Lifelong friends and RNLI volunteers, reveal why they declined an invite to Buckingham Palace
LIFELONG friends who volunteered for a life-saving charity for over 40 years, have revealed why they politely declined an invite to Buckingham Palace.
Ena Smith and Sheila Paterson, both aged 82, are Black Isle natives who have been good friends ever since their school days. Sheila has always lived in Rosemarkie, and Ena also moved to the village when she got married.
Thanks to encouragement from their seafaring mothers-in-law, Mrs Margaret Paterson and Mrs Bernice Smith, the two women began volunteering for the Fortrose and Rosemarkie RNLI in the 1980s.
Ena said: “We were roped into it all by our mother-in-laws! They were part of the charity, and said to us ‘Come on! We’re needing young blood! You must come and help us.’ That’s how we got involved.
“My husband was an engineer with the Merchant Navy — his family was always fishing… he always had a sailing boat or would be out on the sea.
“But I have no interest in the sea… I never liked the water!”
Despite this, the two women made stalwart contributions to the charity with many fundraisers held on dry land. Some of these events included: a bowling competition in Fortrose, souvenir stands, quiz nights, Soup and Sweet lunches, raffles and sales.
“We always provided tea and sandwiches — not just us, but the whole committee,” said Sheila. “In the summertime we would go door-to-door with a collection — Ena and I did all of Rosemarkie!”
The two women were recently given medals from the RNLI to thank them for their four decades’ of service to the charity.
Discussing the medal, Ena said: “It was very good of them to think of us.”
Alongside their dedicated volunteer work, Sheila worked in the Fortrose council office, while Ena did home helps.
In May 2024, the RNLI celebrated their 200th anniversary with a garden party at Buckingham Palace, with lifeboat crews and volunteers from across the UK being invited to celebrate.
“We were invited to Buckingham Palace in May for the RNLI’s anniversary — but we never went!” said Sheila. “My daughter was very annoyed, and so was Ena’s daughter!”
To which Ena revealed: “I didn’t tell her until last week! She was very annoyed about it.”
Explaining one of the deterrents for attending the event, Sheila said: “A Buckingham Palace garden party! What would I wear for that!?”
Although the ladies concluded their volunteer work when the Covid-19 pandemic came in 2020, they confirmed that they would definitely encourage others to take up some volunteering work with the RNLI.
