Oban Lifeboat paid a moving tribute to one of its greatest supporters today.
The funeral of Marie-Claire Williamson-MacDougall took place at St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban at 10am.
Mrs Williamson-MacDougall, 84, of Gallanach, Oban, volunteered tirelessly for the lifeboat fundraising committee and helped to raise many thousands of pounds.
Members of the lifeboat crew were due to honour her by acting as pall-bearers at her funeral.
But the lifeboat was called out at 5.44am to the aid of a yacht which had run aground in Loch Craignish.
However in a moving gesture, the lifeboat returned from the call out at 11.30am, and stood off in Oban Bay as the cortege left the church.
Willie Melville, the lifeboat’s deputy press officer, said: “The lifeboat took station just off-shore, abeam the cathedral as a mark of respect. Marie-Claire had been one of the staunchest of RNLI fundraisers and her contribution will be remembered forever.”
The importance of the good work of people such as Mrs Williamson-MacDougall has been highlighted this year more than ever, in one of the busiest summers Oban Lifeboat has had in years.
The lifeboat was called out four times in the space of 24 hours.
The first call was on Monday night to the yacht Caraway aground near Heather Island in the Sound of Kerrera with one person on board. She was towed off and placed on a nearby mooring.
At 5.44am today the crew was called to assist the 40ft yacht, Ceol na Mara, with a husband and wife aboard which was aground in Loch Craignish.
The lifeboat crew assisted the owners in laying an anchor to hold the yacht until the rising tide enabled the lifeboat to tow her off.
At 2pm the lifeboat went out again to assist the Nantucket clipper Nancy Tucket aground on the east shore
of the Isle of Lismore. The vessel was gently pulled into deep water and appeared to have no damage nor was she taking water.
The lifeboat was again in action at 5pm to take two paramedics to Kerrera where a man collapsed aboard a yacht. The casualty was taken to Oban and checked out.