HELENSBURGH'S lifeboat station is £500 better off thanks to a kind donation from a town business.
In 2025, the Leather Guild chose the RNLI as their charity and donated part of the proceeds of the sales of their unique tartan scarf to the Helensburgh lifeboat.
The beautiful, pure lambswool limited Helensburgh and Lomond District tartan scarf is still on sale at gift shop Tweedie on West Clyde Street.
The accessory featured on many people's Christmas present lists, with £3 from every scarf going to the lifeboat.
Mairi Clayton, from the Leather Guild, said: “One of the nicest things about working at Tweedie is the fabulous view over the Clyde and watching all the boats, yachts, windsurfers and paddleboarders enjoying their leisure on the water.
"And because of that, we were delighted when so many people chose to buy our Helensburgh and Lomond Tartan scarves and helped us raise and donate £500 to the Helensburgh Lifeboat, who freely give their time and often risk their lives to protect the hundreds of people who use our waterways.
"Their dedication and hard work help to save lives at sea, and we are very proud of them and our lovely customers."
The two-storey workshop at the business is where the team manufacture many of the products on sale, design and create prototypes of new items of their own brand and take on commissions from shops and venues.
The tweeds in their collection are original designs, influenced by authentic ancient tartans and traditional herringbone patterns, reflecting the Scottish cultural heritage.
The leather is sustainably sourced for their luxury leather goods, and the tweeds are made from pure wool, woven in Scotland by traditional weavers.
Jill Coleman, secretary of the Helensburgh Lifeboat fundraising committee, said: “A huge thank you to Mairi and her team at the Leather Guild and Tweedie. The scarf is a beautiful, pretty tartan and we are delighted that the Guild chose Helensburgh Lifeboat as their charity."
Some of the fundraising team went along to meet Mairi at the Tweedie shop.
Jill continued: “It was amazing to hear all about the work of the Leather Guild and to look around the Tweedie shop. There are beautiful leather and tweed goods designed by Mairi and produced in the workshop.
"We were amazed to learn that the design studio and workshop were on our doorstep. Mairi and her busy team were so welcoming. It was great to learn about what happens behind the scenes.”
The crew at the Helensburgh lifeboat are on call 24/7 365 days a year, and so far have been called out 20 times in 2026.
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