Islay Lifeboat service to benefit from Fife millionaire’s RNLI bequest

Hugh Brown, a 78 year-old retired banker who had spent most of his life abroad before settling in Kinghorn in Fife, died earlier this year, in February.

Mr Brown was originally from PIttenweem in the Kingdom and his wife Molly, who had died earlier at the age of 76, was from Islay.

The Browns were lifelong and enthusiastic sailors, adding to their experience in their working lives in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

When they opted to retire to Fife – to Kinghorn – in 1985, they kept up their leisure activity afloat, Mr Brown in particular, sailing regularly with a friend. On one occasions he had been rescued by the lifeboat service when the engine of his small yacht cut out in the Firth of Forth.

The details of Mr Brown’s will have now been made public and the scale of his appreciation of the work of the RNLI is evident in the fact that he has left his entire estate of £1 million to the charity.

The RNLI is not only grateful but almost overwhelmed by this unexpected generosity. In return, the organisation has made its own gesture of thanks. In allocating the bequest to various projects within the Scottish service, it has included maintenance and crew training for the Islay lifeboat, in recognition of the home place of Mr Brown’s wife, Molly.