Johnny keeps up proud family tradition after taking on Wick lifeboat role
Wick lifeboat's newly appointed mechanic coxswain is keeping up a family link with the RNLI that now extends to four generations.
Johnny Grant (22), from Munlochy on the Black Isle, is following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and late great-grandfather who all served as lifeboatmen covering a period of more than a century.
Johnny’s father is Kessock helm Doug Grant, who has been part of the RNLI for 35 years.
"The RNLI has been in my family since before I was born," Johnny said. "I’ve got so many great memories of being around the station and the crew at Kessock, and of dad rushing off to rescues from so many family events.
"It has been a massive part of my life and I really wanted to give something back to the RNLI and the community which has looked after my family for years. It’s also a good feeling knowing I am making my own family proud.
“I really look forward to many years being part of the crew and feel pretty honoured to be following in the boots of my dad, grandad and great-grandad.”
Johnny has moved to Wick at a time when Covid-19 has had an impact on training and other aspects of the RNLI's work.
“It’ll be quite challenging but I’m sure the guys here at Wick will manage to pass on their experience and help me in every way possible," he said. "That’s what they’re doing now, which I’m really grateful for.
“It has been fantastic – I can’t thank to the ladies and gents on the crew enough.
"Obviously it’s a hard time just now as we can’t really do what we want to do in terms of training and going full steam ahead into things.
“I’ve not met everyone yet – it’s kind of hard with the situation that’s going on, but hopefully we’ll get through it all and I’ll get a proper Wick welcome.”
Johnny has an HNC in marine engineering and trained for the merchant navy before spending the past year working as an engineer on a fish farm on the west coast. Has a rugby background and a qualification in sports coaching.
Doug Grant has served in the RNLI for 35 years. He started his volunteer career in 1985 in Selsey, West Sussex, before moving north to the Black Isle and transferring to Kessock lifeboat station where he has served continuously since.
Johnny is the grandson of Mike Grant, one of the most decorated lifesavers in the RNLI’s 196-year history.
Doug had followed his own father and grandfather onto the boat at Selsey, where he had grown up watching coxswains Mike and Jack Grant serving the RNLI on hundreds of rescues. Doug’s father received two silver medals for gallantry – the first in 1979 for his part in the rescue of the crew of 20 from the cargo vessel Cape Coast, and the second in 1984 for the rescue of a crew of six from the yacht Enchantress.
Mike was part of the crew which was bestowed with the further honour of the Freedom of the City of London in 1985.
Great-grandfather Jack Grant – who joined in 1917 – was awarded a silver medal in 1956 for the rescue of 18 people from the yachts Maaslust, Coima and Bloodhound.
Doug said: “I’m delighted that my son Johnny has continued the family RNLI tradition and most importantly that he’s enjoying it so much.
"The RNLI family has always been so supportive of me and mine and it makes me very proud that Johnny now has his own career to follow in service. The skills and experience are passed down from the older generations and when that’s within your own family it’s a very proud feeling.”
Doug recalled: “I joined the crew at 17 years old and spent years learning from my own father Mike and the other coxswains and crew. I’ll never forget the first time I was taken on a dramatic shout in wild weather, and admit it was quite daunting for a young lad.
"The sense of confidence I felt by having my own father on the boat helped me to stand tall and do what I had been trained to do."
RNLI chief executive Mark Dowie said: “Lifeboat communities are special. In cities, ports, towns and villages around the coasts of the UK and Ireland, generations of crew, shore crew, officials, fundraisers and supporters and their families have combined over nearly two centuries to save lives at sea.
“But it is pretty special to see a fourth generation family member answering the pager and going to sea to save others. Congratulations to Johnny on taking up his new post at Wick lifeboat station and thank you to the entire Grant family for their selfless commitment over four generations.”
