Thurso RNLI station says it has lost a “family” member in fundraising stalwart, Joan Elder.
Tributes have been paid to Joan Elder, a devoted volunteer who gave many years as a “stalwart” supporter of Thurso’s football and lifeboat causes.
On Saturday, players and committee members of Thurso Football Club were joined by visitors from Bonar Bridge Football Club in observing 30 seconds of silence, followed by 30 seconds of applause, at Ham Park, Dunnet, in her memory.
A minute of silence and applause was held at Ham Park before Thurso’s league meeting with Bonar Bridge.
Her association with Thurso FC stretched back to the club’s early days in the 1990s, when she washed strips, helped with raffles and undertook the behind-the-scenes work on which the club depended.
Club secretary Iain Grant said: “Although Joan did not have a formal post or serve on the club committee, she was a loyal supporter and ever-willing volunteer, always available to help out with behind-the-scenes tasks.
Joan Elder was a long-time volunteer with Thurso Football Club.
“She faithfully washed the strip from when the club started up in 1998 until a couple of years ago.
“She would regularly do half-time raffles and help out whenever needed whether serving food and drink in the clubhouse or cleaning up at the end of a home game.
“In other words, she was the type of obliging stalwart on whom grassroots clubs depend.”
Joan was the mother of former Thurso forward and committee member Iain Elder. In a tribute, the club remembered her as a stalwart of the Vikings and said she would be sadly missed.
“She was Vikings through and through,” it said.
The teams lined up pre match for 30 seconds silence, 30 seconds applause for Thurso FC legend Joan Elder. RIP Joan. https://t.co/QMaGpo2mU4
— Thurso Football Club (@ThursoFC) October 3, 2026
The sense of loss was shared at Thurso RNLI, where Joan had been involved for around 30 years.
The station described her as a fundraising stalwart and said it had lost a “family” member.
Joan Elder has been associated with Thurso RNLI for about 30 years.
For many years, Joan managed the RNLI gift shop, taking it to public events throughout the county. Although she retired from managing the shop a few years ago, she continued to offer her help.
Her responsibilities as collection box secretary also took her across Caithness and Sutherland, emptying donation boxes to support the charity’s work.
“Joan was always happy doing voluntary work and will be sadly missed by all involved in the RNLI and the bigger local community,” the station said.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”
Joan, née Green, was a loving mother to Alistair and Iain, mother-in-law to Lynn and Darlene, and devoted nana to Michael, Carla and John.
She died peacefully after a short illness at Caithness General Hospital on September 24, aged 81.
A funeral service for Joan will take place at St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church of Scotland on Thursday, October 8, at 11am, followed by burial at Thurso Cemetery.
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