Party in the Boat Shed with Award Winning Fish and Chips!
Celebratory fish suppers have been taking ‘plaice’ in RNLI stations across Scotland this month to simultaneously celebrate volunteer crews and to raise funds for ongoing station costs.
Summer 2018 saw RNLI volunteer crews kept on their toes as the temperature soared and Scotland took to the coast. Crews across Scotland from Troon to Kinghorn were called out for unicorns, puffins and even golden winged flamingos (of the inflatable kind). A celebration of lives saved, and another opportunity to raise funds, was therefore welcomed in stations around the coast.
Kinghorn RNLI raised the equivalent of two of the charity’s specially designed, ergonomic lifejackets and Anstruther RNLI who hosted their first Fish Supper raised enough for a full kit for an inshore lifeboat crew member. Anstruther were overwhelmed with the response from the public and would have been able to sell out their event twice over. The event was supported by the awarding winning Anstruther Fish Bar and included live music from Mollie & Jake and quizzes as the crew, and their supporters, partied in the station’s historic boat shed.
Roy Giles, Lifeboat Operations Manager from Anstruther Lifeboat Station said:
‘This is the first year we have held an RNLI Fish Supper fundraising night at Anstruther. Our volunteers often miss meals when their pagers sound and this was an opportunity to join our supporters in enjoying fish and chips whilst raising money for the RNLI. Aside from raising a fantastic total, the evening really drove home the immense sense of community spirit we are fortunate to have here. The support of local businesses in the way of raffle prizes, the delicious food and musical entertainment gave the solid foundations for a night made possible by the incredible support of those who gave up their Friday night to join us.’
Thousands of Fish Supper events were held all over the UK and Ireland between 5-21 October 2018, to raise awareness of lifeboat crew who drop everything and often sacrifice their own meal times and special occasions at a moment’s notice – answering the call of their pagers – to rescue those in trouble at sea.
The RNLI relies on the generosity of the public to fund its lifesaving services and help keep crews ready for emergencies.
In 2017, RNLI lifeboats in Scotland launched 1159 times and its volunteers rescued 999 people. Scotland has 46 lifeboat stations and 55 lifeboats.
RNLI media contacts
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]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Press Officer, [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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.