Local lifeboat volunteers epic trek to celebrate birthday milestone
A Portishead lifeboat stalwart is celebrating his 80th birthday by walking every single street, road, alley, track and lane in Portishead to raise funds for the town’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew.
Bob is accompanied on his challenge by Captain Flint, his trusty lifeboat teddy bear. And the pair of them have already generated considerable enthusiasm around the town for their ambitious undertaking.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support shown by those I’ve met on my travels so far,” says Bob. “It’s quite moving, really, to experience first-hand the high regard in which local people hold our volunteer lifeboat crew and their lifesaving work.”
Bob has set himself an initial fundraising target of £1,000, but he is hoping to surpass this as his walk progresses. He is also planning to give fundraising talks to local community groups, regaling them with tales from his time on Portishead’s highways and byways.
There is no record of anyone having attempted this feat before, so it is unclear how far Bob will end up walking. He estimates that it is likely to be around two hundred miles – the same as the distance from Portishead to Land’s End. It could, however, be more. But Bob is well up to the task.
“Bob’s a bit of a force of nature,” says Simon Perks, RNLI’s Portishead’s volunteer fundraising coordinator. “Having been our lifeboat operations manager during our adoption from an independent lifeboat station in to the RNLI charity, he now refuses to hang up his wellies. He’s taken on a huge challenge and we’re all rooting for him.”
Anyone who would like to support Bob’s fundraising efforts can donate via his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bobswalk4rnli And any community groups who would like to register their interest in one of Bob’s talks about his adventure can contact Simon Perks on 07903 523 839.
Images
1. Bob sets off with the support of the RNLI Portishead volunteer lifeboat crew
2. Bob with ‘Captain Flint’
3. Bob with members of the RNLI Portishead volunteer lifeboat crew
Credit for all images: RNLI Portishead
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Simon Perks, volunteer fundraising coordinator, on 07903 523 839, [email protected]
RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.
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.