In 1984 a Fund Raising Committee was established under the chairmanship of Brigadier Frank Coutts who was also responsible for the acquisition of the first Headquarters of the Trust at 18, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh. The work of the Funding Committee under the dynamic leadership of Frank was very successful indeed and by 1997 had raised more than £1,000,000. A Glasgow Appeal committee was also established under the chairmanship of Mr. Peter McCann a former Lord Provost of Glasgow and now a Seagull Trustee. (BB)

Frank recounts it thus:

“In 1983, after 43 years in the Army and latterly the British Legion Scotland, I was looking forward to a placid retirement, where I would see more of my family and Golf, Gardening and the Famous Grouse would be the most important things in my life, alongside frequent visits to Murrayfield and other Centres of rugby excellence

It was not to be. One of my staff in the Earl Haig Fund was Major Simon Campbell, the manager of the Poppy Factory. I knew that Simon, a former Cameronian, had been very involved with war disabled people and he told me about the Seagull Trust. I realised what a splendid charity it was and agreed to meet someone called The Rev Hugh Mackay, our Founder. As I have a cousin called Hugh Mackay and a Regimental friend of the same name it was somewhat tricky. But we met in the Overseas Club on Princes Street and he told me of the great start that “Seagull” had made since 1978.

He was utterly charming and won me over to his suggestion that I should become a Trustee with the aim of raising funds for Seagull. Unfortunately, most ministers are not very good with money (I know; I am a son of the manse) and he omitted to inform me that the Trust was some £70,000 “in the red” and a boathouse for Kirkintilloch was building at a probable cost of £100,000.”

The Fundraising Team inevitably had a very military flavour, ‘and nane the waur o’ that’, initially comprising several senior retired officers. General Ronnie Somerville and Brigadier Nigel Stisted gave excellent advice and our star fundraiser was Colonel Claud Moir, recently retired from the Black Watch. Colonel Hamish Logan and Captain John Hewat joined later. The ladies, as usual, were a civilising influence. Gwen Little is now in her 19^th year as our most industrious helper, ferreting among Trust Directories to suss out likely sources of income. Gladys Hamilton was a most able secretary until her untimely death. Judith Stisted and Iris McBain, two Royal Scots widows, have also assisted and raised morale. We certainly were a varied team — George Reid, the Chief Steward at Murrayfield was Monday’s Duty Seagull for many years. And now we have, as our admirable Trust Hon Secretary, Jeff Middlecote after a career at the Royal Observatory, now assisted by Ann Rayner." (FC)

“Once into the office, cardboard boxes kept arriving from the Army, containing all we needed to run an office at that time: pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers, ink, sponges, sealing wax, carbon paper, sticky labels, foolscap paper, blotting paper and ever so many other things.

Everything simply slipped into place and our volunteers split into teams of 2 or more to go into the office on a weekday to send out appeal letters, duly written by Frank. These were sent to Sporting Clubs, to Grant-making Charitable Trusts, Banks, Insurance Companies, District Councils, Solicitors, Scouts and Guides and St Andrew’s Societies abroad.

Once we were settled in at the office, Frank introduced a Swear Box to raise funds locally. It turned out to be a good source of income and I couldn’t understand why, as I never saw anyone put money into it. I was quite surprised that the idea worked because, as I said, four of us were Gunners who never swear (well, not much anyway) and of course ladies never ever swear so it must have been the Infantry who were feeding the box. However the source was revealed some time later when Frank went to Holland with his beloved KOSB to meet up again with their Dutch friends. On his return to the office, I found the box contained a good lot of Dutch Florins and I am of the opinion that Frank swears to himself as he never does it outwardly!” (NS)

Although many small donations were being received, “widow’s mites” would not enable us to clear off the overdraft and then fund new vessels and reception centres. We had to target major institutions and trust funds. It would be impossible to list here all the donors to the Trust; on the other hand it would be improper not to list those who made the biggest impact and enabled us to prosper. In the early days the MacRobert Trusts, primarily an RAF charity, gave us huge financial support on the grounds that a goodly proportion of our passengers in the 70’s and 80;s would be ex-service. Since then BBC Children in Need, TSB/Lloyds, the Scottish Business Achievement Awards, and The Gannochy Trust (Gwen, any more?) have been our major supporters. The Women’s’ Sections of The Royal British Legion Scotland have been constant supporters. About a dozen charitable trusts send large donations annually and these tend to increase with inflation. Great attention was given to acknowledgements, Thank You letters and the provision of Newsletters and the Annual Report and Accounts. In recent years, the Lottery has been targeted, but with little success so far. Unlike most charities — despite regular appeals - we have had no support from central or local government. Considering that we are running a most useful public service on their behalf, this seems very disappointing.

“We would never have got going at all without the support of the Scottish Sports Council (now Sport Scotland) with whom I had served for five years on the Council. As a result, Ken Hutchison, their Chief Executive, granted us the use, rent-free, of a basement office in Queen Street and, later in Ainslie Place. Sheila Hay, one of the Council staff, gave a great deal of assistance, and we have been fortunate in recent years to have been allowed to hold our AGM in their spacious offices, Caledonia House, in South Gyle. Allan Alstead, a regimental colleague, relieved Ken Hutchison and became a Trustee. We have been lucky with our friends.” (FC)

The early days in Queen St were chaotic. We had nothing, no money, no furniture, and no office equipment — not even a pencil! Everything had to be scrounged — but as most of the team had been in the Army we were quite adept at that. The introduction of computers in the Army was a lucky break for us because the Chief Army Recruiter in Edinburgh, Colonel Euan Gordon, was at a loss to get rid of all his old office equipment. We were happy to relieve him of it, and we were in business. (FC)

The Seagull Constitution and its Office Bearers have served the Trust well. It was a wise move to entrust all the Trust monies and property into the hands of the Trustees alone; at the same time the actual running of the Trust was “devolved” (the “in” word) to the Branches who have all done a splendid job in providing free canal cruises for an increasing number of disabled and disadvantaged people in Scotland. No praise can be too high for the faithful souls who turn out in all kinds of weather on their once-a-week duty as crew members — and others to perform vital maintenance work in the off season.

In conclusion, one word of warning — sorry to end on a gloomy note. We now have six fine vessels with another on order, and three boathouses; the vessels and boathouses — like the Trustees! — are growing older and will require a lot of maintenance and eventually replacement. £40,000 for the Highland Seagull this year (a reference to the engine and replating). Who’s next? Money doesn’t grow on trees. It was an inspired idea of the Founders to make it a FREE service. Long may it continue. (FC)

The fundraising team were over time known as the "Ainsley Seaguls", "Albyn Seagulls" and "Princes' Seagulls" as the location of the office moved.

1987 No Overdraft!

Our income in 1987 was £55,000 and great rejoicing by the Finance Committee and Fund Raiser as our Bank overdraft was wiped out.

1988 BBC “Thanks a Million”

Another big day at Ratho was when the BBC sent a film crew to film for the Children In Need Appeal. It was such a lovely sunny day and the children from Graysmill School in Edinburgh who sailed on Mackay Seagull, were very good and full of excitement. The BBC showed the film on the ‘Thanks a Million’ Show programme and it was very well done. The Trust was given £5,000 from the previous year’s appeal and this film showed how we had spent the money. The Trust received some will deserved publicity.