Dunbar RNLI trio head to Buckingham Palace for garden party

The party, marking the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, is being hosted tomorrow (Thursday) by the Princess Royal and Duke of Kent, who has been president of the RNLI for 55 years.

Among those heading to London are Maureen Watt, a shop volunteer for 20 years, alongside crew members Alistair Punton, who has 30 years’ service, and Gordon Kirkham, who is approaching 20 years on the lifeboats.

For 75-year-old Maureen, it is a remarkable recognition for someone whose health issues limited her volunteering options 20 years ago – and who says the lifeboats saved her after the tragic death of her beloved husband Robert.

Originally from Glasgow, Maureen worked as a nurse and latterly ran a care home in Galashiels before her family moved to Dunbar.

Maureen Watt is heading to Buckingham Palace tomorrow (Thursday) for a special event recognising the 200th anniversary of the RNLI

She said: “My husband came from Tranent and wanted to be near his family, and my daughter and son-in-law were moving here for work.

“I had suffered several strokes by that time and couldn’t volunteer anywhere that required me to stand.

“Back then, there was only the harbour shop and I saw you could sit down in there, so I asked if they needed any help.

“Robert died in 2007 and the lifeboats were my saving grace because having to get up and go to work in the shop gave me a purpose.

‘When I started in the harbour, there was no cash register. You simply wrote down what you sold, added up the money and left it in a drawer.

“It’s changed days now, thanks to the hard work managers Ken and Marie Headley have put in. They’ve transformed the two shops.”

Gordon Kirkham is heading to Buckingham Palace tomorrow (Thursday) for a special event recognising the 200th anniversary of the RNLI

Maureen will be joined at the garden party by daughter Pauline, who also helps out at the shop, and her granddaughter Isla, who, despite being 15 has already been volunteering for 10 years.

Maureen said: “Isla is coming with us to make sure we get on the right underground train so we don’t get lost!”

Also joining Maureen in London will be Torness Power Station technical trainer Gordon, who first joined the RNLI through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

He has performed a number of roles since then and is currently a helm on the inshore lifeboat and mechanic on the all-weather lifeboat (ALB).

Alistair Punton is heading to Buckingham Palace tomorrow (Thursday) for a special event recognising the 200th anniversary of the RNLI

Colleague Alistair also serves as a mechanic and recently retired as an electrician at the Tarmac cement plant.

Earlier this year, he received his medal for 30 years’ service.

The RNLI 200th Volunteer Recognition Garden Party will highlight the amazing contribution of ‘One Crew’ volunteers across the charity that saves lives at sea from all over the UK and Ireland.