Lifeboat cheque handed over as Longhope disaster is remembered at Dunnet Church
A poignant service was held in Dunnet Church on Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Longhope lifeboat disaster. One of the crew who was lost was assistant mechanic Jimmy Swanson, who came from Dunnet.
Eight men died when the lifeboat TGB capsized on March 17, 1969, after setting out from Hoy to assist a Liberian cargo ship which was adrift in a storm.
It was discovered that the lifeboat had capsized when her upturned hull was spotted the day after the call-out. The TGB was towed, still upside down, into Scrabster harbour by the Thurso lifeboat. Seven of the eight crew were discovered inside her but the body of Mr Swanson was never found.
The service at Dunnet was attended by representatives of the Thurso and Wick lifeboat crews as well as the Royal British Legion.
A retiring offering collected £200. The minister, the Rev Lyall Rennie, later presented a cheque on behalf of Pentland Parish to the Wick lifeboat.
