Dunbar RNLI Celebrates International Women’s Day

As a charity that is independent of government, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution relies on public donations to save lives at sea.

The tireless work of our fundraising and shop volunteers work helps raise vital funds for our lifeboat crew and awareness of the RNLI.

Since the formation of the Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild in 1946, women have played an important role in the history of the station. Since the 1990s, the guild became the Fundraising Committee, whose members raise thousands for the station every year through the annual Lifeboat Fete and other events.

The efforts of the 36-strong team of shop volunteers have made Dunbar regularly the number one RNLI store for sales in Scotland and in the top 20 in the UK.

Fundraising committee chair Veronica Davies said: ‘Women continue to be a valuable asset to the RNLI, whether it is their involvement on the lifeboat crew, through raising funds or in retail and management roles. It’s important to take a moment on International Women’s Day to recognise the vital work women do both in the RNLI and all walks of life.’

Dunbar Lifeboat Station is proud to support IWD, which aims to celebrate and promote the achievements of all women.

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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.

RNLI media contacts

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

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

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

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

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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.