Handing over of City of Edinburgh SUPPORT FOR THE Edinburgh lifeboat appeal has been forthcoming from every sector of the communities of both Edinburgh and Fraserburgh: commerce, industry, the professions, charitable trusts, worthy bodies, sporting and social clubs, school groups and individuals have all responded to the initial generous contributions of £50,000 from City of Edinburgh District Council and £25,000 from the Theodore Salvesen Memorial Trust.

Tuesday November 19, 1985 With the cost of the 47ft Tyne class lifeboat safely secured, all associated with the appeal eagerly awaited the arrival of City of Edinburgh for her handing over ceremony in Scotland's capital. First she rendezvoused in the Forth with the Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Kedleston, the Royal Forth Yacht Club's committee boat, Queensferry's Atlantic 21 and associated Forth Ports Authority craft and was escorted to the lock gates of Leith docks, arriving at 3.00 pm. The small flotilla was overflown by an RAF air sea rescue helicopter carrying representatives of the media who recorded the occasion. At 3.00 pm the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, former Lord Provost Tom Morgan, the appeal chairman, and Andrew Cubic, appeal secretary, greeted the divisional inspector, Scotland, north, John Unwin and welcomed the coxswain and crew at the lock. City of Edinburgh then arrived at her berth where a welcoming party had gathered which included people from Fraserburgh, the lifeboat's future station.

Wednesday November 20 Parties of schoolchildren and representatives of seven schools which had supported the appeal were shown over the lifeboat during the morning and in the afternoon a steady stream of public visitors arrived for a view of City of Edinburgh.

Thursday November 21 At midday a piper from the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band, which had provided music for the gathering of some 200 guests, led the platform party into the Passenger Reception Hall, Leith Docks, for the handing over ceremony. The Lord Provost officially handed over the boat and a city plaque to the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the RNLI, who responded by presenting a framed vellum of thanks to the city.

Mr Jack Provan, chairman of Fraserburgh lifeboat station most eloquently and fittingly acknowledged the success of the appeal and a short religious service led by the Moderator of the Edinburgh Presbytery followed. Mr Andrew Cubic rounded off the occasion by extending a special vote of thanks on behalf of the appeal committee and the RNLI to all who had helped with the ceremony. This included the Forth Ports Authority for their substantial support, the Lothian and Borders Police for their participation, the Sea Cadets and Rotary Club who attended to arriving guests, the Northern Lighthouse Board for the provision of their facilities and hospitality on board their vessel MV Pharos, Scottish and Newcastle Breweries and Crawfords for refreshments, the Royal Navy and, finally, the Salvation Army band who provided music during the buffet lunch which followed.—K.T..