Salute to Moray and Banffshire Heroes
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THE crew of Buckie Lifeboat have been crowned the Heroes of Moray and Banffshire.
They were the inaugural winners of the new community award for their selfless devotion to saving lives while putting their own lives at risk every time they go to sea.
Joe Herd and Dave Grant collected the trophy at the Moray and Banffshire Heroes awards at a red carpet ceremony in Elgin last Thursday night.
The SPP Media Group awards, which were sponsored by Inverness Airport, celebrated unsung heroes across all walks of life.
Buckie RNLI won the emergency services award and at the end of the night were declared the first ever winners of the Hero of Heroes title.
Joe, the lifeboat operations manager, said: "I was speechless as we didn't expect this.
"I am in charge of 28 boys and girls who give up their spare time and when that pager goes off you never know what you will be dealing with.
"They will be chuffed to bits to win this award," added an emotional Joe.
The lifeboat has been launching from Buckie for 155 years and covers a coastal area from Macduff to Burghead and as far out as the Beatrice wind farm.
What makes the voluntary efforts of the crew all the more remarkable is that the organisation relies totally on legacies and public donations.
Joe said the commitment of the volunteers was second to none.
"Once they have gone through their extensive training programme their enthusiasm is fantastic," added Joe, who has worked in the fishing industry for 40 years and been a member of the lifeboat crew for the last 12 years.
Dave, the second mechanic on the lifeboat, said: "We are totally shocked to win this award."
The Moray Council bus driver has been with the lifeboat for 25 years.
"When I came out of the Army I knew I had to do something to keep my hand in and 25 years later I am still keeping my hand in," he said.
The awards at the Mansefield Hotel in Elgin were hosted by local media personality Nicky Marr and David Bourn, editorial director of SPP Media Group.
There was entertainment on the night from former Britain's Got Talent contestant Edward Reid.
The evening raised £1500 for Abbie's Sparkle Foundation, a local charity supporting children with cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
The other winners were:
Brave Child of the Year (sponsored by aberlour, Scotland's children's charity) - Logan MacKenzie (15) who stayed calm and helped co-ordinate the rescue of two friends caught in a strong current at Hopeman beach. Shortlisted - Katlyn Wilson (Macduff) and Lucy Stewart (Elgin).
Primary Pupil of the Year: (sponsored by DYW Moray, Developing the Young Workforce) - Riley Winton (10), Banff, who asked for donations of food and clothes to help homeless people. Shortlisted - Rebecca Hunt (8), Kinloss who climbed Ben Nevis for a children's charity; Ruby Kellas (11), from Keith who has excelled in ballet.
Secondary Pupil of the Year: (sponsored by Moray College UHI) - Ellie Baird (17), Lossie High, for volunteering with the local troop of Brownies and being an active member of the school netball team. Shortlisted - Charlotte Wright, also Lossie High, for her figure skating and supporting young skaters.
Community Champion of the Year: (sponsored by MKM building supplies) - Sheena Sutherland, Banff, who is the community champion at the local Tesco store and desribed as the "beating heart of her local community. Shortlisted - Jane Murray, Buckie for her fundraising with Buckie and District Community Choir and Claire Nicholson, from Banff, who spearheaded the knitting of 12,000 poppies to commemorate World War One.
Carer of the Year: (sponsored by Excel Scotland) - Eddie Taylor, from Banff, who was a carer for 38 years with Aberdeenshire Council and a foster parent for more than three decades. Shortlisted - Nicole Barrett, who set up Buckie Buddies to support vulnerable and isolated people.
Primary Teacher of the Year: (sponsored by Morscot Utilities) - Louise McLean, who taught more than 1000 pupils before retiring at Bishopmill Primary in Elgin in 2014. Since 1978 she had taken choirs and musical groups to the Moray Music Festival. Shortlisted - Laura McGurk, St Gerardine's Primary, who has led the school in its digital revolution.
Public Servant of the Year: (sponsored by Robertson) - Jane Mason, Banff, a funeral director who goes above and beyond the standards expected to support grieving families. Shortlisted - Sharon Petrie, an Elgin social worker who is committed to the families she works with.
Secondary Teacher of the Year: (sponsored by Pitman Training) - Jane Farquhar, Banff Academy, for helping pupils with additional needs come on in leaps and bounds. Originally from Keith, she is also highly trained to support children with autism. Shortlisted - Annjanette Hazlehurst, Banff Academy, who knows how to challenge pupils and bring out the best in them.
Emergency Services or Amed Forces: (sponsored by JetsGo holidays) - Buckie RNLI lifeboat crew. Shortlisted - John Ewing, Elgin police officer for outstanding support of bereaved families; RAF Tornado squadrons, Lossiemouth.
Health Professional of the Year: (sponsored by MJ Housden optician) - Accident and emergency department at Dr Gray's Hospital with the team described as an "absolute credit to the NHS". Shortlisted - Ken Glass, dentist Forres for his ongoing campaign across Moray to install defibrillators; Friends of Dr Gray's, for supporting patients.
Volunteer of the Year: (sponsored by Clockstudio) - Angela McAllister, a Turriff hairdresser who supports homeless people in Aberdeen by providing them with food and clothing. She is part of a volunteer group called Street Friends. Shortlisted - Alex Rutherford, Keith, the on-ward volunteer co-ordinator with the Royal Voluntary Service; Ian Cameron, Banff, who has given tireless service to the Boys' Brigade.
Fundraiser of the Year: (sponsored by Sun Dancer bar and restaurant) - Meg Grant, Elgin, nicknamed Mama Doolittle for her amazing support of pets and strays. For over 30 years she has helped owners struggling to pay vets' bills. Shortlisted - Sandra McKandie, Elgin, who set up Keiran's Legacy in memory of her teenage son and which has distributed 45 defibrillators since 2016; Fiercesum Foursm, Banff/Macduff, four mums who take on adventures to raise money for charity.
