Portrush RNLI Teams sign the RNLI 200 Scroll

On Sunday 4^th August, RNLI representatives from Portrush gathered at Portrush Yacht Club to welcome the arrival historic RNLI Scroll.

The scroll started its journey at Westminster Abbey on 4^th March and has travelled around Britain being signed by RNLI representatives at each station.

Yesterday it was the turn of representatives from teams at Portrush RNLI to sign this historic scroll and become part of RNLI history.

The scroll had already been to the Ballymoney Fundraising Branch on Thursday, signed by the Chair, Pat Crossley and witnessed by the current and former Mayor, who had made the RNLI is charity of the year in his term of office and raised nearly £12K

Due to adverse weather conditions the ceremony had to be moved indoors and once again Portrush Yacht Club made their premises available to the team.

The proceedings were started with our Water Safety Ambassadors, ‘The Causeway Shantymen’ singing a rousing medley of shantys. The scroll was carried in by volunteer crew member Annie Jagoe and Coxswain Johnny Weston, piped in by local piper Derek Finlay playing the wonderful Highland Cathedral.

Annie read the RNLI pledge before the scroll signing. The signatees representing the Portrush Teams were, Jo May who has over 40 years’ service as a fundraiser; Carl Kennedy -Water Safety; Val McDonald- Education; John Martin- Chair of the Fundraising Team and Lifeboat Shop Manager: Judy Nelson Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer and finally Des Austin -retiring Coxswain.

After the official signing was over the ‘Ukes at the Port’entertained everyone while photographs were being taken.

Beni McAllister – Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portrush said;

‘This was such an historic day for our station, and we’d like to thank everyone who made this day such a success. A special thank you to Portrush Yacht Club who facilitated the signing at short notice’.