After four decades of 40 years dedicated service to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, former Stornoway RNLI coxswain Murdo ‘Murty’ Campbell is now set to enjoy his well-
Starting as volunteer crew in 1982 and taking retirement at the end of 2022, during Murty’s time, Stornoway RNLI lifeboat and crew have launched 783 times, saved 96 lives, and aided 734 people.
No stranger to the Outer Hebrides seas, Murty studied at Lews College as a sea cadet and worked on island fishing boats for a number of years, along with a seven-
In 1982 and back on land, he was working at the Clansman Mill in Stornoway when it was suggested by one of the lifeboat crew that he speak to the lifeboat coxswain.
“I went to the station and spoke to the coxswain, Calum; he signed me up and that was it,” Murty recalls, adding: “It was good to be getting back out on the water again.”
His first shout as volunteer crewman on the Solent class Stornoway RNLI lifeboat, ‘Hugh William Viscount Gough’, was a challenging ordeal when the lifeboat was tasked to a private jet which had ditched in the Minch, a short distance from Stornoway Airport.
Ten people died in the tragedy, including a young child and baby, and Stornoway lifeboat crew spent two days on scene undertaking recovery duties.
“It was the first time the pagers had sounded,” said Murty.
“The pagers were new and had just taken over from phone-
“It was about 6pm when the pager sounded and it was a wild night, I remember that.
“We were out for a total of two days on recovery. It was something for a first shout, but in those days, you just got on with it.
“You did things as a crew, you helped each other.”
The following year in 1984 Stornoway RNLI welcomed a new lifeboat to the island station – the Arun class ‘Sir Max Aitken II’ – with a top speed of 18knots, double the nine-
A couple years later, in 1986, Murty’s brother Kenny ‘Kendy’ Campbell joined as volunteer crew with Stornoway RNLI. Then their sister Maggie Macleod joined the Stornoway RNLI Ladies Guild as a volunteer fundraiser.
Murty also took on role of assistant mechanic at Stornoway for a spell, before moving to second coxswain duties in July 1993.
Stornoway RNLI’s present-
“It was different taking the cox position,” he said.
“Before I was just a volunteer but all of a sudden, I was now part of the institution. It was scary stepping up – before I’d been told what to do, now I was doing the telling; I had to make the decisions.
“But we always had a good crew, people understood why they were there, and it was good to see new people come in, develop and work their way up to the Mechanic or Navigator roles.”
With restrictions following a hip replacement, Murty handed over the coxswain role into the capable hands of DI Murray who has held post for the past seven years.
And in 2016 Murty took on post of RNLI divisional assessor trainer, working with crews and lifeboats.
Initially, he covered Shetland to Peterhead, and then the west coast from Portpatrick to Lochinver as well as Islay, Mull, Barra, Stornoway, and Leverburgh.
He has supported numerous individuals to reach their full potential as lifesavers, including 10 coxswains in Scotland and nine others across the UK, completing 365 command competencies and 11,151 crew assessments.
“It was important for me to stay with the Institution after all those years with Stornoway RNLI, and it has been really good to be out and about the place, to meet other crews and visit stations,” Murty said.
“I did miss the bit at the sharp end, the call outs, but it’s the people, the Institution and what the RNLI does – going out to help those in trouble at sea – that’s what has kept me going.”
He continued: “There’s been a lot of changes in the RNLI over the years. The technology of equipment and the speed of the boats is so different to when I started – it’s gone from a nine-
“The types of shouts have changed as well. In the old days it was very rare to be called to a yacht for example, but now calls are to yachts, swimmers, paddleboards, surfers and so on. There’s a lot more people on the water now.
“What hasn’t changed though is the commitment of the volunteers and the support of the RNLI from the community,” Murty said.
“The lifeboat needs continued support; if that’s not there, then there would be a lot more people drowned at sea.
“The fundraisers do a great job and the local community have always been really supportive of Stornoway RNLI crew and lifeboat. I’ve been very thankful and honoured by that.”
So, after 40 years of saving lives at sea it is time for a new chapter in Murty’s life – but he’ll not be stepping away from boats yet as the keen kayaker recently got a Canadian canoe and is set to explore the waterways of Scotland and beyond.
“I’m looking forward to going exploring in the Canadian canoe, and I’ll still be out in the sea kayak, going trips and camping around the islands. Time to relax a little,” he added.
John J Maclennan, Stornoway RNLI chairman, said: “Murty Campbell’s dedication and service to the RNLI for the past 40 years has been immense, both at local and national levels.
“Appointed to the crew of Stornoway Lifeboat at the age of 28 years back in 1982, Murty has served on three different classes of lifeboats in wide ranging roles such as crewman, assistant mechanic, second coxswain (nine years) and full time coxswain for 14 years.
“In 2016 he was appointed as RNLI divisional assessor trainer, latterly for virtually the whole west coast of Scotland.
“I had the privilege of serving along with him as a crew member for 14 years and can testify to his utter dependability and commitment to the Institution and fellow crew members. In all of these roles he served with distinction.
“He was widely and highly respected as divisional assessor trainer throughout Scotland and whilst all who knew him will miss his vast experience, they wish him many years of happy retirement.”
RNLI chief executive, Mark Dowie, recorded his appreciation formally highlighting the “very grateful thank” of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
He said: “As a coxswain, you displayed tremendous courage on many occasions, leading the crew at one of the RNLI’s most remote lifeboat stations into extreme weather and sea conditions.
“You are held in incredibly high esteem by all the teams you have worked with and are well respected throughout the lifesaving community of Scotland and beyond.
“I would like to thank you for giving your skills, time and commitment during your longstanding career with the RNLI. I wish you a very happy retirement.”
Lifeboat stalwart steps down after 40 years
2 January 2023
‘Murty’ Campbell
Photo: RNLI