Silver lifeboat medal for Hamish

In recognition of his valuable services to the work of saving lives at sea, the silver medal of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM), the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, was presented to Hamish McDonald, Director of the Maritime Rescue Institute in Stonehaven, to commemorate his contribution to the search and rescue education and training of the lifeboat crew members since 1983.

His knowledge and experience have contributed to safer operations of the fast lifeboats in the Netherlands. The silver medal was handed over by KNRM-chairman Cees van Duyvendijk in the Netherlands coastal village of Egmond on 4 April 2008, during a reception of all honorary secretaries of the forty-one Dutch lifeboat stations, where Hamish gave a lecture on his specific way of training lifeboatmen. His method of teaching and training is adopted by the KNRM and works very well in this organisation with professional volunteers.

As KNRM Chairman Cees Van Duyvendijk mentioned in his speech:

“His vast knowledge of nautical matters, but above all his magnificent seamanship, imbuing a salty sixth sense in every sailor with the slightest hint of it in his veins, has greatly impressed our crews. It is difficult to fully express our gratitude for Hamish McDonald’s services: quite a few lifeboatmen as well as people whom they rescued, probably owe their lives to his training. No award we could dream up would possibly match the true quality of his contribution”.