The annual Lerwick lifeboat open day at Victoria Pier in Lerwick last Saturday has raised over £8000 for RNLI funds.
Bright sunshine helped to ensure the success of the day, with many adults and children coming along to enjoy the stalls, live music and food on offer. The Severn- class all-weather lifeboat
Michael and Jane Vernon was berthed alongside the pier with volunteer lifeboat crew showing many visitors around the vessel.
Northlink Ferries once again supported the event with their Round Bressay cruise, which proved popular with hundreds of passengers, including many families. The Coastguard rescue helicopter and Lerwick lifeboat followed the
MV Hjaltland for much of the voyage and undertook a winching exercise from the lifeboat to the helicopter as passengers looked on.
Emergency services also had a presence with local teams from HM Coastguard and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also in attendance with displays of their rescue equipment and vehicles.
Malcolm Craigie, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Lerwick, said:
“We are grateful again to everyone who contributed to the success of Saturday’s open day, including many volunteers. We’d particularly like to thank the Lerwick Ladies Lifeboat Guild for their hard work before, during and after the event. Thanks to Northlink Ferries for their support in organising the Round Bressay trip again and for their donation to our funds from the ticket sales. Thanks also to Lerwick Port Authority for allowing us to use the pier, and to Northwards Ltd for supplying a trailer and helping with transport.”
“The funds raised will help to train and equip our volunteer lifeboat crews who are always on call to help save lives at sea.”
Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Henry Weaver, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07771 943026, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
