Whalsay pupils raise huge amount for RNLI through fish fundraiser

WHALSAY school pupils have raised a staggering sum for the RNLI to celebrate its 200th year. 

Pupils wrote to Whalsay fishing skippers to ask for donations of haddock and other essentials to hold a fish and chip fundraiser last month.

The event took place on 27 September and raised £2,740, which will be split between the two local lifeboat stations in Aith and Lerwick and the RNLI nationally.

It came after the 165 pupils across the school’s nursery, primary and secondary classes studied the work of the lifeboat institute this term.

Secondary pupils studied a range of topics including notable rescues, shipwrecks and medals awarded to lifeboat crews, while younger pupils have explored water safety, the history of the RNLI and the role of lifeboats in the rescue of troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.

Two members of the Lerwick lifeboat fundraising crew, Linda Hannah and Hazel Anderson, also recently attended the school to promote the work of the RNLI.

Primary three and four pupils presented a £1,000 cheque to RNLI Lerwick while on a visit to Shetland Museum and Archives on Tuesday.

Paul Hutchison, a full-time mechanic at RNLI Lerwick, said: “It was a pleasure to meet some of the pupils and staff from Whalsay yesterday and thank them for their very generous donation, which will help us save lives at sea.

“They have put in an incredible amount of work this term, learning more about the work and history of the RNLI in our special 200th year.

“On behalf of all our crew, we’d like to thank everyone at Whalsay school and in the Whalsay community for their support.”