A NEW memorial plaque has been unveiled at the Hub on the Prom on Ardrossan’s South Beach.
The plaque commemorated the existence of the Ardrossan Lifeboat from 1820 to 1930, the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the 1880 Lifeboat Rescue in which 20 men survived but five lost their lives.
Douglas Gorman and his sister Fiona Martin are great-great grandchildren of lifeboatman William Breckenridge, who lost his life trying to save others.
They and other members of their family paid tribute to their ancestor and other lifeboat personnel at the dedication ceremony which took place on Sunday, October 27, and was kindly facilitated by the Ardrossan Community Development Trust (ACDT).
On March 1, 1880, a sailing ship - the Matilda Hilyard - ran aground on Horse Island in atrocious weather and the Ardrossan lifeboat was launched. The coxswain was William Breckenridge.
Thirteen brave Ardrossan men helped the 12-man crew into the lifeboat which was towed by a tug towards Ardrossan Harbour. Unfortunately, the lifeboat capsized and its occupants were tossed into the sea.
Sadly, lifeboatmen William Grier and Alexander McEwan perished and two crew members of the Matilda Hilyard also drowned. They were John Hickey from the United States and Vincent Luthemburger from Austria.
William Breckenridge succumbed to congestion of the lungs aggravated by long exposure in the cold sea and died on March 28.
At last weekend's event, Bill Anderson - development officer with ACDT - welcomed people to the gathering then Fiona explained the reasons for her family wanting the plaque installed.
Alison Byers of the RNLI read an extract from Lifeboat Disaster, a poem by William Montgomerie who was born in Glasgow in 1904.
This was followed by a minute’s silence then James Ferguson, a great great great grandson of William Breckenridge dedicated the plaque with well-chosen words. Bill Anderson closed the ceremony by inviting participants and spectators for refreshments.
Remarkably, descendants of all three deceased lifeboatmen were present. Apart from William Breckenridge’s family, the attendees included Archie Murchie and Margaret Yuille, great-great grandchildren of William Grier and Margaret McLuckie whose great-great grandfather was Alexander McEwan.
Douglas and Fiona appreciate the work of Jenny Proudfoot, an Edinburgh-based illustrator who designed the plaque and Black Box of Edinburgh who manufactured it.
They are also very grateful to those who attended the dedication especially Ardrossan and Largs Sea Cadets, the RNLI representatives and in particular ACDT for hosting a poignant but uplifting event.
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