SCOTLAND’S BUSIEST coxswain is hanging up his lifejacket for the last time after 18 years at the helm.

Broughty Ferry lifeboat coxswain Jim Hughan was presented with a silver quaich by Lord Provost John Letford on Saturday in recognition of his service to the community during an event to mark his impending retirement.

Mr Letford described Jim’s career as similar to a John Wayne movie as he paid tribute to the popular coxswain.

In the 18 years since Jim took up his post, the Ferry station’s two lifeboats have launched on service a remarkable 889 times.

It has been Scotland’s busiest lifeboat station in 2003, 2004 and 2006—its lifeboats launching a record 72 times and rescuing 29 people in 2006 alone.

Jim embarked on a routine training exercise—his last as coxswain—on Saturday afternoon before being given a splashing by colleagues from Broughty Ferry, Arbroath and Anstruther.

He said, “Taking part in my final exercise was very emotional because I’ve got more than 26 years’ service in the institute. I’m still going to be hopefully doing station relief so I’ll still be involved. There’s been a lot of fantastic memories but there have been some sad moments as well, when you’ve not been successful.”

Recent highlights in Jim’s lifeboat service include the Broughty Ferry lifeboat being first on the scene when an RAF Tornado jet crashed in St Andrews Bay, a mother and daughter rescued while being swept out to sea, a couple snatched to safety from a rapidly disappearing sandbank and a seriously ill seaman brought safely ashore from a ship out at sea.

Jim braved fierce rapids, an exploding boat, crocodiles and hippos, heat exhaustion, typhoid risks and a night in the jungle during a two-week mercy mission to flood-hit Mozambique in 2000.

The father-of-three was part of a team of eight volunteers required to make “suicide runs” down the crocodile-infested Buzi River to ferry doctors and vital medical supplies to areas unreachable by air.

Jim hangs up his lifejacket for the last time on July 4 when experienced crewman Murray Brown will take his place as full-time coxswain.

“The camaraderie is fantastic between all the stations as well,” said Jim.

“Murray’s taking over and he’s been senior helmsman for the last 10 and been on the boat for 17 years and I wish him well. My wife and I are going for a holiday, take stock and see what the next chapter is.”

Broughty Ferry station chairman Mrs Elizabeth Mussen paid tribute to Jim’s dedication and seamanship.

“Jim has been an outstanding coxswain during his 18 years here at Broughty Ferry and we are particularly grateful to him for his leadership and guidance during the modernisation of the station and the arrival of the new lifeboat, Elizabeth of Glamis,” she said.

“We all join in wishing Jim and his family the very best for the future.”

Lord Provost John Letford said that he was very proud to be at Saturday’s event to mark Jim’s impending retiral.

“We as a city are grateful for Jim and people like him to keep us safe in these waters. Jim has been a long and committed coxswain and much of his career was like a John Wayne movie.

“The hard fact of the matter is these people lay their life on the line and tragedies can happen as the Ferry and this lifeboat knows all too well.

“Betty (Lady Provost) and I visit here often during the year and they really are lovely people. I remember being taken out by Jim who gave me the opportunity to steer Elizabeth.

“The people they have saved and kept from harm is enormous and we owe a great debt to them.”

The approaches to the Tay are among the most dangerous waters around the British coast.

The volunteers who crew the current Broughty Ferry lifeboats—Elizabeth of Glamis and Hartlepool Dynamo—include a garage owner, a joiner, a company director, a plumber, a boatman, two police officers, a firefighter and a laboratory technician.