RNLI Dunbar amazed by Mayday support
Dunbar’s RNLI lifeboat volunteers were amazed by the public support for this year’s Mayday Mile campaign.
The crew’s big push of the lifeboat through the town raised over £1,000 with more donations coming in.
Emulating the efforts of volunteers from yesteryear, who had to launch lifeboats by human or horse power, today’s Dunbar crew pushed its D-class inshore lifeboat for a mile from Dunbar Harbour to the town's East Beach on Saturday 11 May.
In glorious sunshine and wearing their distinctive yellow gear and wellies, the Dunbar volunteers pushed the lifeboat on its trailer from Dunbar Harbour, along the High Street towards East Beach and back to the harbour. In the days before tractor launchers, or the mooring Dunbar RNLI enjoys at Torness Power Station, volunteers had to push lifeboats to launch from Dunbar or Skateraw or use horse power. The last horse-drawn launch was in 1909. Dunbar’s fundraising committee volunteers were also out in force around the town collecting on behalf of the charity.
Dunbar RNLI fundraising committee chair Veronica Davies said: ‘We raised £869 from the street collection, with £135 from online contributions and more donations are still to come. It’s shaping up to be an amazing result and we cannot thank our generous community enough for their support.
‘Last year Dunbar’s lifeboats launched over 100 times for service calls and training. All of this couldn't be possible without voluntary donations to supply the funds needed to do this. As the charity that saves lives at sea, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution - which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year - relies on the generous support of members of the public to continue this lifesaving work. The Mayday Mile campaign is our own call for help.’
You can still donate to Dunbar RNLI’s Mayday fundraiser by visiting:
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.
RNLI media contacts
Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer 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 (available 24 hours) 01202 336789 [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.
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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.