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Julian and Debbie’s “Betty’s Grand 5p RNLI tour” reaches the halfway point

Lifeboats News Release

RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station is the 120th RNLI lifeboat station on Julian and Debbie’s grand tour. The visit marks the halfway point in their challenge to visit 240 RNLI venues within a year. During each visit the couple leave 3 Betty’s 5p pots as a small donation for the station

Debbie and Julian at Looe Lifeboat Station donating Betty’s 5p pots to Lifeboat Visits Officer, Carol Foster

RNLI/Ian Foster

Debbie and Julian at Looe Lifeboat Station donating Betty’s 5p pots to Lifeboat Visits Officer, Carol Foster

This morning, Saturday 15 June 2024, Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Visits Officer, Carol Foster and Lifeboat Press Officer, Ian Foster, welcomed Julian and Debbie to the Albatross boathouse, Looe Lifeboat Station. The couple are undertaking a “Grand Tour” by visiting all 238 Lifeboat Stations within a year in memory of two very influential RNLI supporters, Alan Perks and Julian’s father, Trevor Coles. During each visit they are donating three ‘Betty 5p’s Pots’ to every station.

Their visit to Looe marked the hallway point in their tour. Julian and Debbie explained that they are visiting 240 RNLI locations in total - the 238 lifeboat stations and the inshore lifeboat centre in Cowes. Julian and Debbie then realised Looe Lifeboat Station had featured in the recent Beyond Paradise TV series, so they decided to donate another three ‘Betty 5p’s Pots’ to RNLI Shipton Abbott Lifeboat Station, making 240 visits / donations in total.

After thanking them for this double donation, Carol and Ian showed Julian and Debbie the charity’s launch tractors and inshore lifeboats, explaining how the Talus MB4-H tractor launches the Atlantic 85 at low tide. Julian and Debbie took interest in the history behind the Old Lifeboat Station on the seafront and our current Albatross boathouse. They commented that they have been learning interesting facts about each station they visit on their tours around the UK.

Explaining why they are undertaking this challenge, Julian says ‘We intend to complete this ‘Grand Tour’ within a year, and to donate to each station 3 jars of ‘Betty’s 5ps’ which we have collected from our amazing friends and family prior to taking on our challenge, and all costs incurred during the challenge ;(accommodation, fuel, ferries, flights and time off work ) will be covered by ourselves, and will form our own donation to the fundraising. This means every single public donation will go to the RNLI.

To sponsor Julian and Debbie please have a look at https://www.justgiving.com/page/julian-coles-1701532659926

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Photos:

· Debbie and Julian at Looe Lifeboat Station donating Betty’s 5p pots to Lifeboat Visits Officer, Carol Foster
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· The idea for Betty’s 5p Pots first came from Betty Frith, who was the Honorary Treasurer for over 20 years at the Hertford branch of the RNLI. The pots are the small jam jars that you get containing breakfast jam or marmalade when you stay at a hotel or visit establishments offering breakfast or afternoon cream teas. Each empty pot can be re-labelled and used as a mini collection pot for people’s loose change of 5p’s, which are donated to the RNLI when full.

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

· In 2024, the RNLI will be celebrating 200 years - and counting, commemorating this remarkable past, celebrating our lifesaving achievements today, and inspiring a future where we can save every one. More information on RNLI 200 can be found at https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/2024

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer 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.

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 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.