Anstruther First Lifeboat Restoration - James and Mary

Anstruther First Lifeboat 1903 for Restoration

From the Fife Today online @ http://www.fifetoday...yard.6402620.jp

Burgh history from breakers' yard

Published Date: 06 July 2010
By Scott Inglis

A HISTORIC lifeboat has been saved from the breakers' yard and could be restored to its former glory.

Members of Anstruther's RNLI Lifeboat team were shocked to hear the burgh's former vessel, the 'James and Mary', had been discovered forgotten in a yard in Anglesey.

The vessel was the third RNLI lifeboat to serve at Anstruther from July 1904, when around 4000 people watched its launching ceremony, until it was replaced in March 1933.

Anstruther lifeboat station administration and visits officer, Roger Grundy, with the possibility of funding from Fife Council, has masterminded the return of what remains of the lifeboat to the area and is currently in the process of forming a small working group to manage the project towards restoring the vessel into a permanent display outside the boathouse.

Mr Grundy told the Mail: "The Reaper is the boat which is associated with the Fisheries Museum and, back in the day, a boat like this would have rescued it if it got into any trouble so it would be quite something to see them one day side by side again.

"It's basically just a hull at the moment, but when it was used it was only a rowing boat so it's not like we have any engine to try and replace.

"We're hoping the community can really get involved with the work to restore it."

Coxswain William Sutherland (known locally as Scow) launched the boat with 2nd coxswain Martin Gardner, a partnership with the boat that was to last for nearly 30 years – the trio became known as the 'wooden boat with the iron men'.

Phase two of the restoration project has now started which will include the renovation of the lifeboat and Mr Grundy says he would be interested to hear from anyone who would be keen on lending any form of support.

Anstruther lifeboat station has been operating since 1865 and to learn more visit www. anstrutherlifeboat.org.uk.