BY DANIEL CULLEN
Portree RNLI’s annual open day raised more than £25,000 last Saturday, as hundreds of people gathered at the pier for one of the highlights in the community calendar.
A total of £25,733.50 had been raised during and in support of the event, with that figure expected to increase further as additional donations come in.
The open day featured a demonstration by new Portree lifeboat Peter and Mary as the local RNLI waved goodbye to the Stanley Watson Barker 14-16 after three decades of service across the area, with 530 launches and 458 people aided during that time by the vessel, which is run by local volunteers.
The Isle of Skye Pipe Band performed during the day and Radio Skye provided music and commentary, as well as the usual family activities and lifeboat tours.
Portree RNLI’s fundraising team ran merchandise, silent auction and fundraising stalls, while representatives from other emergency services were also in attendance with displays, and the station building hosted a display of archive photographs and other material documenting the history of Portree RNLI.
Reflecting on the event via the Skye and Raasay Lifeboat Fundraisers social media channels, David Beaton, chairman of Portree Lifeboat Station and the Portree Lifeboat Fundraisers, said: “The annual open day is one of our major fundraising events and we were delighted to welcome hundreds of people down to the pier in Portree.
“We’d like to extend our thanks to the many businesses, organisations, and members of the public who supported us with donations and who offered incredible prizes for our silent auction. “We would also like to say a huge thank you to Radio Skye for providing commentary and musical entertainment, to the Isle of Skye Pipe Band playing so brilliantly for us, and to our colleagues from other emergency services who were all part of this successful day.”
Money raised through the open day will go towards supporting the lifesaving work of the RNLI, to find out more visit Facebook.