Kinghorn Lifeboat Celebrates 50 Years

2015 was another busy year for the RNLI station

Helping to rescue a pod of dolphins was just one achievement of the Kinghorn lifeboat this year. 

The RNLI station which covers most of the Forth responded to incidents from Largo to Aberlady and to the Forth Bridges. 

The volunteer crew attended over 40 calls, rescued 28 people and saved 2 lives in their 50th anniversary. 

And all this was possible due to fundraising from the local community. 

Alan McIlravie, Lifeboat Operations Manager, explains: 

"The local community has continued to show great support and affection for their local lifeboat station. We have held a number of events throughout the year, some especially to mark our 50th anniversary, and these have been very successful. Our volunteer crew has also been very busy with regular training and attending a number of challenging callouts.

Our flagship event to mark 50 years was held in May, when a very successful Shindig raised the roof at Pettycur Bay. Over 260 supporters from the local community and flank stations at Queensferry and Anstruther attended the event. It was a fantastic evening, with an excellent band, and everyone who came along enjoyed a wonderful celebration of dance, great music and of course, stovies.

In June the station was recognised for its service when Fife Council held a Civic Reception and a number of personnel were invited to receive the award, led by the Station Chairman, Bill Tulloch. 

Later in June, local MSP David Torrance tabled a Motion in the Scottish Parliament to pay tribute to the crew, fundraisers, and all those who support the RNLI in general and Kinghorn Lifeboat in particular.  Strong cross-party support was evident with many MSPs speaking warmly, and these tributes are recorded into the Scottish Parliament's history. 

It was both reflective and uplifting to hear such fine praise heaped on us and our predecessors.  My colleagues and I were surprised and impressed by the depth of the research that had been undertaken by Mr Torrance and his fellow MSPs as well as the genuine warmth and affection articulated towards the RNLI."

Sheona Smith, fundraising chairperson, says

"the annual station Open Day was held in July. A magnificent turn out of supporters, along with partner rescue agencies helped make the event very successful, with £5,500 being raised for the RNLI. Attendees were also wowed with a display by our lifeboat, Anstruther lifeboat, and also the final ever display in Kinghorn of a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter, which will be retired on 1st January 2016. This iconic aircraft will be missed by many.

As well as our annual spring and winter coffee morning events, we also held our second Afternoon Tea in September, and our very first RNLI Fish Supper event in the lifeboat station boat hall in October."