RNLI stunned after Scots boating enthusiast leaves it £1m in his will

Published on Wednesday 11 November 2009 21:47

A SCOTS widower who was twice rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has gifted £1 million to the charity.

Hugh Brown, 78, and his wife Molly, 76, spent most of their lives living abroad, but retired to Kinghorn in Fife. They had been active boating enthusiasts and supporters of the RNLI.

On two occasions, Mr Brown was rescued by RNLI volunteers in the Firth of Forth when his neighbour's small boat encountered difficulties.

Mrs Brown passed away in July 2006, and her husband died aged 78 in February this year. The couple had no children.

Last night it emerged that Mr Brown had had arranged to have his entire estate of 1,013,445.92 left to the RNLI.

Linda Aitken, legacy manager for the RNLI in Scotland, said: "We were stunned when we heard how much Mr and Mrs Brown had left the RNLI and we are truly grateful for such generosity."

Mr Brown, originally from Pittenweem, lived in Kinghorn for 25 years with his wife, who was originally from Islay.

They met in India, where he worked as a banker and she was a midwife.

The sea-faring couple owned several boats at homes in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, during their years abroad, before settling in a bungalow with views over the Firth of Forth.

After retiring in 1995, Mr Brown, whose grandfather was a ship's captain, was also an active member of the committee that established the Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

The bulk of the couple's fortune was made up of stocks and shares, as well as the sale of their Fife property.

A friend of the couple, Charles Ritchie, 59, said they were never happier than when they were on the water.

He said: "They both worked abroad for about 40 years before they retired back home. They were very generous people. They did a lot of charity work for children's hospitals.

"Their house looked out over the water. They were truly happy there, it would have meant a lot to them to know they could help the RNLI."

He said Mr Brown had been rescued twice while he and a friend sailed from Kinghorn to Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth, a trip he made regularly.

The RNLI has allocated most of the generous legacy to projects across Scotland, including funding three years of crew training of the Islay RNLI lifeboat crew, as well as the next planned maintenance for Islay RNLI lifeboat.

Another project to benefit from the donation is the extension of the Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat station.

Islay McEachern, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Islay RNLI lifeboat station said: "All at Islay lifeboat station were amazed to learn of the magnificent gift left by Hugh and Molly."

Charlie Tulloch, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Kinghorn RNLI lifeboat station said "Everyone of us in the station was surprised to hear about the donation and very, very grateful. We are lucky to have people like Hugh and Molly Brown and a community who support the RNLI lifesaving service."