A charity that provides accessible boat trips to wheelchair users and people living with disabilities in Weymouth has received a £500 donation in memory of a local fundraising stalwart.

The Weymouth and Portland Lions Club have donated £500 to M.V. Freedom in memory of the late Lion Mark Lockie. Mr Lockie was a great personal supporter of M.V. Freedom over many years.

The funds were raised from some of the donations after his funeral service in April.

Mr Lockie died aged 76 following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. 

He was a marine engineer and worked for Sealink in the 1970s then later a marine surveyor and ran his own company Dorset Marine Surveys.

Mr Lockie was involved with the Weymouth Harbour Christmas Day Swim since 1987 and took over the main organisation of the event in 1991. Even in Christmas of 2023, though very seriously ill, he was on the harbourside as usual. 

Read more: Tributes paid to Weymouth Christmas Day swim organiser

M.V. Freedom also provides Weymouth & Portland Lions Club with much-needed assistance every Christmas Day on the water in the harbour as part of the ever-popular Lions Christmas Day harbour swim.

The funds will be used to provide boat trips for local disabled adults, children, and carers throughout the year and cover other running costs that the charity might incur.