An Oban RNLI fundraiser and artist is supporting the charity’s annual Mayday appeal by offering a limited edition signed print of the area’s new lifeboat for people to buy.
Fiona Campbell has created a painting entitled ‘Mayday’ which shows the new Oban-based Shannon class lifeboat The Campbell-Watson on passage at speed in Loch Linnhe with the low green island of Lismore in the background and the mountains of Ardgour beyond.
Fiona says she wanted to mark a special year for the RNLI in Oban: “The first new lifeboat for some 27 years to serve our maritime, coastal and island communities from Oban came into service on Monday March 4 this year – the day the RNLI celebrated its 200th birthday.
“Every year the charity devotes the month of May to Mayday events and fundraising initiatives such as the Mayday Mile challenge, and I am delighted to mark this year by making a limited edition print of our new lifeboat available for people to buy.
“Thanks to the cost of printing having been covered by generous sponsorship from Matheson’s Furnishings in Oban, we can guarantee that all the money raised will go to support Oban Lifeboat.”
The print will be available to buy at the Oban Lifeboat shop in the CalMac Terminal in the town, which is open on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.
Tobermory’s RNLI crew were called out on Saturday to reports that a man had fallen from the coastal path to Aros Park close to the Sput Dubh waterfall and was very close to the waterline. Volunteer crew members were alerted shortly before 7am and quickly launched the Severn class lifeboat. They were at the scene within three minutes. The crew then deployed the lifeboat’s daughter craft, the Y boat, to recover the man who was in a precarious position above deep water. Once he was aboard the lifeboat, casualty care trained crew assessed him and then took him to the lifeboat berth. The visitor was taken to hospital by police and he was discharged a few hours later.
Tobermory RNLI Coxswain, David McHaffie said: ‘We are very pleased that there was a good outcome to this incident as the man was in a very exposed position below a steep cliff and above deep water. If you see anyone in difficulty on or close to the water, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
Data released to coincide with the launch of this year’s Mayday campaign shows RNLI lifeboats in Scotland launched 1,251 times in 2023 and saved 15 lives.
Across the UK and Ireland as a whole, 2023 was another busy day with volunteer crews launching 9,192 times, saving 355 lives.
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.