Hamilton woman Elizabeth receives RNLI’s top honour

Jun 11 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON woman has struck gold after receiving a top award for her services to lifesaving.

Mrs Elizabeth Muir (60) was presented with the Gold Badge of the The Royal National Lifeboat Institution by the Duke of Kent at the Barbican, London, last month.

This is the highest award given by the Institution to its volunteers.

Born and brought up in Hamilton, Elizabeth, who now lives in Bothwell, has been a committee member for more than 30 years.

The Hamilton RNLI Guild was founded by Elizabeth’s grandmother, Mrs May Soutter, in 1938 and Elizabeth’s mother Mrs Margaret Soutter was also a recipient of the Gold Badge.

Mrs Janet Boyes is the only other member of the present guild committee who has been similarly honoured.

The Duke of Kent made the presentation and in his address spoke of his own commitment to the RNLI and his pride in having been its President for the last 40 years.

Mrs Muir told the Advertiser: “I am honoured and delighted to be given the Award by the RNLI and in particular was very pleased to receive it from the Duke of Kent, who had presented the same award to my mother, Mrs Margaret Soutter, in 1979.”

The guild committee have organised Lifeboat collections in Hamilton for many years.

Only last month, they raised more than £6000 during Lifeboat week.