WARM sunshine helped boost the attendance at the 27th annual Anstruther lifeboat gala day on Saturday, with several thousand people packing into the harbour area.

The event, which is expected to have raised thousands of pounds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, featured an action-packed programme which had something to offer all ages and tastes.

The many highlights during the day included a colourful parade, the traditional raft race, which was sponsored by the Fishermen’s Mutual Association (Pittenweem) Ltd, and a spectacular parachute drop by members of Skydive St Andrews.

There was also a rescue demonstration by the Anstruther lifeboat, Kingdom of Fife, the station’s inshore craft, the Kinghorn lifeboat and members of the St Andrews Coastguard.

Live music was courtesy of the Tayport Instrumental Band, the Madras College Pipe Band from St Andrews, the Milnberg Jazz Band and the Kingdom FM Roadshow.

There were also static displays and stalls manned by volunteers from a host of charities and local organisations.

Also taking part were members of the Fife Fire and Rescue Service, who led a series of chip pan fire demonstrations, Operation Heart Start, Scotia Wings Motorcycle Club, Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Club, the Kirkcaldy Museum bus, model boats and the Territorial Army’s 231 Evacuation Squadron.

The RNLI also issued an open invitation to daredevils to take part in a sponsored bungee jump.

Those who dared to accept the challenge completed a 160-foot jump from a crane towering above the harbour.

The gala day is one of the highlights in the list of summer events and over the past 12 years has raised more than £80,000 for the RNLI.

The raft race was won by Shankeys Revive.

l See comment on Page 10.