Porsche 911 Challengers visit Barmouth RNLI
Belinda and James Richardson, a retired couple from London, visited Barmouth Lifeboat Station on Monday 18 September in their Porsche 911 on their way around Britain raising funds for the RNLI.
The Richardsons have been fervent supporters of the RNLI since owning an inflatable on the Thames over 20 years ago. They are driving around the British Isles and Ireland in their Porsche 911, visiting all 238 RNLI Lifeboat Stations within 911 hours and hope to raise £238 per lifeboat station making a total of £56,644!
The couple set off from Teddington RNLI lifeboat station at 9.11am on Monday 23 August 2018 and are aiming to finish their journey at Tower RNLI, London on Sunday 30 September 2018 at 8.11am.
At each station they ask the crew to tie any type of marine knot in a one metre length of thin blue rope. The Barmouth crew’s was a ‘Bowline on a Bight’ which will finally adorn a three metre high map of the British Isles with each knot indicating its station.
They carried with them a letter from HRH the Duke of Kent’s Office at St James’ Palace endorsing the couple’s efforts on their commendable initiative. The Duke has been President of the RNLI for over 50 years and visited Barmouth in 1978 when the 150th anniversary of the Barmouth station was celebrated.
His Royal Highness also sent good wishes to all RNLI volunteers and staff and thanked them for their ‘ongoing selflessness, dedication and professionalism’.
Rob Williams, Coxswain Mechanic of Barmouth RNLI, met the couple on their visit and said:
‘It was a pleasure to meet James and Belinda and we are looking forward to them completing their journey at Tower Lifeboat Station on the 30 September. We wish them a safe passage and would like to thank them and all those who are supporting them in their challenge.’
Donations to the RNLI 911 Challenge can be made online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnli-911challenge More details of the RNLI Challenge can be found at: http://www.rnli-911challenge.co.uk/
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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