Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station receives donation from District Grand Priory
Fraserburgh lifeboat Duty Coxswain, Graeme Duthie, and 2nd Mechanic, Declan Sutherland, were delighted to accept a donation from Rt Em Fr Alister Burgess, Immediate Past District Grand Prior of the District Grand Priory of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine.
Historically the Great Priory of Scotland, a well-known masonic fraternity, provides the outgoing District Grand Prior with a sum of money to donate to charities of his choice. On this occasion, the Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station was one of them.
Rt Em Fr Alister accompanied by Rt Em Fr Ronald Simpson who is presently the Grand Constable of the Great Priory of Scotland, visited the lifeboat station recently to present the cheque.
Alister said: 'The freemasonry community in Fraserburgh have a great respect and a long history of supporting the RNLI lifeboat in Fraserburgh.'
The connection with freemasonry and the Fraserburgh lifeboat goes back to 1805 when Lodge Solomon made a hefty contribution to the purchase of Fraserburgh Harbour’s first lifeboat, years before the RNLI came into existence.
Several Fraserburgh crew members have been masons over the years, including Coxswain Andrew Noble who was Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Solomon. Andrew lost his life while on service in the first Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster on the 28 of April, 1919.
'Acknowledging the Fraserburgh lifeboat and the dangerous job crew members perform in saving lives at sea has always been a consideration of the masonic community in Fraserburgh and will continue to be so in the future.' said Alister.
Accepting the cheque on behalf of Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station, duty Coxswain, Graeme Duthie, said 'It's a tremendous gesture by the District Grand Priory of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine. We’re very grateful to Alister for choosing us as one of his nominated charities. It's very much appreciated by everyone at Fraserburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station and this donation will help us to continue to save lives at sea”
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.
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