Vincents victorious for RNLI Rye Harbour

Answer, on this occasion, intrepid local vintage motorbike enthusiast ‘Gypsy’ John Newson who recently completed a fund-raising ride in support of the RNLI, going as far east, north, west and south as he could on the UK mainland. His target was to raise £1,000 but in the end he managed four times that amount.

The trip certainly had its moments – a tyre blow-out twenty miles north of Fort William in Scotland, for one. Then on the journey south back into England an engine rattle on John's Vincent Rapide became engine failure requiring a top-end rebuild. Not fazed, he quickly returned home to Stone-in-Oxney, picked up his other Vincent, a Black Shadow, was transported back to the sport where his first bike had failed and continued on his quest.

'It was,' said John, 'a wonderful experience not short of heart-stopping moments and adventures. I set out on a Vincent and I returned on a Vincent – but not necessarily the same one!'

'At times – in the Highlands of Scotland, for example, it could be lonely, just me, the bike and the road from nine in the morning to six at night, but I met some great, generous people who completely understood why I was out there raising funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.’

Paul Bolton, Lifeboat Operations Manager at the station commented 'Well done, John and a BIG thank you from RNLI Rye Harbour: it is because of people like you and your dedication that the RNLI thrives today.’

RNLI Media contacts

· Martin Bruce, Rye Harbour RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer (07789) 818878 [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

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

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

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.