Queensferry RNLI holds their most successful Open Day ever, raising over £5000!
Queensferry Lifeboat Station’s volunteer crew, officials and fundraisers welcomed the public back to their annual Open Day, the first since the pandemic, after the event was put on hold for three years.
The Queensferry RNLI Open Day returned with a bang on Sunday 26 June at Hawes Promenade where the public were able to meet the volunteer lifeboat crew and fundraisers as well as see and experience the charity’s lifeboat, an Atlantic 85 B Class Jimmie Cairncross.
Other attractions on the day included two UK Coastguard vehicles with personnel giving safety messages and advice, Blood Bikes, MX Medical with their ambulance and CPR demonstration dummy, and Police Scotland community officers with their electric police car and plenty police hats for children to try on.
Volunteers from the RNLI’s Water Safety Education Team engaged with young people and their families on key water safety advice including the Float to Live message. They gave children the opportunity, and a little competition, to kit up like RNLI crew using the ‘Ready, Steady, Crew’ kit and played spot the dangers activities to engage young people in safety advice and RNLI awareness.
As well as all of this, there were stalls selling home baking, a BBQ food stand, ice cream parlour, an auction and raffle, a tombola, plant stall, children’s lucky dip, sponge throwing stocks and a fairground ride. There was entertainment from the local Queensferry Pipes and Drums, RIB trips courtesy of neighbouring business Maid of the Forth, an incredible water rescue demonstration by The Scottish Newfoundland Club, plus the lifeboat demonstrated the rescue of a paddle boarder in difficulty.
A ‘pop up’ RNLI shop was also part of the Open Day stalls with the main shop on Hawes Pier open as normal. They also enjoyed tremendous success on Sunday with the shop having its best day of trading ever taking over £1000.
Simon Walker, Queensferry RNLI Shop Volunteer, said; ‘The additional custom that Open Day brought to the shop was phenomenal, the card machine was smoking! I am delighted to have been part of such a successful day and part of an amazing team of shop volunteers who all contribute to saving lives at sea.’
Adele Allan, Lifeboat Press Officer and Event Coordinator for this year’s Open Day, said; ‘It was fantastic to hold our first Open Day since 2019 and even more incredible that it has been our most successful Open Day ever.
‘Not only is it vital that these funds are raised, but it is also incredibly important that we engage and educate the public, particularly young people, on water safety and lifesaving advice.
‘We would like to thank our local community, our supporters and our local businesses who all played a part in putting the day on and making it a great success.'
ENDS
Notes to editors
· The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
· The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
· Queensferry RNLI is based at Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, EH30 9TB. The lifeboat station was founded in 1967 and the volunteer crew use an inshore Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross.
· In 2021 Queensferry lifeboat launched 90 times, aiding 167 people and saving one life.
· To learn more about the lifeboat station visit; https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/queensferry-lifeboat-station
Photo credits
The attached photos are from Queensferry Lifeboat Open Day on Sunday 26 June.
· Queensferry Lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross with Forth Bridge backdrop. Credit RNLI/Adrian McKie
· Queensferry Lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross with Forth Road Bridge backdrop. Credit RNLI/Gary Ebdy
· Queensferry crew member in stocks being hit by wet sponge. Credit RNLI/Adrian McKie
· Rescue dog from The Scottish Newfoundland Club. Credit RNLI/Bruce Miller
· Queensferry Lifeboat demonstrates paddle boarder rescue. Credit RNLI/Gary Ebdy
RNLI media contacts
Adele Allan, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
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.
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.