A COUPLE who both lost close family in a lifeboat disaster travelled 700 miles to say thank you to a Forest village for its support and love over 50 years.

It is the first time that anyone from the families directly affected by the 1969 Longhope lifeboat disaster on Orkney, north-west Scotland has been able to visit its namesake in Gloucestershire.

Kevin and Karen Kirk- patrick said they and their community “continue to be overwhelmed” by the support shown by the village.

There was a sizeable turn out last Wednesday (September 18) to welcome them to All Saints Church where they presented a plaque commemorating the link between the two villages.

On Monday, March 17, 1969, a volunteer crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station at Longhope responded to a distress from the Irene, which had got into difficulties in the notorious waters of the Pentland Firth.

Eight men from the tiny community of Brims on the island lost their lives and one of their bodies was never recovered.

The Vicar of Longhope at the time, Rev Murray Penfold, set up a group, to support its namesake, the only other Longhope in the UK.

Each year, the children of the affected families received gifts at Christmas and on their 18th birthday and the church continues to send the proceeds of the annual Christmas concert at All Saints to the RNLI in Orkney.

Mr Kirkpatrick, who lost his father, a grandfather and uncle in the disaster, said the plaque was from the children who the people of Longhope in the Forest had shown such kindness to.

“It’s a very small thing in return but hopefully it is something that will be here for a long time,” he said.

“It’s very special to be here – it is the first time and I feel quite bad considering how much Longhope has supported us. The visit is long overdue but it felt appropriate on the 50th anniversary.

“It’s something Karen and I have wanted to do for a long time because as kids the support we got was phenomenal.

“We were touched and continue to be touched by the support that Longhope has shown us.

“The plaque was made by Stuart Wylie of Orkney Crystal who has been a great supporter of the lifeboat and the lifeboat museum.

“We went to Stuart a few weeks ago and said we were coming to the Forest of Dean and we wanted something.

“It was a bit of a race to get it ready but we were determined to get something.

“It is a wee reminder and thank you.”

Rev Bloom said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity to make this connection which we’ve had for many years.”

Mrs and Mrs Kirkpatrick stayed with Mr George Watkins, who is a patron of the Longhope Lifeboat Museum.

He said: “It is wonderful to welcome Karen and Kevin to Longhope and to receive this beautiful plaque.”