Great British weather fails to prevent RNLI Yellow Welly arriving at Torbay!

Following last weekend’s cancellation, the Yellow Welly arrived to much better weather at Torbay boathouse on Tuesday 9 May to be met by RNLI volunteer crew Second Coxswain Richard Fowler, Lifeboat Mechanic Will Bower and fellow crew members James Hoare and Ian Barnaby, together with RNLI Brixham Guild Chair Lynn Spillett with her fellow Guild member and husband Mark, to welcome the Welly aboard Torbay’s all-weather lifeboat, the Alec & Christina Dykes.

Intrepid Community Fundraising Manager Ellie Walker (hereafter known as ‘Ellie of the Welly’) pledged to ensure the famous footwear would still travel through Torbay en route from Lyme Regis, towards its final destination in Harwich - and inclement weather was not going to stop her! Ellie arrived at Torbay lifeboat station having walked from Dartmouth to Brixham (making a PR stop at National Trust property Coleton Fishacre on the way) and carrying the glamorous illuminated rubber boot. After a brief stop to celebrate with a well-deserved cuppa and a photo taken aboard Torbay’s Severn Class all-weather lifeboat, she continued on her way by bicycle to Teignmouth, a (very hilly) distance of some 20 miles!

After regaining her breath, Ellie said: ‘From the outset when the Yellow Welly left Portishead (near Bristol), it has travelled all around the coast with phenomenal support from the local RNLI lifeboat stations and Guild branches. It has been a mammoth task so far, but there will be plenty more Welly Relay still happening!’ ... and with that, she was off!

This amazing relay has raised £6,340.00 to date which will be used to purchase essential kit for RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews as part of the national Mayday fundraising event. The final relay ‘runner’ will be able to hang up their boot (!) at Harwich – if you’d like to contribute to this fantastic fundraising event, please visit www.justgiving.com/maydaywellyrelay to donate.

Notes to editors

For more information on the RNLI’s national May Day fundraising day, visit: https://rnli.org/mayday

Photographs:

L-R aboard Torbay all-weather lifeboat Alec & Christina Dykes in both photos are:

Ellie Walker, Lynn Spillett, Mark Spillett, Richard Fowler (holding the Welly), James Hoare, Ian Barnaby and Will Bower

(credit: RNLI/Victoria Bowen)

Torbay Lifeboat Station Key Facts:

• Torbay lifeboat station has been operating since 1866. To learn more about the station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/torbay-lifeboat-station
• Coxswain of Torbay Lifeboat is Mark Criddle; Second Coxswain is Richard Fowler
• Further information on Torbay Lifeboat Station’s local activities can be found at: http://www.torbaylifeboat.co.uk/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rnlitorbay
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RNLITorbay

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Victoria Bowen, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07794 043 428 - [email protected], or contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Public Relations Manager (South) on 07920 818 807 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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