Sea-saving pirates ready to raffle unique booty at Ullapool showcase for World Ocean Day
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A group of school pupils in Wester Ross are resorting to piracy in a bid to save our seas.
The Ullapool Sea Savers, a group of primary and high school pupils from the village, have been campaigning on issues ranging from plastic straws, kelp dredging and marine litter.
For World Ocean Day today, they are hosting a fundraising event to continue their good work by resorting to piracy – and have even been supported by internationally renowned band The Levellers.
The Sea Savers all live in Ullapool and have been involved in local and national campaigns on marine related issues – even taking to Holyrood to make the case for stopping kelp dredging last year.
As their reputation has grown, so have the invites to attend other events around the country.
They are also hoping to take to the roads and share their experiences and what campaigns with other kids and schools.
Local bar and restaurant, The Seaforth Inn by Ullapool harbour, offered to host an evening of sustainable seafood to help raise funds and it was decided to make this a pirate-themed night and run a raffle to help raise some money.
Local businesses were quick to donate a vast treasure trove of prizes including artwork, crafts, seafood and even trees.
When the group were approached by a member of the band the Levellers who visit Ullapool and also take part in marine related activities, they didn’t expect the gift they got.
The band’s bass player Jez Cunningham decided to decorate a drumskin with illustrations of all the species the kids support and represent such as sea eagles, dolphin, turtles and flameshells – a less well known marine species that recently gained protected status in Loch Carron.
He then included himself as a Humbolt squid – apparently a favourite animal – before getting all the band to sign the finished piece.
News of the highly collectable piece of band memorabilia has reached the internet and the Sea Savers have been getting requests for raffle tickets from throughout the UK and even overseas.
Janis Piggott, the mum of two of the Sea Savers who helps organise things for the kids said: "We were overwhelmed by the local support, not just from the Seaforth and people saying they would come along, but at the range of amazing donations towards our raffle.
"When we received a box from the Levellers we were happy to see some merchandise including T-shirts and items the band sell on tour, then found the drumskin.
"Previously the band have only done such things for appeals for organisations such as Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, and they have been auctioned online for quite considerable sums, so it is a real compliment to be shown such support. We decided to keep it in the raffle and give everyone a chance to own something that is pretty unique and special.
"Part of us quite hopes it will be won by someone local as it's such a lovely item and the kids being named on it is really nice to see and so supportive of the band to young activists - who now of course young fans!"
The Sea Savers fund raiser starts in the Seaforth this afternoon with seafood demos, then is followed by a seafood buffet in the evening before becoming an pirate night of music by Dougie and the Cadilacs that will include the raffle draw to discover who has won the Levellers prize.
There are even rumours of a special pirate dance off...
More details can be found on online at www.facebook.com/UllapoolSeaSavers or www.ullapoolseasavers.com and the group will also feature in an STV programme on Monday evening with Sean Batty the weather presenter.
