Mum’s the word for Dunbar RNLI's dazzling new shop display

Featuring photos of several mothers who serve across the UK and Ireland, the High Street display has special resonance for the shop volunteer who created it. For Rose Burchell’s daughter Gemma Gill is full-time coxswain on the all-weather lifeboat at Fishguard, in Pembrokeshire.

And the display was a family affair – as not only did Gemma, 42, help supply the many photos from friends around the coast, but Rose’s grandsons, Gregor, six, and three-year-old Corey, helped paint the main ‘Mum’ sign that adorns the window.

Former primary school teacher Rose, who has been the brains behind a series of dazzling Dunbar displays, said: ‘The inspiration came with Mother’s Day approaching on 30 March and International Women’s Day at the start of the month.

‘Gemma was able to contact people she knew around the coast who were happy to send photos with their children or mothers. There is always a theme to the displays and this one was special.

‘Gemma was the first female coxswain at Fishguard and Wales and only the second in the RNLI’s history. She began her training at North Berwick, where I took my children sailing when they were young and where Rhona, her first helm there, told her “Don’t let others decide what you’re capable of.” Gemma’s lived by that. She is a wee powerhouse! She’s spent over 20 years with the RNLI but when she started there wasn’t gear for a woman of her size of 5’2”. Over the years she’s campaigned for changes for women’s clothes, which has benefitted others.’

Rose’s display also carries loving messages from crewmembers or their children about their amazing mums. One says: ‘I hope my daughters feel inspired and empowered to achieve whatever they put their minds to,’ while another simply says, ‘My mum is my hero.’

Former primary school teacher Rose also has two sons, Kieran, who is a builder in Dunbar, and Jevan, an airline pilot. She first became involved with the RNLI in 2009 when she lived in Lanark. She says, ‘I joined the fundraising committee there which was unusual because it was so far inland but it was set up by a keen sailor and we raised a bit of money for the RNLI.

‘When I moved to Dunbar I asked about volunteering in the shop and have been doing the window displays for the past year and a half.’

Previous windows have marked Valentine’s Day by showing love for the Dunbar crew, while a memorable camping theme was inspired by the book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’. For Remembrance Day, several shop volunteers spent weeks knitting dozens of poppies for the poignant display.

Rose said: ‘As a teacher I was used to creating things and if the displays help draw people into the shop and raise money for the RNLI it can only be good.’

Shop manager Marie Headley said: ‘Rose’s displays have been really eye-catching. She puts so much thought into them and they always look stunning.’

*In addition to viewing Rose’s window display, there is further reason to visit the RNLI shop in the High Street, Dunbar. Until Mother’s Day on 30 March get £5 off every £25 spent in store.

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]

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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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