It was a Sunday afternoon filled with pipes and drums resonating around the town of Stromness. What marked 5th May 2024 as special, however, was the outpouring of community love and support for the RNLI.

The RNLI launched its first lifeboat in 1824 and since then the charity, run by volunteers, has saved more than 146,000 lives at sea.

“24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the RNLI is ready to save lives.”

Congratulations must go to the organisers for the mammoth task of bringing together so many family friendly events and five pipe bands: Stromness RBL Pipe Band, Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band (Canada), Thurso and District Pipe Band, Wick RBLS Pipe Band, and Kirkwall City Pipe Band.

Stromness RBL Pipe Band led the parade of RNLI crew members, fundraisers, children and young people, from the location of the first Stromness RNLI boat shed at the South End.

It wound its way through the streets to the admiration and joy of thousands of onlookers.

Many fell in behind the parade as it made its way to the Pier Head where the bands, coming together as one, played a selection of tunes. Their music accompanied a display by Orkney’s young Highland dancers.

Local food stalls and many shops were open on what must have been one of the busiest days Stromness has seen in a long time.

Fiona Grahame