‘Wonderful crowds’ make Dunbar RNLI Lifeboat Fete a huge success

After crowds lined the street to watch the traditional parade featuring the volunteer lifeboat crew and mascot ‘Stormy Stan’, Dunbar British Legion Pipe Band and Lifeboat Queen Brooke Thomson and her court in classic cars, they flocked to the harbour for an afternoon of brilliant music and fun activities.

People lined up to go aboard the all-weather Trent class lifeboat ‘John Neville Taylor’ and inspect the inshore D class lifeboat ‘David Lauder’, as the Main Stage crowd were entertained by pulsating sets from bands Vega, Logan’s Close, Runaway Son and the blistering headliners Bombskare, who had the audience bouncing. Over in the Battery, a more chilled audience were treated to mesmerising music from Elinor Evans on the clarsach harp and traditional tunes from Barnstorm.

Earlier, as she opened the fete, special guest Norma Hastie – the mother of crewmember Kerry Gentle, who sadly died in December – delivered a poignant call for courage as she paid tribute to the Dunbar ‘lifeboat family’ who supported her family through their grief.

Norma told the audience: ‘My daughter Kerry found her calling with RNLI Dunbar. There she met the team she would call her lifeboat family, such was the welcome she received from all.’

Mentioning how Kerry was due to travel to the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, with fellow crewmember Nicola Allen when tragedy struck, Norma added: ‘Sadly, Kerry didn’t get the chance to go to Poole. She passed away too early at age 34 from a heart defect she knew nothing about. At this point the RNLI reached out to us and made our lives without Kerry so much easier in so many ways, culminating in us releasing Kerry’s ashes into the sea aboard the all-weather lifeboat. It’s a day we’ll never forget.’

She added: ‘To all the lifeboat stations up and down the country, I thank you. One Crew: you have supported Kerry’s family throughout. So, remember, with courage nothing is impossible.’

Dunbar RNLI Fundraising Chair Veronica Davies said: ‘Thanks to everyone who supported us in the run up to, and during our annual Dunbar RNLI Lifeboat Fete. Without you we could not raise the amount of money that we do. Special thanks to everyone who volunteered, donated items, sponsored the event, stallholders, our compere Gladys Chucklebutty, the sound engineers, the fantastic bands and to the wonderful crowd that turned up to support us on the day. You are all lifesavers.’

Notes to editors

With photos

· 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, douglas[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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