Record amount raised at Dunbar Lifeboat Fete to help save lives at sea

The record takings from the event on Saturday 11 July are an increase of £3,000 on last year’s total and a remarkable £10,000 up on the amount raised three years ago. Dunbar RNLI Fundraising Committee chair Veronica Davies said: ‘I am completely overwhelmed and astounded that we managed to raise such a fantastic total. We cannot thank enough everyone from the Dunbar community and beyond who attended the fete and helped Dunbar RNLI continue our lifesaving work. It is truly humbling to see how people turn out to support their lifeboats every year.’

On the day of the fete, crowds of people lined the High Street to watch the traditional parade before heading to the harbour to see Brooke Thomson crowned Lifeboat Queen ahead of an afternoon of entertainment. While many climbed aboard our all-weather lifeboat John Neville Taylor and D class inshore lifeboat David Lauder, others perused the many stalls and activities, while local dancers and musical acts Vega, Runway Son, Carl and Scott from Logan’s Close and storming headliners Bombskare kept the audiences dancing throughout the day.

As a charity that is independent of the government, the RNLI relies on donations from the public to carry out its lifesaving work and Dunbar’s annual fete is the station’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The event’s success is down to the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers and long-standing support from a host of community groups and organisations.

Veronica added: ‘It’s very much a team effort. Within the lifeboat station, everyone on the fundraising committee, the lifeboat crew, shop volunteers and other helpers on the day work hard to make the day a success, embodying the RNLI’s ethos of ‘One Crew’ and we were delighted to welcome Anstruther lifeboat on the day as well. But we couldn’t do it without the help of East Lothian Council, Police Scotland, the Harbour Trust, Dunbar Sailing Club, Belhaven Brewery, our generous sponsors and the local firms who provide logistical support, our stallholders and food suppliers.

‘We also want to thank our Lifeboat Queen and her court and their families, our guest of honour Norma Hastie, compere Gladys Chucklebutty and everyone who performed on the day. The bands went down a storm and we’re grateful to our committee member Robert Craig for organising and the volunteers from the Space Dunbar that helped with the music and sound equipment. We also thank all of the people who donated money and prizes, the harbour residents for allowing the obvious disruption, Dunbar Royal British Legion Pipe Band and everyone who took part in the parade.’

Harbour Master Fiona Kibby, a volunteer crewmember and launch authority for Dunbar RNLI who also works with the harbour management committee, said the fete showcased the community spirit that unites all harbour users. She said: ‘We were delighted that the Lifeboat Fete was such a success. Dunbar Harbour Trust is always happy to provide the venue and absorb some of the costs involved in order to showcase the best the harbour has to offer.

‘We thank the council for helping prepare the harbour, as well as the regular harbour volunteers, the rowing and sailing clubs who do a vital job manning the gates. It’s always amazing to see the fishing and sailing communities come together to help raise money for the lifeboats and decking their boats in the RNLI colours and welcoming everyone to the harbour to join in this very special day in the calendar to help saves lives at sea.’

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.

· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Douglas Wight, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Richard Smith, 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, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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