Surplus fire festival funds go to charity

SURPLUS funds leftover from cancelled Scalloway fire festivals has been donated to a charity close to the heart of one squad member.

The January event did not take place in 2021 due to Covid restrictions, and next year’s fire festival has also been postponed.

With surplus funds in their account refunds were offered to Trondra squad members, but they unanimously declined – saying they wanted the money to go to charity.

A total of £2,200 has now been donated to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

Cunningsburgh man Craig Porter has been a stalwart of the Trondra squad and has been directly involved in the fire festival since 1986.

He and his family used Rachel House in Kinross on several occasions as respite care for their son Jake.

Rachel House is one of the children’s hospices run by CHAS and offers specialist care for children with life limiting conditions as well as giving parents not only much welcomed respite.