RNLI VOLUNTEER Colin Stewart, 2nd coxswain of the Arbroath lifeboat Inchcape, was awarded a long service medal at the town’s lifeboat station.

Colin joined the crew at Arbroath in 1989—the year the Berlin Wall fell and Margaret Thatcher introduced poll tax in Scotland.

Coxswain Tommy Yule and lifeboat operations manager Alex Smith presented Colin with his award at a gathering of crew members.

Alex said, “RNLI lifeboat crews are made up by volunteers who give up their time to carry out rescues and save lives at sea on the lifeboats, but the commitment of crew members goes beyond time spent involved in rescues.

“Colin has given 20 years of service to the RNLI and is also involved in the training of the crew and other volunteers.

“He is one of the most dedicated members of the team here and he deserves a big thank you for all he has done over the years.”

Colin is well known in Arbroath as a former glazier and now the local ambulance man working for the patient transport service in the town.

As he was celebrating his wedding anniversary at the same time as getting his long service medal, his crewmates’ congratulations on reaching the double milestone included a few jokes as to the true meaning of his award.