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Fraserburgh RNLI attend Merchant Navy Day Red Ensign Flag Raising Event

Lifeboats News Release

Representatives from Fraserburgh RNLI joined with others to honour the people behind the Merchant Navy Flag, the seafarers from World Wars and modern mariners who brave the waves, and attended the Red Ensign Flag Raising Event in the town’s Saltoun Square on Merchant Navy Day, Tuesday 3 September.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Attending the poignant event, organised by Aberdeenshire Council were Fraserburgh and District councillors together with representatives from the RNLI, Fishermen’s Mission, Fraserburgh Sea Cadets, Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners, fishing organisations and The Salvation Army.

Also attending the poignant event, organised by Aberdeenshire Council were Fraserburgh and District councillors together with representatives from the Fishermen’s Mission, Fraserburgh Sea Cadets, Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioners, fishing organisations and The Salvation Army.

Fraserburgh RNLI Coxswain Vic Sutherland and Launch Authority Billy Watson attended the event which celebrated and honoured the many courageous men and women who serve or have served as merchant seafarers. Their bravery kept supply lines open during two World Wars. More recently, they played a crucial role in maintaining the supply chain during the COVID-19 crisis. Today, modern-day merchant seafarers are indispensable, handling the majority of the UK's imports and highlighting our ongoing reliance on their work.

Chair of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee, Cllr Doreen Mair, addressed those present before Councillor James Adams raised the flag.

Cllr Mair said: “In Fraserburgh, the importance of the sea to our community and the safety of those who sail on it is very much to the forefront of our thoughts and deeply embedded in our day to day lives. Merchant Navy Day was established to remember those who kept our nation afloat during two world wars ensuring that we had the supplies we needed to keep going.

“This corner of the coast was known as “Hellfire Corner” during the war because of the danger posed to merchant shipping from the Luftwaffe so remembering those brave seaman in the Broch (local name for Fraserburgh) is even more poignant and important as many came from this area.

“Too often they are the forgotten or invisible service. By raising the Red Ensign today we will ensure that at least – on this and the following days – they are remembered and saluted. This simple act will mean so much to the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, to those who have retired after a lifetime of service and to those who still go to sea now and face all its many perils.”

Gabriel Watt of Fraserburgh RBL Pipe Band played ahead of the flag raising while Sarah-Jane Urmston of the Salvation Army performed the Last Post

Notes to editors

Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Stephen Hadden, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Stuart Fenty, 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

RNLI/Billy Watson

Chair of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee, Cllr Doreen Mair, began her address to those present “In Fraserburgh, the importance of the sea to our community and the safety of those who sail on it is very much to the forefront of our thoughts and deeply embedded in our day to day lives. Merchant Navy Day was established to remember those who kept our nation afloat during two world wars ensuring that we had the supplies we needed to keep going.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Councillor James Adams raised the flag.

RNLI/Billy Watson

The Red Ensign flying high above Saltoun Square. This powerful symbol serves to highlight the indispensable role of merchant seafarers - past, present, and future. Merchant Navy Day is celebrated and provides an opportunity to celebrate our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95% of the UK's imports, including half the food we eat, plenty of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted.
Fraserburgh RNLI Coxswain Vic Sutherland and other attendees reflect on the many courageous men and women who serve or have served as merchant seafarers, as the Red Ensign is raised.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Fraserburgh RNLI Coxswain Vic Sutherland and other attendees reflect on the many courageous men and women who serve or have served as merchant seafarers, as the Red Ensign is raised.

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, 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.

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