First female RNLI Lifeboat Helm in Highlands

Joy Cameron, has become the first woman to qualify as an RNLI Lifeboat Helm in the Scottish Highlands.

A volunteer member of the RNLI on Loch Ness since 2008, the 55-year-old can now qualified to lead the lifeboat team during rescues on the 23 mile loch.

Former Army Physical Training Instructor, Firefighter and currently a Student Teacher Assessor, Joy has been an integral part of the lifeboat operations since it's inception in 2008 and having taken part in around 60 rescues.

Joy is also the deputy Training Officer within the Drumnadrochit based team bringing her extensive teaching and coaching skills to help maintain the competencies of the 19 volunteer members.

Joy is one of six women within the RNLI team on Loch Ness and their roles include Launch Authority, UK National Flood Rescue Team, Education Officer, Press Officer, Deputy Training Officer as well as operational crew members.

This means that the women play a key role within every stage of a RNLI lifeboat rescue form raising funds, authorising the launch, executing and coordinating the rescue, operational training, responding to national flood alerts, interacting with youth groups and publicising the work of the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea and on inland waters.

Joy Cameron says: 'The helm is the person who decides how to do the rescue and how to carry that out safely. You’ve got to be able to direct people, teach people. My whole background is in training and education so I enjoy that very much.'

'Women are key to the success of our team here on Loch Ness but first and foremost we are RNLI volunteers and as such receive all the training and equipment we need to facilitate a safe and effective rescue.'

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