A long-standing north-east fundraising team will mark 60 years supporting local lifesavers this month.
A party is being held to celebrate the work of the RNLI’s Stonehaven fundraising branch, which has generated more than £350,000 for the charity since its launch.
The group was established as the Stonehaven Ladies Lifeboat Guild in the town’s Upper Town Hall on Monday, January 14, 1957 – with 19 local women attending.
The fundraising branch has now organised a 60th birthday party in Stonehaven’s Station Hotel on Friday, January 20 – with all money raised helping to keep the local lifeboat afloat and save lives at sea.
The event will include a supper, raffle and live music from local singer-songwriter Ray Moore.
Last night, current president of the Stonehaven fundraising branch, Roberta Duncan – who has been a member of the organisation for 20 years – said: “We have been planning it all of last year.
“We have done it for every landmark before, we did a 50th, a 40th – we can’t let this one go.
“We are quite proud of the achievements and to have raised so much over the years, there is not a big committee of us.
“We have got people on the committee that have full time jobs. We have just always done it, I started when I worked full time. We have just carried on.”
She added that through the likes of the local yacht club, sea cadets and the pleasure crafts which take to the waters around Stonehaven, the community recognised the importance of the local lifeboat.
Mrs Duncan added: “The community is fantastic, they really are, we couldn’t ask for better.
“We raise a lot of money and because we have our own lifeboat, the community sees the work they do.”
Tickets for the party cost £15 and are available from Mrs Duncan on 01569 763500 or Karen Smith on 01569 763380.
