Busy month for Tobermory RNLI team
Tobermory RNLI’s fundraisers have achieved a huge May day boost through the generosity of locals and visitors on Mull, rounding off a busy month for the lifeboat station.
This year’s RNLI May day campaign had the strapline ‘Do your bit, fund our kit’ and Tobermory RNLI’s fundraisers ran a series of successful events to do their bit.
A total of £1,435 was raised through events at Tobermory primary and high schools, a family fun day at the Aros Hall and street collections. These funds will go towards buying life-saving kit for the crews.
The crew also got to say thanks to the fundraisers, shop and education volunteers and their families at a barbecue at the end of May in glorious sunshine.
During the event, Tobermory RNLI chairman Richard Fairbairns surprised former fundraising chairwoman Carolyn McHaffie with an RNLI award recognising her hard work and leadership in re-establishing the fundraising group at the station. Carolyn received a framed commendation from the RNLI’s chief executive, Paul Boissier. She is now the station’s box secretary.
The crew has been busy offshore as well. On Thursday May 24, the lifeboat launched to go to the aid of a 13-metre yacht with five people on board that had engine failure in Cragaig harbour on the south coast of the Isle of Ulva.
The yacht’s crew had attempted repairs but had been unsuccessful. With the calm conditions and proximity to the shore, it would have been impossible for the yacht to sail safely out of the narrow entrance.
Coxswain David McHaffie decided the safest way to assist was to secure the yacht with a stern tow in order to safely get the vessel out of the harbour. Once in open water, the tow was lengthened and the yacht was taken to the Ulva Ferry pontoon. The lifeboat returned to Tobermory where she was made ready for service some four hours after launching.
The station’s volunteer community safety officer, Tony ‘Kiwi’ Spillane, ran another successful lifejacket clinic, this one for the first time on Iona, when 24 lifejackets were checked.
Tobermory RNLI operations manager Sam Jones said: ‘This has been a busy period for all of our volunteers at the station. Well done to our hard-working fundraisers and thank you to our supporters who raised such a phenomenal sum.’