Orkney Image Library

As a landlubber who can't conceive what it must have been like to be a lifeboatman in those days, and is lost in admiration for the grit required, I am not qualified to make weighty comments on this picture. However, a few things strike me.

It's a fine photo. Photo #9017 is identical with this one, but in poorer condition.

The vessel seems very high in the water. With so much freeboard it must have been a bitch to row. There are five oars a side, but only nine oarsmen visible. I presume the total crew numbered sixteen?

All on board except the two at the stern are wearing sou'westers and life-jackets. Would those two have donned the same, had it been a real call-out rather than a photocall?

Owld Bill Mowat 2nd Coxwain was desperate for a smoke one dirty night, everything was soaked onboard, so he lit a hand flare but when applied to his pipe it burnt the bowl clean away! so no smoke for a long time. The men rowing were tied to the thafts I have heard of one men forard not being tied on and being washed aft through the others and almost over the stern, a sharp lesson to that man. This boat is always refered to as Annie Miles localy but was indeed plane Anne. I think she was held in such high regard by all in Brims that Annie, sounded so much much more "freendly". Yes conditions onboard were a world of differance from what we know today but remember these men worked boats that were fraill craft by comparison to the Annie Miles so she must have seemed a superb vesel by comparison. Just like today crews are so safe on our modern lifeboats. The same Bill Mowat on seeing the first motor lifeboat to come to Brims in 1926 said "My God she is like a Hotel"!!.

Could it be Garson and the Bu in the background?