October 3rd 2024.
A piece of history has been returned to the town of Kirkcudbright after nearly 160 years. It is a vellum, a type of parchment, that was presented to a farmer named Andrew Lusk in 1865 for his heroic efforts. In the late 19th century, Andrew and five of his servants bravely attempted to rescue the crew of a schooner named Havelock, and this document was given to him as a recognition of his bravery.
Recently, the Kirkcudbright RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) received a package containing this vellum. It was found as part of a job lot that was put up for auction in Lincoln. The new owner, feeling that the document belonged to Kirkcudbright, sent it to the RNLI. John Collins, the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Kirkcudbright RNLI, shared his surprise and delight at receiving a call from the individual who found the vellum and decided to return it to its rightful place.
The vellum is now a part of the station's archives and is proudly displayed during the RNLI's 200th anniversary. It is a reminder of the brave actions and sacrifices made by Andrew Lusk and his servant Peter McGinn. Sadly, Peter lost his life in the attempt to save the crew of Havelock, but his name was added to the national memorial at RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset in 2012. This memorial is a symbol of the history and future of the RNLI, depicting a person in a boat rescuing another from the water.
The Havelock schooner was wrecked on November 30th, 1864. Andrew Lusk had sent one of his servants to alert the lifeboat, but unfortunately, all lives were lost before it could arrive. Despite the tragic outcome, the bravery and selflessness shown by Andrew and his servants did not go unnoticed. And now, after all these years, the vellum that commemorates their efforts has found its way back to its rightful home in Kirkcudbright.
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