Members heard at the 80th annual general meeting, held in the Helen Street premises of the Royal British Legion Scotland on Friday, that total income had been £45,697.

Of that, donations had amounted to £2,686, the lifeboat crew had raised £2,500 during Sea Fest, schools, education and youth groups had gifted £1,341 and fund-raising friends had contributed £7,772.

Annual subscriptions had added another £1,832 and the yearly boxes had raised £3,909.

Flag day and the annual house-to house collection realised £5,551.

Special efforts, which had included a fashion show in the Meadowbank and various other events, made £3,063 and a ladies' dinner in September realised an amazing £11,335.

Sales of merchandise from the RNLI shop at the Lifeboat Shed added £2,712.



President Barbara Cargill, in her address, said that she had read the minutes of the very first meeting and revealed that during the first year the money raised was £63 19 6d, with expenses of £5 18/-.

She extended her personal thanks to all who had contributed to this year's marvellous total income of £45,698 and continued: "The Guild is extremely proud of this result. It is not achieved without a lot of hard work and dedication and the generosity of the public whose support is much appreciated."

Office-bearers and committee members were elected as follows: president, Barbara Cargill; vice-president, Maureen Morrison; secretary, Isabel Cowan; treasurer, Ann Watt; souvenir secretary, Mary Gerrard; flag week convener, Kath Hughes; box secretary, Monica Clark; pyramid box secretary, Jean Wallace; and subscription secretary, Lillian Fraser.

Committee - Margaret Fairlie, Joyce Gibson, Muriel Robb, Margaret McAndrew, Sonia Nelson, Rhona Goodfellow, Ruth Smith, Margaret Smith, Irene Ingram, Liz Smith, Audrey McGregor, Darlene McLeod, Glynis Stewart, Alison Marnie, Maureen Fulton and Barbra Chapel.

Guests at the meeting were Mr Ian Ballantyne, chairman of the Arbroath lifeboat management group; Susan Coull, of the Nyumbani Project; Stuart Fergusson, Arbroath lifeboat operations manager, and crew member, Alan Russell.