2013 is a special year for Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild. It was set up one hundred years ago and over the decades this team of remarkable women have raised many thousands of pounds for the RNLI. On Thursday, 28th February, in celebration and recognition of their phenomenal efforts over the years, a group of nine serving members of the Guild unveiled a commemorative plaque in the New Norbury Boathouse, which was built in 1991 to house the current lifeboat, the RNLB Ann & James Ritchie.
A hundred years ago on February 28th 1913 the Ramsey RNLI Branch Committee resolved to set up a Ramsey RNLI Ladies’ Auxiliary. Elections were duly held and the elected officers were Mrs Cruickshank, President; Mrs Norbury, Vice-President; Mrs M.W. Harrison, Chairman; Mrs H.K. Callow, Treasurer and Misses Paton and Garret, joint Honorary Secretaries.
A century later the Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild are still enthusiastically holding events and raising vital funds for the RNLI, the charity dedicated to saving lives at sea.
During 1926 the Ramsey Ladies’ Auxiliary evolved into the Ramsey Ladies’ Guild and in 1927 the Ladies’ Guild became the Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild. In 1930 Mrs Harrison, Chairman and Mrs Crystal, Honorary Secretary, were invited to join the gentlemen members of the Branch, an honour indeed for those days. It later became accepted practice for the Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild to join the gentlemen members of the Branch Committee.
Chairman of Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild, Mrs Mary Page added ‘On behalf of the members of Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild I would like to thank the people of Ramsey and the North of the Island, local shops and businesses, Ramsey Golf club who have held an RNLI Silver Spoons Competition since 1947, Ramsey Town Band, Ramsey Commissioners and of course, not forgetting past members of the Guild who are sadly no longer with us, for their loyal support of our various events over the one hundred years of raising funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to “Help Save Lives at Sea”. Thank you all so very, very much.’
Kev Christian, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager for Ramsey, RNLI Lifeboat Station, continued ‘These wonderful women have been and continue to be at the very centre of fundraising for Ramsey RNLI. Over the years, together with the many other Ladies’ Lifeboat Guilds they have ensured a regular flow income to the funds of the RNLI. Funds that help to sustain the consistent and reliable lifeboat service that we know today.
‘Ramsey Lifeboat owes Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild so very much and it is only fitting that we acknowledge their special place at the station’s heart by putting up a plaque in the New Norbury Boathouse, a boathouse that they helped to build with their outstanding fundraising efforts during 1989 and 1990.’
Photo - Looking good at 100, Ramsey Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild at Ramsey Lifeboat Station on 28th February 2013. Chairman Mary Page 3rd from left. (photo courtesy Kim Holland, Ramsey RNLI)
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