Wick seafarers memorial campaign takes another step forward thanks to 'amazing generosity'
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A fundraising campaign for a Wick memorial honouring victims of the sea has taken another step forward thanks to the "amazing generosity" of family and friends of a popular local man who passed away earlier this year.
The Seafarers Memorial Group received a cheque for £2520 as a result of donations following the funeral of Donald McWilliam, who was known to many as Tender. Mr McWilliam died suddenly in May, aged 59.
A cheque for an identical amount was also handed over to the Wick branch of the RNLI, and the same sum went to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
The Seafarers Memorial Group is aiming to raise £100,000 to erect a monument at the town’s Braehead in memory of all seafarers lost from or in the WK registration area.
Group chairman Willie Watt said: "It is a fitting legacy from Tender that the RNLI and the Seafarers Memorial Group have been gifted these funds as he lived and breathed anything to do with the sea and had a knowledge of the fishing industry that was unparalleled.
"The amount raised was staggering, and we are grateful for the amazing generosity from everyone who knew and respected Tender.
"The two organisations are very much interlinked and these funds will greatly help us to realise our goal of erecting a monument to those who did not make it back from the sea in the WK registration area."
Mr Watt explained that the group is meeting monthly via Zoom.
Fundraising continues through the sale of bin hooks, developing a "Harbours" 2022 calendar for sale and raffles with prizes including a Black Saturday painting by local artist Jo Sutherland planned ahead of Christmas 2021.
"We are arranging advertising for suitable artists both locally and nationally through various outlets, galleries and art magazines," Mr Watt said. "We hope to have selected the successful artist by early 2022 and the sculpture will be a traditional figurative design, approximately life size.
"A site adjacent to the Pilot House has been selected, with approval from the landowner. The memorial will be designed in liaison with the selected artist to ensure that location is suitably developed to provide a place of reflection to commemorate those brave souls lost through fishing, the Merchant Navy, the Royal Navy or leisure sailing.
"Funds, with pledges and cash in the bank, including the cheque from Tender's family, currently sit at just under £80,000. That leaves us still a bit short of the £100,000 total we set ourselves, but I am sure we will hit the target and deliver the planned monument."
He added: "The generosity and support of the public, companies and various organisations has been overwhelming and it just goes to show how important this monument is to so many as a remembrance to those lost at sea."
Mr McWilliam's daughters and grandsons were present at Wick harbour for the handover of the cheques to the Seafarers Memorial Group and the RNLI.
Wick lifeboat operations manager Ian Cormack explained that at one stage Mr McWilliam had been keen to volunteer as a lifeboat crew member but unfortunately was unable to do so because of colour blindness.
“He just loved the sea,” Mr Cormack said. “It's a great gesture from the family.
“It has been a terrible period for any charity this past year and a half, with Covid, so we are very grateful. It is fantastic that they thought of us.”
