The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Restoring garden to its former glory
A “LOST” Mearns garden that once celebrated the RNLI’s achievements in Scotland was replanted yesterday.
Lying undisturbed for almost 40 years, the patch in Inverbervie once featured the institute’s crown motif with anchor symbols and lettering, and was planted with red, white and blue flowers.
It is hoped it will bloom again after Kincardineshire Lord Lieutenant Carol Kinghorn planted the first shrub to repopulate the garden.
John (Jack) Gillanders Sr built the tribute for the local lifeboat guild’s 25th anniversary in 1974.
His work at his home at 7a David Street went the way of many gardening projects — but its current occupants have worked with children, businesses and community groups to reclaim a hidden jewel of the area’s rich maritime heritage.
Linda Mowatt, Jack’s granddaughter, and her husband James found an RNLI flag among his belongings and donated it to the Maggie Law Maritime Museum in Gourdon.
It was later found Jack had also planted the Bervie garden in 1974, commemorating 25 years of the Inverbervie and District RNLI Ladies Guild.
The Maggie Law Museum took on the garden’s restoration, along with Bervie Primary School, community groups, businesses and Aberdeenshire Council.
Representatives of those who attended the garden’s first unveiling gathered in Bervie again yesterday, 40 years on.
Viscountess Arbuthnott addressed the invited audience on the work of the local ladies guild.
Charles Colville, grandson of Lady and Commander Colville of Kinneff, sponsored the presentation roses for this event.
Operational RNLI crew and fundraisers from Stonehaven, Catterline and Kinneff, Inverbervie, Johnshaven, and Montrose also attended.
Project director Dave Ramsay said: “This project emphasises the importance of community engagement and community action, which will contribute greatly to our local knowledge and special maritime heritage, and have educational benefits.
“The sense of civic pride which the pupils have shown and their enthusiasm is a reminder that they are the present and future stakeholders of our heritage.”
Bervie teacher Miss Madden and her pupils performed a song and tribute to the RNLI and a dedication was made by the Rev Dennis Rose to the RNLI and “for those in peril on the sea”.
Mrs Kinghorn was assisted by Tom Campbell of the Brighter Bervie gardening group, which will maintain the garden.
The ladies lifeboat guild’s first meeting was presided over by Viscountess Arbuthnott in 1949. Membership was open to all women willing to work for the Lifeboat Service on a minimum payment of 2/6.