Volunteers answer RNLI’s mayday call
Many responded to Oban lifeboat’s ‘mayday’ call for more fundraising volunteers at its open day on Saturday, a day after it was called out to a fire aboard a boat in Loch Linnhe.
Luckily Saturday was quiet for the RNLB Mora Edith MacDonald, when a few of its 27 volunteer crew showed visitors around the Trent class vessel, able to reach 25 knots, and powerful enough to take on heavy seas, tow big boats and carry lots of survivors. On an even faster rib, Seafari offered trips around the bay.
Visitors were also treated to a flypast by the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Prestwick and the volunteers of Oban’s Coastguard Rescue Team and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service showed off their emergency vehicles. Station chairman Mike Robertson said: ‘I am absolutely delighted with the outcome of the open day. Our ‘mayday’ call for fundraising volunteers brought new members while the station team and many other stalwart helpers turned out to help on the day.
‘I feel the team building exercise is almost as important as the fundraising itself, which brought in an amazing £2,400. Special thanks go to Seafari for bringing its boat up from Easdale on an otherwise busy day and giving thrilling rides. Many thanks also to all the local businesses which gave generous prizes which made the fundraising possible. The annual event helped raise invaluable funds for the RNLI, which will continue to help equip and train volunteer crew members to help save lives at sea.’