Memorial fund set up in wake of Purbeck fishing tragedy (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Memorial fund set up in wake of Purbeck fishing tragedy
1:30pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Catherine Bolado
AMAZING: Reporter Catherine Bolado hands over the last cheques to trustee Andy Alcock and below right, Colin and Grace McFarlane
A MEMORIAL fund set up in the wake of a fishing tragedy has raised more than £44,000.
Some £10,000 of that was raised through the Bridport and Lyme Regis News and the Dorset Echo.
The Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund was set up after Weymouth fishing boat, the Purbeck Isle, went out to sea on May 17 and never returned.
Andy Alcock, from the memorial fund, said: “The response has been overwhelming, not only locally but outside Dorset.
“It’s been incredible.”
During a three-day search for the Purbeck Isle, the body of skipper David McFarlane, 35, was recovered and the wreck of the Purbeck Isle was discovered.
The body of crewman Jack Craig, 21, was recovered on August 9. Crewman Robert Prowse, 20, is still missing.
In the wake of the tragedy the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund was set up spearheaded by the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fisherman’s and Boatman’s Association.
To date more than £44,000 has been raised through donations from across Dorset and nationwide.
Readers of the Dorset Echo and Bridport News raised almost a quarter of the total through collection tins, online donations and by acting as a collection point for donations.
A collection of £4,500 was handed over in June and across the summer readers, businesses, churches, community groups and the fishing community have continued to donate, adding a further £5,556 to the total.
Some £151.70 was raised through the Bridport and Lyme Regis News.
A total of £61.70 was donated in the collection box in the front desk of the News office in Bridport.
Musicians from Jam and Pickle also raised a total of £46 busking in Bucky Doo Square.
Mr Alcock said: “The committee and board of trustees are thankful to everyone that’s helped in the collection.
“Thank you to all the local shops and hostelries that have been collecting and thank you to all the other organisations outside Dorset that have contributed.”
West Bay fisherman David Sales, 75, and his cousin Bill Gibbons were the first owners of the Purbeck Isle 52 years ago in Appledore in Devon as a lobster catcher.
Mr Sales had the 38-feet long boat built and sold it 10 years later. For more information on the fund visit purbeckislememorialfund. com
