City’s volunteers hailed as heroes of Tall Ships success
The magnificent Tall Ships fleet sailed away from Aberdeen today (Tuesday), leaving behind a wave of appreciation for the 300 dedicated volunteers who were the backbone of this year's unforgettable maritime spectacle.
Their unwavering commitment has been key to making the four-day event - returning to the city for the first time since 1997 - an outstanding success.
From welcoming visitors to helping behind the scenes, from ship liaison to assisting the media, the army of volunteers rose to the challenge with a smile.
Wearing their distinctive yellow tops, the ship liaison officers waved off the fleet from the deck of the Alexander von Humboldt II, while the red-topped volunteers gathered at the quayside to bid farewell to the international visitors.
Around 300 volunteers were appointed in April from a pool of nearly 1,400 applications. Anyone over 16 could apply and local residents answered the call with an incredible surge of support.
Around 60% were recruited from Aberdeen city with the rest hailing from outside the city. Defying the belief that all volunteers are retired, a quarter of recruits were under 40 years old - although two of the volunteers were in their 80s. Nearly 60% of the support crew was female.
The feedback from visitors and participants alike has been overwhelmingly positive, with many singling out the volunteers for their exceptional helpfulness and cheerful demeanour. As the last sails disappeared over the horizon, the tired but happy volunteers could feel the warm wave of appreciation.
“I was born and raised in Aberdeen and in those 20 years, this is probably the single biggest thing that has ever happened here. It’s been an incredible experience, and something I'll be able to carry through the rest of my life. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Aberdeen City Council Tall Ships project manager Emma Wadee said: “Our brief for the volunteers was to be the welcoming, friendly face of Aberdeen and they absolutely delivered on that. We knew they would be essential to delivering a successful festival and they really did give their all.
“The entire Tall Ships team extends its deepest gratitude to every single volunteer for bringing our community together and showcasing the region’s vibrant spirit to the world."
