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Unveiling of Mystery Portpatrick Monument

A MYSTERY monument to Portpatrick life-boatmen is to be unveiled in the village on Saturday. And locals are hoping it will be the time to reveal the unknown benefactor.

Around two weeks ago, at the Ward Shore culvert, a crane lifted the impressive six-feet long monument into position. It comprises a granite plinth bearing bronze arms reaching out of the sea and holding on to a girder bearing the name Princess Victoria.

The whole monument is held by stainless steel bolts drilled into the cliff-face.

Beneath is a plaque saying the monument is a memorial to the Portpatrick life-boatmen who fought bravely to rescue the Princess Victoria on 31st January, 1953.

Present life-boat coxswain Robert Erskine told the Free Press this week "It is very mysterious". But he was full of praise for the memorial, although he said it had created some controversy in the village.

Whoever it was who commissioned the work dealt locally through a third party whose first name only was ever used.