A FUND set up in the wake of a fishing tragedy received a boost with a special concert.

Folk rockers The Dolmen played a concert in tribute to the crew and to raise money for the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund at The King’s Arms, Weymouth, on Sunday evening.

The memorial fund, spearheaded by the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association, was set up to support the families of the crew of the Weymouth fishing boat.

The vessel went out on May 17 but did not return. During a three-day search and rescue operation the body of skipper David McFarlane, 35, was discovered, and the wreck of the Purbeck Isle was found about nine miles off Portland.

However crewmen Robert Prowse, 20, and Jack Craig, 22, are still missing.

The Dolmen played to a packed pub and generous donations rolled in to the memorial fund.

Landlord Pete Whittle said: “It was absolutely heaving. Everybody kindly donated a lot of money to the charity. You actually couldn’t get in to the pub, it was that busy.”

The Dolmen played the gig for free and the extra money went into the fund.

A special version of their hit A Fisherman’s Song was recorded and will be available to download with all the proceeds going to the memorial fund.

Colin and Grace McFarlane, Mr McFarlane’s parents, were among those at the gig.

Colin said: “The band did a wonderful set and we spoke to them afterwards. We said thank you to all of them and shook them by the hand and said thank you very much.”

At yesterday’s Quayside Music Festival a minute’s silence was held in remembrance of the three crewmen. This year’s festival is in memory of the crew and collections will be taking place across the three-day event which continues today and tomorrow.

Elsewhere more businesses have been showing their support for the memorial fund.

The King’s Arms Hotel in Dorchester has a collection tin.

Donna Rado, from the hotel, said staff had heard about the fund and wanted to help out.

She said: “We have put the tin on our front desk and we are glad to help the families.

“I can’t imagine what they have gone through. It must be really awful for them. One of our staff knew one of the fishermen so it is really close to home.

“We will just leave the tin out and hope to raise as much as we can.”

How you can donate

People should make cheque donations payable to the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund.

Cash donations or cheques can be dropped in to the Dorset Echo offices 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 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.

And donations can also be made at more than 160 locations.

If anyone would like a collection tin for their business call the Echo newsdesk on 01305 830999.

To discuss ideas with the charity, email purbeckislememorialfund@gmail.com or go to the Sailors Return, St Nicholas Street, Weymouth.