The Clan McQuarrie Rescue
On the night of 31 January to 1 February 1953, the Clan Line vessel Clan MacQuarrie (7131 tons) was driven onto the foreshore at Borve by gales. Braving the horrendous weather, with winds gusting up to 100 mph, local men got a breeches buoy onto the vessel and brought all 66 crew members ashore safely.
In recognition of the villagers’ courage and hospitality, the Clan Line donated £100. This was used to buy a former Royal Air Force hut at the junction of the A857 and New Street, and convert it to a village hall. Known as the Clan MacQuarrie Hall, this functioned for over 50 years. In 2009, after a long campaign for funding, a Community Centre of the same name was built close by.
Read more about this topic: Borve, Lewis
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