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MG Club honours links with Dunbar RNLI with charitable donation

Lifeboats News Release

Dunbar RNLI was delighted to receive a cheque for £150 after being nominated as a chosen charity by Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders MG Club.

Eight cars and a lifeboat with crew and drivers.

RNLI/Alexander Williams

1. Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders MG Club members with their classic cars at Dunbar Harbour to present the donation to Dunbar RNLI.

When the MG drivers were asked to nominate a chosen charity by Robertson Homes after helping promote a new housing development they chose Dunbar RNLI.

Links between the car club and lifeboat station date back 20 years and the classic MGs are a regular feature in the annual Dunbar RNLI Fete, transporting the Lifeboat Queen and her court in the gala parade. Thanks to additional donations from members the total presented to the station was £200.

Dunbar RNLI Fundraising chair Veronica Davies said: ‘We are delighted to receive this kind donation from Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders MG Club. We are grateful for the support from the club every year, transporting the Lifeboat Queen and her court along the High Street and into the harbour where their presence is a popular feature of the fete.’

Steve Hastwell, area secretary of the MG club, said: ‘We have been providing cars for the annual Lifeboat Fete parade for many years and it’s a highlight of the year for many of our members. It is an honour to be selected to take the queen through Dunbar High Street down to the harbour.

‘In recognition of this long association, when we were asked to supply cars to Robertson Homes to help promote an opening event at their housing development at Rosslynlee, Midlothian, we naturally asked if they would be willing to donate to a charity of our choice and Dunbar RNLI was the obvious one for us.’

Notes to Editors

Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth. Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.

It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.

The Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders MG Club has around 67 members from all over the region. Founded in 1983, they are over 40 years old and still growing as new members continue to join. It holds regular monthly meetings and organises various runs and attends classic car shows across Scotland.

RNLI media contacts

Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office (available 24 hours) 01202 336789 [email protected]

Man presents cheque to woman.

RNLI/Alexander Williams

2. Area secretary Steve Hastwell (left) presents the cheque to Veronica Davies.

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.

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