Stormy Stan breezes in to thank Gardenstown businesses, community
The RNLI's mascot, Stormy Stan recently joined crew from Macduff Lifeboat on a visit to Gardenstown, changing out collecting boxes and thanking local businesses and people for their invaluable support.
First stop was the Garden Arms Hotel which hosts a weekly pub quiz for two charities, with half the proceeds going to the RNLI. Together with donations in the collecting boat on the bar, Garden Arms customers support the RNLI to the tune of more than £1,000 annually.
Lorraine Toal, co-owner of the Garden Arms says: “Gardenstown earns it’s living from the sea, whether through fishing, or tourism, or seafood served in restaurants like the Garden Arms. Naturally we’re going to support the RNLI – they’re a vital part of our community.”
On to The Wee Shoppe on Main Street where owner Steve Tokelove was also exchanging an over-loaded collecting box for an empty one.
Steve Tokelove says: “Every day in summer, the bay is full of people swimming or enjoying themselves in boats or on paddleboards. We all offer advice on enjoying the water safely, but the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews are a vital lifeline when people get into difficulty.”
Kyle Park, a volunteer crewmember at the RNLI ‘s Macduff Lifeboat joined Stormy Stan on their goodwill tour in Gardenstown.
Kyle says: “These local businesses and their customers are real lifesavers. Lifeboats along the Moray coast receive thousands of pounds in donations annually from local businesses having collecting boxes on their bar-tops and counters. Without that money we wouldn’t have the equipment, fuel and training with which to do our charitable work of saving lives at sea in Moray.”
Macduff Lifeboat Station is one of six RNLI stations providing lifesaving cover along the Moray Firth: the others are at Fraserburgh, Buckie, Kessock (Inverness), Invergordon and Wick
If you have a business in the Moray Coast area and might be willing to host an RNLI collecting box on your bar or counter, please contact your local RNLI lifeboat station or email
[email protected]
Further information from
Terry McNeill, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Tel 07941 329798 Email: [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Media Officer (Scotland), Tel 07826 900639 Email [email protected]
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 142,700 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.