Stromness RNLI attends Service of Thanksgiving at St Magnus Cathedral

Orkney gales had disrupted ferry traffic for two days prior to the church service last Sunday, with folk trying to get home to the islands to attend, along with RNLI representatives travelling north for the occasion had some nail-biting moments.

Lifeboat Press Officer, Richard, joined a group of RNLI staff members at Gill's Bay in Caithness on Sunday morning - across the Pentland Firth from Orkney - who were not only trying to cross themselves but also deliver the RNLI banners for use in the cathedral. The group were 27th in the stand-by queue, but by extreme good fortune a 50-seater coach failed to materialise so they all got on for the one hour crossing. The sea was much calmed after days of gales.

A waiting taxi got them to the cathedral only five minutes late. The colours were hastily assembled in the foyer and marched serenely up the aisle during the first hymn - as if choreographed to perfection - no one seemed to notice.

There was a good sized congregation in St Magnus to hear Revd Fraser Macnaughton deliver the service, supported by the fabulous cathedral choir. Revd. Macnaughton spoke of the modern obsession with 'the market place', of how everything has become a saleable commodity: body organs, air, water - and even travel into space. He contrasted this with the principles of the RNLI which are, as they have always been, based on passion, kindness, courage and togetherness. 'They embody the gospel values', he said. 'The RNLI is not for sale'.

It was lovely for the community, in our tiny, out of the way corner of the RNLI family's domain, to have chance to meet and speak to so many staff members from Scotland and as far away as Poole - there were more TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) in one place than ever before. They, too, appreciated the chance to be 'at the coast' and to see, at first hand, what is going on by the sea.

Two hundred years and counting. I wonder what the RNLI will look like in 2224?

Notes to editors

· Stromness lifeboat station was established in 1867. To find out more visit: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stromness-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Richard Clubley, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789