SHOPS, charitable organisations and churches have been rallying round to support a fishermen’s memorial fund.

Donations have been pouring in to the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund which was set up in the wake of the tragic loss of the Weymouth fishing boat Purbeck Isle.

The boat, with three crew onboard, went out on May 17 but never returned. The body of the skipper David McFarlane, 35, was discovered during a three-day rescue mission as was the wreck of the boat, but crewmen Robert Prowse, 20, and Jack Craig, 22, are still missing.

The memorial fund was set up in the wake of the tragedy by the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association with the aim to help the families and children of the three men.

Fund organisers have said that they have already received a ‘considerable amount’ in donations.

Melcombe Hope Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes donated £50 to the cause.

Secretary Brian Stevenson said: “We have only six members in our lodge and we heard about it and read about it and voted.”

Mr Stevenson said the lodge didn’t have a lot of money but said it wanted to help out.

He said: “We realise £50 isn’t a lot but it’s better than nothing.”

He added: “If it’s for local needs or local charity we like to help out.”

The Prayer House on Newstead Road in Weymouth did an offering for the fund and raised £220.11.

Pastor Paul White said that people wanted to help the families.

The 99p Store in St Thomas Street, has seen donations flooding in as people have been giving their change to the cause.

Manager Malcolme Collins said the collection was going ‘quite well’ and people had been putting their change into the pot.

He said: A lot of fishermen come in and use the store and it’s giving back to the community.

How you can give

PEOPLE can donate to the fund in more than 160 places in Dorset including Weyfish, Weymouth Angling Centre, Weymouth Beach Cafe, The Sailors Return, The King’s Arms, Nothe Tavern, The Orange Cider Bar, and The Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton.

People can also send cash or cheques marked Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund to the Dorset Echo offices either on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth, Antelope Walk in Dorchester or East Street in Bridport.

Or they can be posted to Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund Appeal, Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD.

Anyone wishing to pay by credit card can do so at dorsetecho.co.uk/donate.

If you would like to discuss fundraising ideas with the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association then you can email them at purbeckislememorialfund@gmail.com or go to the Sailors Return, St Nicholas Street, Weymouth.