A woman has become the first in the Highlands to lead her lifeboat team as they carry out their crucial work.
Joy Cameron is just one of three women in Scotland to be qualify as an RNLI lifeboat helm, meaning she can now lead the team during rescues on the 23-mile Loch Ness.
The 55-year-old has been a volunteer with the crew since 2008, and has already taken part in about 60 rescues.
The former army physical training instructor and firefighter, who now works as a student teacher assessor, also uses her experience to teach and coach the 19-strong team at Drumnadrochit in her role as deputy training officer.
But although she is the first woman to take the helm, Mrs Cameron is one of six women within the RNLI team on Loch Ness – who all hold key roles ranging from education, fundraising, executing and coordinating rescues and authorising launches.
Mrs Cameron – whose husband Ewan is the lifeboat operations manager – said: “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.”
The other women on the team are Sandra Delday, crew member and national flood rescue team; Vivian Bailey, crew member, education officer and deputy press officer; Joanne Stebbings, lifeboat launch authority and fundraising manager; Linda Ross, crew member, Jacqui McFeat, crew member; and Leanne Greatrex, trainee crew member.