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98-year-old Highland woman gains honorary award for loyalty to RNLI

Margaret Paterson with her granddaughter Nicole Felix who flew from Toronto to be present at the ceremony at North Kessock.
Margaret Paterson with her granddaughter Nicole Felix who flew from Toronto to be present at the ceremony at North Kessock.

A 98-year-old north woman who has been fundraising for the RNLI for 55 years has received the highest possible honorary award in recognition of her loyalty to the service.

Family and friends joined Margaret Paterson at the Kessock lifeboat station yesterday to witness her gaining an Honorary Life Governor medal of long-standing and remarkable voluntary service.

And there was an extra surprise for Mrs Paterson – her grand-daughter, Nicole Felix, who lives in Canada, appeared at the party after catching a flight from Toronto on Monday.

Mrs Paterson, of North Kessock, is one of only five other people across the country to receive the award so far this year.

Yesterday a special ceremony was held in the Kessock Lifeboat Station and Mrs Paterson was presented with her medal by Sir Andrew Cubie, chairman of the Scottish Lifeboat Council.

Kessock lifeboat helmsman, Mark Muirson, also presented Mrs Paterson with a wooden-framed picture of the current crew in action while steering the lifeboat.

Mrs Paterson was a founder member and president of the then-North Kessock Branch and, when it merged with Inverness, she continued to attend meetings and offer help and support with fundraising.

She is still a much loved and respected committee member.

Mrs Paterson said: “I am overwhelmed by all the family and friends being here. And I did not know that my grand-daughter was coming and she met me at the station as a surprise.

“I raised a lot of money through organising coffee mornings. We also used to go from house to house in various places around the Black Isle, and fundraise through sponsored walks and cycles too.”

Mrs Felix, who lives in Burlington, Ontario, said: “Unfortunately my mother, Helen, who is my grandmother’s second child, could not make it here today so I am here in her stead.

“I am so proud of her achievement and it is simply amazing to see her so happy, and she deserves it.”

Mr Cubie said: “Margaret embodies everything that is great about the RNLI. We are all privileged to be here to mark her wonderful contribution to the RNLI.”

Mr Muirson said: “If it was not for the likes of Margaret and her dedication, we would probably not have the station we have got now and we are on our third boat and need the money to continue to save lives at sea.”