Portstewart woman's 70th birthday celebrations raise £1,500 for Portrush branch of RNLI
A Portstewart woman marked her 70th birthday with a series of celebrations which raised a fantastic £1,500 for Portrush RNLI.
Maureen Davidson’s first celebration took place on October 29, 2025, when she hosted an Alphabet Party. Guests arrived in costumes from A to Z with Maureen appearing as Marilyn Monroe.
The date held special meaning as it marked 51 years since her first date with her late husband Colin on October 29, 1974.
Colin, who sadly passed away on 12 April 2021 just eleven days before his own 70th birthday, owned a boat moored in Portstewart Harbour for more than 50 years. The lifeboat was close to his heart, making this fundraising celebration a fitting tribute to his memory.
On November 15, 2025, Maureen’s close friend Jillian McCarthy hosted an Earlybird Party at the Royal British Legion in Portstewart.
Amongst the family and friends who supported the fundraising party were the Earlybird group of swimmers who, along with Maureen, take part in sea dips throughout the year.
Later in the month, Maureen travelled to Cambodia to celebrate her actual birthday on November 29, with son Alan and daughter-in-law Chen, ensuring that every family member was part of her milestone year.
Alan and Chen arrived in Portstewart for Christmas on a surprise visit from Cambodia, with Chen experiencing her first Northern Ireland Christmas and her first hailstones! They joined Maureen on Christmas morning on Portstewart Strand for the annual Freeze Knees charity swim in aid of NI Hospice.
Maureen recently presented £1,500 to the RNLI in Portrush saying: “It was the perfect end to a year of joy, giving, and togetherness.”