel young, it feels that it’s too early, but if you’re out for eight hours on stormy seas then you can tell you’re 55.  “I’ve enjoyed it, except for the tragedies, and it’s good to take people in.  When the adrenalin is pumping you don’t think about anything else – you’ve just got to do it and that’s it.  It was like that with the 'Ascania'.  We’re not doing this for awards, and the 'Ascania' was quite a dangerous one.”

William “Wing” Munro is the new coxswain of the lifeboat, having been a member of Thurso RNLI since 1970.  He has been second coxswain since 1991 and has received three awards from the RNLI. The first was a Thanks of the Institution on vellum for service for the 'Arctic Crusader' and the second was a similar award for service to the fishing vessel 'Aztec' in September 1997, while Mr Munro was acting coxswain.  He has also received a Certificate of Thanks of the Institution for his part in the 'Ascania' rescue.  Mr. Farquhar says Mr. Munro will make a good coxswain, with a wealth of experience on the lifeboat going back more than 30 years.