Invergordon RNLI receive a £9300 donation from the East Sutherland Rotary Club
On the evening of Wednesday 13 March, four volunteer crew from Invergordon RNLI were invited to the Rotary Club meeting and were presented with a fantastic donation which was accumulated from their 2023 Classic Car Tour.
East Sutherland Rotary Coast to Coast Classic Car Tour began in 2014, however, it was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid 19 and Invergordon Lifeboat Station is thrilled to be a benefactor of the 2023 Classic Car Tour.
More than 50 cars were entered into the Rotary Club of East Sutherland's fundraising classic car tour with the majority of the participants coming from the north of Scotland, but there were entries from as far south as Kent and Wiltshire and also Germany. The tour started in Dornoch as usual then headed north to Helmsdale via Rogart and Balnacoil. Helsmdale, then it was on up the strath to the North Coast through Forsinard before turning right to Thurso for a lunch stop at the Weigh Inn. The tour proceeded onwards towards John O’Groats before heading south for the final stop at Clynelish Distillery.
Four volunteer crew from Invergordon were warmly welcomed to the East Sutherland Rotary Club evening meal at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club where the Rotarians meet every 2nd & 4th Wednesday where the crew learned about the work of the Rotary Club in East Sutherland and some of the fantastic causes supported throughout the region and beyond through their fundraising activities.
Station Coxswain Andrew Murray thanked the group for inviting the crew along, before handing over to Press Officer and Volunteer Crew Michael MacDonald gave a presentation insight into the RNL and the 200th Anniversary and operations at Invergordon discussing where the 50th Anniversary is being celebrated in 2024, Susan Veitch, Station Tours Officer and Station mechanic Robert Hellett gave the group an overview of the RNLI Tours and kindly invited the group to the station to have a look around the Launch a Memory Shannon class lifeboat ‘RNLB Agnes AP Barr before being presented with a cheque for an incredible £9327 towards the RNLI life-saving operation by East Sutherland Rotary Club President Michelle Johnstone.
A spokesperson for East Sutherland Rotary Club, Alistair Risk said; ‘The Rotary club is delighted to be able to support the RNLI on its 200 birthday as it plays such a key part in the safety of those who relax or work at sea along the Sutherland Coast’
Invergordon Lifeboat Station Press Officer Michael MacDonald said “We can not thank the East Sutherland Rotary Club enough for the amazing donation we have received to help our life-saving operations and ensure the lifeboat is on call for any situation that may develop around the coast. The charity relies on donations and this will aid our cause on Saving Lives at Sea.”
The Rotary Club, formed in 1989, is always keen to attract new members to run fundraising events and help raise funds, like the car tour for which the Lifeboat station is grateful to have benefitted.
For more information on the East Sutherland Rotary Club, please visit https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1668.
Notes to editors
· Invergordon lifeboat station has been operating since 1974.
· Invergordon Lifeboat Station operate a Shannon Class Lifeboat @RNLB Agnes AP Barr’ RNLI 13-37 and this is the charities first Launch a Memory Lifeboat.
· Tours are open to the public every Sunday from 7th April and can be booked online at https://invergordonlifeboatstationtour.eventbrite.co.uk
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Michael MacDonald RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 01349 853915 or [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, Regional Communications Manager on 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Communications Lead on 07920 365929 or [email protected]
Tom McGuire, Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland on [email protected]
RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.