NEARLY 70 years of dedication to Dunbar’s lifeboat have been recognised at a special presentation.

Medals have been awarded to Moira Porter, Sheon Cairns and Veronica Davies, who have been doing their bit for the life-saving voluntary service for a total of 67 years.

Moira’s involvement with the RNLI began when her son Kenny joined the crew at 17 from the sea cadets.

She joined what was then the ladies’ guild, before it changed to the fundraising committee.

Moira spent four years as secretary and five as chairwoman, which meant she also attended the Lifeboat Management Group (LMG).

The current secretary of the fundraising committee, she has been involved with the RNLI for 23 years.

She described it as “such a worthwhile thing to do” and praised the people of Dunbar for their support.

Moira, who previously worked as a PA to the chief executive of East Lothian Council, said: “I remember when the all-weather lifeboat Sir Ronald Pechell BT was damaged beyond repair in 2008; we launched an extra appeal and people stopped me in the street asking if they could donate to the cause.

“I explained the RNLI would provide us with another boat but we hoped to make a sizeable contribution and the response was amazing.

“The feeling of ownership the town has for the lifeboat is quite something. It has been a tremendous thing to be part of.”

Meanwhile, her colleagues Sheon and Veronica have each toasted a 22-year connection to the charity.

Sheon gained huge respect for the sea and its hidden power and dangers while growing up in the Highlands, going fishing and visiting beaches only accessible from the water on her father’s boat. She said: “There was no lifeboat in the village and I have vivid memories of being told of searches for local people who were lost because of accidents on the loch.

“After I retired as a nursing manager with Lothian Health Board, I had a few requests to join local committees and so, after lots of deliberation, the RNLI was the one I decided to join.

“My brother John was a master mariner who moved to Dunbar when he retired and he became second coxswain of Dunbar lifeboat, I believe, to Noel Wight.”

With two great-grandchildren, Oscar and Maverick, living locally to keep her and husband Gilbert on their toes, Sheon is also involved with Belhaven Hospital League of Friends.

She added: “It has been so fulfilling to be a member of the Dunbar RNLI fundraising committee and I am full of admiration for the amazing amount of money they have raised over the years for our own lifeboats and their crew.”

For Veronica, it was an invitation to help out with competition prizes that began her connection to the lifeboat.

She is now chairwoman of the fundraising committee, helping organise hugely successful events including Strictly for the Lifeboats and the annual Dunbar Lifeboat Fete, and raising thousands of pounds.

She said: “My great-great grandfather Walter Fairbairn was coxswain of Dunbar and Skateraw Lifeboat and was awarded the RNLI silver medal for gallantry.

“I became involved partly due to my own family history and my husband’s family history with Dunbar RNLI plus the fact that my husband and eldest son are both fishermen; also I lost my cousin to the sea, thus realising the importance of this vital voluntary service.”