Dedicated fundraisers who help keep the RNLI afloat
(Story dated January 4, 2007)

They are often the forgotten heroes of the volunteer lifeboat service — a force to be reckoned with, working away tirelessly behind the scenes.

While the crewmen risk their lives on a daily basis, the women behind them – often their mothers, wives and daughters – ensure there is a service in the first place.

For their efforts alone in Orkney over the past five years have seen a staggering £203,847 raised and donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Thanks must also go to the endless generosity of Orcadians, who, year after year, continue to pledge their support to the RNLI, which is run entirely on voluntary contributions.

President of the Orkney Mainland Ladies Lifeboat Guild, Norma Marwick, said: “The ladies who support fundraising for the lifeboats in Orkney are kept busy 12 months of the year.

“Funds are really necessary to keep our life-saving service operating.”

She said Orkney is in the fortunate position of having three all-weather lifeboat stations — at Stromness, Longhope and Kirkwall.

“Now, more than ever, the RNLI needs contributions from people who care about the service. It costs in excess of £120 million a year to run the RNLI. Legacies, donations, memberships and fundraising are essential to keep the standard of cover constant.

“Most people like to contribute to a charity in some way and we work hard in Orkney to keep the RNLI in the forefront of people’s minds.”

The Orkney Mainland Ladies Lifeboat Guild was formed in 1953 by Mrs Mary Henderson, of Berstane House, St Ola, and has been active since that date. Her daughter, Mrs Elizabeth McIntyre, recently travelled to the county to return a statuette of a lifeboatman, presented to her mother, in recognition of her services to fundraising for the RNLI, in 1960.

Mrs Marwick continued: “We receive no Government funding. This means that the RNLI is in control of its own destiny.

“Imagine if we relied on Government money? Where would the inevitable cuts be made? Would we still have three all-weather lifeboat stations, if cuts were necessary?”

There are currently 17 individual guilds on the Orkney Mainland, including Shapinsay. Stromness, Longhope and the isles have their own independent guilds. But Mrs Marwick is concerned that there may be stormy waters ahead.

“If we are to continue to fundraise, we really do need to recruit more people to help us.

“We currently have a fine group of ladies, but, sadly, we are not getting any younger, and some of the guilds have already had to stop fundraising due to the age of members,” she said.

She went on: “This is a problem throughout the country and we are trying to address it. Our name for instance — Orkney Mainland Ladies Lifeboat Guild — it is thought that this name and the image it projects, might put people off helping.”

They are going to be known as the Orkney Mainland Lifeboat Branch and are open to all, not just women.

“We would welcome any men who could help us, or young people. It is no longer necessary for helpers to join up and attend meetings or make regular commitments of your time.

“We are delighted if people are just willing to help with a particular event on a certain day. I have a recurring nightmare that one day I will pick up The Orcadian and read the headline: The last Orkney lifeboat supporter died yesterday. Very frightening — however, I am sure that this will not happen.

“Orkney feels too strongly about its lifeboats. We could never have made the vast contributions over the years from Orkney, had we not been frightfully aware of how important it is to have a lifesaving service in our waters.”

When the guild was formed in 1953 their fundraising total was £696.11s.5d, made up mostly of subscriptions and donations. By 1963-64 this figure had almost doubled to £1,276.19s.16d.

“Some early events were concerts, sales, ‘Matter of Opinion’, open gardens, a show of needlework, an annual golf match and sailing competitions,” Mrs Marwick continued.

In the late 1960s, half of the income was generated from house-to-house collections. By the mid-1980s, sales of Christmas cards and souvenirs amounted to £4,000 with £21,000 pouring in through other fundraising.

By 1996-1997 the income had risen to about £32,000 annually, with a further £7,000 of RNLI goods sold.

The stalwart fundraisers have managed to raise nearly £204,000 between 2000 and 2005.

Each guild has its own committee and members and they raise funds by whatever method they choose.

“At this time of year we sell a lot of Christmas cards and calendars. Fundraising can range from a sponsored activity, to sandcastle building competitions, and the well-known and loved afternoon teas in the summer.

“Each year we seem to have bigger and better ideas. We have had hugely successful garden openings in both Evie and Firth and our bag-packing on December 23 at Somerfield supermarket is a big day for us.”

Mrs Marwick continued: “Sometimes people ask why the money raised in Orkney does not stay in Orkney.

“I can explain without any doubt. With our three lifeboat stations we receive vastly more funding back than ever we send.

“Just look at the amazing new Tamar lifeboat recently received at Longhope at a cost of over £2.5 million. We also receive exceptional training for our brave crews.

“It is a fact that only one in ten of nationwide lifeboat crews now comes from a maritime background.

“Intensive crew training is essential to equip crews with the expertise they need, and deserve, for them to carry out their sometimes highly-dangerous work.”

Orkney is never far from the minds of the RNLI executive, with an Orcadian chairman, Admiral Sir Jock Slater, while Mrs Marwick serves on the main council of the RNLI, formerly known as the committee of management, and is vice-chairman for Scotland.

Orcadians live by the sea and understand it.

“It is our friend and our enemy,” Mrs Marwick added.

• If you would like to help raise funds, you can become a regular supporter and member of the RNLI, whether by leaving a legacy in your will, making a donation, or you can contact your local guild to help fundraise locally.

“We particularly need to reactivate guilds in Burray, St Ola and Holm. If you need any help in getting in touch with the right people, I will be delighted to point you in the right direction,” she said.