Stonehaven Harbour Festival 2005

The ever successful Stonehaven Harbour Festival this year fell on the weekend of Saturday 20 August and Sunday 21 August 2005, and it was the biggest event to date.

The Festival kicked off on Saturday afternoon with a local talent contest at St Bridget's Hall, Stonehaven.  Local youngsters chose from three categories: acoustic music, song & dance, and practised their acts for several weeks. The event was compered by Mike Cruz and the contestants were judged by professional musicians and teachers from the Mearns and Inverness area and the BBC.  Prizes were awarded in two age categories; 8-11 year olds (runner up Lucie Hendry 10yrs on harp and keyboards, winner Cameron Ross 11yrs on fiddle), and 12-16 year olds (runner up Holly McNeil 15yrs singing and winner Rio Riddell 15 yrs singing).  MRI's Youth Team performed their short play "Cliffhanger" about the dangers of the coastline while the judges conferred.  The evening rounded off with a family BBQ at the MRI building, featuring local musicians playing traditional music.  Tickets proceeds went to MRI. 

On Sunday 21 August the action started in Stonehaven Harbour at 12 noon.  A parade of all the demonstrators, the MRI SAR Team, the MRI Youth Team and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency marched down the High Street to the MRI building, led by piper John Dicken.  The Maritime Rescue Institute lined up various action-packed demonstrations - Search and Rescue Teams, the Fife Newfoundland Dogs and pipers took over the harbour.  Boat handling by the Sea Cadets, and 100 consecutive canoe rolls were also on show.  Ian Watson's boat 'The Lady Gail II'  took boat trips down the wonderful coastline.  Local celebrity Cheryl Paul from Grampian TV opened the event and then compered during the afternoon.  Bob Brown from Inverbervie provided music all afternoon, and the piper played a couple of slots too.  Other entertainment included the Dunnottar School Country Dancers, who danced their hearts out, and traditional crafts, as well as plenty of stalls to browse and games to play.  The climbing wall, roundabout and mega slide were all great attractions for the youngsters.  With so much going on, there was a real buzz about the place! 

The MRI stalls included a lottery to win a Peugeot 1007 sponsored by Glenvarigill Motor Company of Altens - which runs until 30 September - contact MRI to purchase tickets.  Plate smashing and Whack the Rat stalls were hugely popular.  Other stalls included Stonehaven Heritage Society, Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Green Bay Soaps, Fernieflatt Farm fruit and vegetables, Stonehaven Business Association, Friends of Stonehaven Outdoor Pool, South Aberdeenshire Tenants and Residents association, Faux Fun Jewellery, Aberdeenshire Council Safety Committee, and Fathom.

Anne Williamson of Munro's Travel Agency did a sponsored High Atlas Walk in June and presented a cheque at the Festival - an outstanding personal contribution to MRI's funds.

Teas were served in the workshop courtesy of the Stonehaven and Aberdeen Yacht Club ladies, who raised an outstanding £450.  Stonehaven Lions ran a burger bar which sold out.  The Boathouse Cafe ran a special Festival menu and were run off their feet all day.

The weather was windy but sunny, and didn't deter the crowds who turned out in their thousands.  The climbing wall, roundabout and mega slide were all great attractions for the youngsters.  With so much going on, there was a real buzz about the place! 

The £5,000 raised on the day will help support the Search and Rescue Team.

As always, this event could not happen without a huge amount of help and support.  Thanks are due to the sponsors, volunteers, helpers, the various bodies who lent equipment, the demonstrators, those who took stalls and last, but by no means least, to the public who turned up in such numbers.

Institute director Hamish McDonald said: "There's been something for all the family and we were blessed by amazing weather.

It was certainly busier than last year and we have raised a fair amount of money.  Having so much interest in what we do is great, and to see people enjoying themselves so much while supporting us has been great reward for everyone."

Your online shopping can support MRI; log onto www.buy.at/mri

For further information or to get involved with MRI as a volunteer, please contact
01569 765768 or email hamish.mcdonald@btconnect.com

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Maritime Rescue Institute is a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee and without a share capital.
Company Number SC225049. Scottish Charity Number SC032388. Registered office: J&H Mitchell, W.S. 51 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BU.