Mrs Ferrier was present when 65 awards were presented to individuals and fund-raising groups at the awards ceremony held at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Scottish annual meeting at Perth Concert Hall last month.

The ceremony is part of an age-old tradition recognising the invaluable commitment of the lifesaving charity's volunteers.

Catriona has been a member of the Forfar Branch of the RNLI for over ten years and has served as its treasurer since 2001.

Last year, the branch raised over £8500 - the most ever from the small inland town.

Most of the branch's fund-raising comes from their annual buffet dance. The popularity of the food at this event is such that a cookery book produced by the ladies of the branch has almost sold out.

Catriona has, over the years, been involved in all the branch's other fund-raising events - coffee mornings, dances and ceilidhs, raffles, street collections, various stalls and Christmas events.

The members of the Forfar branch are delighted that all her hard work has been recognised with the presentation of the RNLI's bronze award.

Currently the branch has four members who have been given honorary awards from the RNLI - showing how much the charity thinks of this local volunteer fund-raising group.