The RNLI Yellow Welly prepares for pirates and bikers in Essex

The iconic yellow RNLI welly began its adventure on Sunday 30 April when it left RNLI Portishead, just outside Bristol, and began an epic journey around the South West, South and South East coast of the country, taking in 65 lifeboat stations along the way.

During that time the boot has been conveyed by every means imaginable including RNLI lifeboats, a penny farthing bicycle, a vintage Morris Minor, a mobility scooter, a veteran bus, a tall ship and even being whisked across the water by an RNLI lifeguard aboard one of the charity’s rescue boards.

The welly’s adventure has been to raise awareness of the RNLI’s month-long Mayday campaign to raise £750,000 to fund essential kit for the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews and lifesavers.

The welly has been in East Sussex today and is now preparing to travel through Kent where it will be transported, among other things, by Rolls Royce. At 4.30pm on Sunday (May 28) the boot will be taken to the middle of the Thames estuary by the crew of the RNLI’s Sheerness lifeboat where it will be handed over to crew of the RNLI Southend lifeboat.

Then at 11am on Monday (May 29) a convoy of motorcycles will transport the welly across south east Essex to Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI lifeboat station where it is expected to arrive at 12.15pm. From there the Burnham lifeboat will take it to Bradwell Marina along the coast before it is taken out across the water to the Ross Revenge, home of the legendary pirate radio station Radio Caroline.

In the following couple of days the welly will visit its final RNLI lifeboat stations including West Mersea, Clacton and Walton and Frinton lifeboat stations, before it reaches its final destination – Harwich RNLI lifeboat station – on Wednesday 31 May.

For more details about the exact location of the welly and to arrange to take photos of the welly on route please contact RNLI Liz Craig, Community Fundraising Manager for Essex and Kent on (07585) 888415.

RNLI media contacts

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825, [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.