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Monster Lobster
MONSTER LOBSTER RAISES £770 FOR SICK KIDS FRIENDS FOUNDATION
A giant lobster nicknamed 'Larry' and caught by Newhaven fishermen brothers Robbie and David Brand in the Inner Forth has raised a fabulous £770 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.
Larry-the-Lobster was caught last Thursday coming in at a colossal 3ft long and 4-kilos. He proved the biggest lobster landed in the Brand brother's 40 year fishing career, and once delivered to Stockbridge fishmonger, Armstrongs of Edinburgh, proved a star attraction in the window, pulling in punters happy to pay to have their picture taken with him.
Fishmonger Gaven Borthwick takes up the tale. He said: "As soon as Robbie and David brought the lobster in, I decided that we'd auction it off to the highest bidder and we asked people for donations to have their picture taken with the catch of the decade until the bid deadline.
"The boys believed the lobster to have been about thirty years old and he is the biggest lobster catch in the Forth for a long time. Lobsters of this size are common in the warmer waters of the Atlantic but not in the cold Forth - so Larry was quite a surprise.
"It's true to say that lobster caught the eye of many passing customers and regulars who were happy to pose for a picture and pay a donation to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation for the pleasure. The winning bidder proved very generous. Although I'm sure Larry would have made a very worthy meal for many friends!"
Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, was intrigued and delighted to hear of Larry's initial catch and final haul which brought in £770.
She said: "In 13 years at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, this is without doubt one of the most unusual fundraising contributions I have ever seen. We are really grateful to Gavin and everyone at Armstrongs, and David and Robbie Brand, who caught the lobster and kindly agreed to donate it, everyone who had their picture taken with Larry and the winning bidder whose employer has also made a contribution making the total even more than we thought at the start of the week. Thank you for helping to make Sick Kids better. The funds will be divided between A&E and Ward 6 as Gavin has requested."
