
RNLI Grand Tour Ends At Calshot
Calshot RNLI were delighted to welcome Jules and Debs at the end of their marathon eleven month tour of the UK and Ireland lifeboat stations.
In 1988 Jules’ father Trevor was a key part of the Marlborough Club that raised £10,000 for a D Class Lifeboat. When both Trevor and lifelong friend Alan Perks passed away in 2023, Jules and his partner Debs were determined to do something challenging to raise money for the RNLI.
Setting themselves a challenge to visit all 238 stations, plus the two build and repair facilities, they completed the challenge in just under 11 months, a massive achievement as they are both working and did so at weekends and in their holidays.
One of their goals was to deliver £5 of five pence pieces to each station which weighed a total of 21 Stone (294lbs) and with the help of volunteers these were duly collected.
They set a target to match the £10,000 goal that was originally raised and funded D-407 The Marlborough Club, Didcot.
After 10,500 of driven miles, 39 ferries and 10 flights, the challenge was completed, with the total amount raised being £10,053 (£11,516 including Gift Aid Contributions).
Commenting on the challenge, Jules said: ‘We were given such a fantastic welcome during every visit we made on our challenge. Whilst the boats and stations are amazing, the standout for us were the people, they are the life and soul of this wonderful organisation.’
Jules and Debs chose to launch and conclude their challenge with us at Calshot RNLI, this is as D-407 The Marlborough Club, Didcot was on station with us in 2003.
Jules and Debs, along with his uncle, Ron, joined us this week to make a very special presentation to Calshot Station. They kindly donated the remaining 5 pence pieces from their Betty’s Pot challenge, along with Euros collected in their Irish Stations visits to us, this totalled £408. Additionally, they presented a framed commemorative 200th Anniversary RNLI collection to the station.
Calshot RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Atwell said of the challenge and presentation: ‘This has been a phenomenal achievement; the sheer scale of the challenge and fundraising is off the charts. The commemorative presentation display is so special and will take pride of place on display in the station. We are massively grateful to Jules and Debs for their time, commitment and fundraising, we rely on donations to allow us to continue our life saving work.’
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
Justyn Leonard, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07540 920678 or email [email protected]
Neil Lewin, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07727 600518 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office 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
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.