On Monday 4 March 2024 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) celebrated 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers, like those at Portpatrick lifeboat station, giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations.
During a week of celebrations, Portpatrick RNLI hosted an evening reception for volunteers past and present and a crew dinner and awards night.
Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station was founded in 1877 and in that time its crews have launched the lifeboats 777 times and saved 306 lives. The bicentenary celebrations provided a great opportunity to get volunteers together to thank them for their commitment.
On the evening of Monday 4 March more than 70 volunteers past and present from Portpatrick and flanking station Stranraer, met at the village community hub to enjoy drinks and a celebration cake. On Saturday 9 March, volunteer crew, fundraisers and their partners hosted an award dinner to celebrate the service of former crew and volunteers.
Ian Beck, Chairman, Portpatrick Lifeboat presented RNLI Service Awards to Billy McEwan, Ian Marshall, Gareth Cole, Steve Stringer and Allan Burgess. An award was also presented to Ian and Leah Moffat in regonition of their father, John Moffat who was a long serving volunteer at Portpatrick.
Ian Beck said: ‘It was a real honour to present the service awards this evening, each and every one of them so well deserved. But a special mention must go to Allan Burgess who has served as crew and launch authority here since 1981, finally stepping down in 2023. In the 42 years of Allan’s service at Portpatrick, the Lifeboat saved 134 lives.The RNLI is dependant on volunteers who, like Allan, selflessly give up their time to save others and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone here at Portpatrick RNLI – whether crew, fundraisers, shop team, launch authority or press officers – it’s you that make our lifesaving work possible’.
