Queensferry RNLI volunteers cheer on local marathon man

Graham Price, a keen runner, first ran the London Marathon in 2016 and decided to put his name down for this year’s event, not expecting to get a place! To his surprise, he was successful in securing a spot and therefore decided he wanted to use his place to raise funds for charity.

The RNLI was the chosen charity of choice by Graham’s mother when he first asked his parents if they had a charity they would like him to support. His mother, Mary Price, spent most of her life in Fife and South Queensferry, bringing up her family in the latter, and has always had an awareness and support for what the RNLI and its volunteers do.

Mary didn’t hesitate in nominating the RNLI to benefit from Graham’s London Marathon challenge.

Ahead of taking on this challenge, Graham said; ‘I'm fortunate that I've never needed to call on the RNLI for help, but I've always been very conscious of the work that they do and the reassurance I get from knowing that they are there if needed.'

Graham recounted a time that he once witnessed Queensferry’s Atlantic 85 Lifeboat B851 Jimmie Cairncross in action. He said: ‘One time I went for a walk over to Cramond Island and witnessed the rescue of someone's dog that had got spooked and was running around in the mud and water out of reach of the owner.’

Graham now lives in Basingstoke, Hampshire, but is a regular visitor back to his parents and friends in South Queensferry. On a trip back in June, Graham visited Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat Station where he met two volunteer crew members, Graham and Chris.

He was shown around the station and the boat, chatted about some of the shouts that Queensferry lifeboat has attended and discussed the equipment and clothing required by the crew. Graham described this as a brilliant experience and really ‘eye-opening’, especially the cost of the equipment which is all funded by donations.

Volunteer crewmember Graham Hughes said: ‘It was a pleasure to meet Graham in the summer and show him around the lifeboat station. On behalf of everyone at Queensferry lifeboat, we send our best wishes to Graham for the London Marathon and thank him for his support for our lifeboat station and the RNLI.’

So far Graham has raised 90% of his target in donations, but there is still time to help him reach his fundraising goal at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/graham-price21

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

Photos 1 & 2 show Graham Price with volunteer crew members Chris and Graham in front of Queensferry Lifeboat Station.

Photo 3 includes Graham's mother Mary Price.

Photo 4 shows Graham Price sitting at the helm of Queensferry's Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

All photos should be credited RNLI/RNLI Queensferry.

RNLI Media Contacts

Adele Allan, Lifeboat Press Officer, Queensferry Lifeboat Station, [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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.