RNLI issue a call-out for fundraising crew

When seasoned sailors Phil Hamilton and Alison Rennie spotted an urgent mayday appeal in The Oban Times for lifeboat fundraisers, they went to the rescue.

Months later, the retired couple, who dropped anchor in Oban to settle in 2017 after sailing the Mediterranean, are now fundraising chairman and secretary of Oban RNLI and are looking for more crew to come aboard.

‘It costs around £215,000 every year to run an all-weather lifeboat station like Oban solely from people’s generosity, as there is no public funding,’ said Mr Hamilton.

‘Oban has a good record for fundraising and benefits from legacies and donations from others, such as a recent triathlon team which raised £52,000, but we need more people to help us plan and put events together. We want to put the fun into fundraising,’ he added.

‘The fundraising committee has a number of people serving on it but most of them also have other duties to the charity. Mike Roberts is also chairman of the Oban RNLI’s management group and fundraising stalwart Peggy Robertson has notched up many years of support. We are lucky to have these people but we need to bolster our fundraising. We are looking for dedicated fundraisers.

‘It would be nice to build up a team of eight to 10 if we can. There are always people who offer to help us run events but we need a committee of people to plan and organise our campaign, especially useful would be those who have links with the water-users community. We’ve got some big opportunities coming up,’ said Mr Hamilton.

Marks and Spencer has chosen the RNLI as its charity of the year from April, and supermarket Aldi will also be running a campaign. There are plans for a pop-up shop in the town in December and other activities during the Oban Winter Festival starting in November.

‘The people of Oban are fantastically generous. They always support is financially very well but we can do more with more help,’ said Mr Hamilton.

Go to a drop-in event at the lifeboat station on Saturday October 20 from 10am to noon.

16_T42_obanrnlifundraisers_AlisonRennieandPhilHamilton Alison Rennie and Phil Hamilton are looking for more volunteer fundraisers to join them at Oban RNLI station.