Tobermory Lifeboat Day returns with a bang

After the storms had passed through, the day kicked off with the Tobermory Severn class lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, arriving at the pontoons with local high school pupil Sorley Carmichael piping on the bow. With the lifeboat alongside, it was made open to visitors to tour around and meet some of the crew. Over 200 people were shown around over the course of the day. Ashore, advice was available from our Sea Safety stall, there was a variety of stalls and games to enjoy (including the popular human fruit and welly machine) and the Coastguard Rescue Team, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police were on hand with their vehicles and equipment displays.

The crowds had a choice of food for all tastes including homemade cakes, locally made ice cream, wood-fired pizza, locally sourced burgers and prawns kindly donated by a local fisherman. Stormy Stan, the RNLI mascot, made his inaugural appearance at a Tobermory Lifeboat Day and now features in many visitors’ holiday snaps!

The day was expertly compered by the Master of Ceremonies, Alasdair McCrone who kept the crowd both entertained and informed with facts about recent shouts and our station’s history. Later in the afternoon, Alasdair took the role of auctioneer in a competitive auction for donated lobsters, prawns and cakes; including a masterpiece of a lifeboat cake expertly baked and decorated by Joyce Malcolm.

The event rounded off with the eagerly anticipated highlight of the day, the raft race. Six rafts of varying design and seaworthiness competed with all ages taking part. After a valiant effort, the RNLI raft failed to place and was soundly beaten by the winners with a crew of local high school pupils! Hugh, Seonaidh, Finn and Oliver were the clear victors in their raft and took the trophy (for the third time in succession for brothers Hugh and Seonaidh!)

The total raised is currently nearly £5000 with some more donations still to be added. The day was a resounding success and a welcome return to the highlight of our fundraising year. The day wouldn’t have been possible with the generosity of a multitude of people and businesses. As well as everyone who attended, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to:

· Everyone who baked

· Everyone who donated raffle prizes

· All the volunteers who helped man a stall

· Tobermory Harbour Association

· Local fishermen

· The Mishnish Hotel

· The Pier Café

· Café Fish

· Glengorm Estate

· Tobermory Bakery

· The Scottish Salmon Company

· Tobermory Co-op

· Tobermory Coastguard Rescue Team

· Police Scotland

· Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

· The Western Isles Yacht Club

· Alasdair McCrone

· Rob MacDonald

· Nettie Wood

· Morven Summers

· Lucy Mackenzie from Lip na Cloiche nursery

· Aros Hall

· The Foodie Shack

· Isle of mull Ice Cream

· Tobermory Bay Tours

· The Mishnish, Tobermory Hotel and MacGochans for allowing collections

· Ewan Miles from Nature Scotland

· Ben and Polly Stone

· All the businesses who readily displayed our posters

If you didn’t make it on the day, there’s still time to donate! Here’s a link to our Just Giving page: https://bit.ly/3PKsMkY

RNLI media contacts

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [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.

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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.