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Julian and Debbie’s 'Betty’s Grand 5p RNLI tour' nears its end at Wells RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

On Monday 14 October Wells RNLI Lifeboat Station was the last Shannon class RNLI lifeboat station on Julian and Debbie’s grand tour. The visit marks the tour almost being at the finishing point in their challenge to visit 240 RNLI venues within a year.

Julian and Debbie with Wells RNLI Mechanic Martin The visit marks the tour almost being at the finishing 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.

RNLI/Jess Curtis

Julian and Debbie on their Betty’s Grand tour

During each visit the couple leave three Betty’s 5p pots as a small donation for the station. Their challenge started on 1 January 2024 at Calshot near Southampton (where D 407 finished her relief career).

Wells RNLI’s Lifeboat Mechanic , Martin Emerson and Lifeboat Press Officer, Jess Curtis, welcomed Julian and Debbie to the boathouse where they were given a tour . The couple are undertaking a “Grand Tour” by visiting all Lifeboat Stations in memory of two very influential RNLI supporters, Alan Perks and Julian’s father, Trevor Coles.

When they visited Wells-next-the-Sea station they had driven 9,700 miles, enough to travel from Oxford to New Delhi and taken 39 ferries, made 10 flights and have been away from home for more than 70 days.

Julian and Debbie set themselves the target of raising £10,000 to mirror that of an amount raised by Julian’s late father by a fundraiser in the1980s.

They also decided to collect a station lapel pin badge from every station that has its own badge, to be put in a presentation case, and auctioned at the end of the challenge.

Trevor was an ambulance man and retained fireman in the 80s and his connection with the RNLI started through his hobby of sea fishing. As president of a social club in Didcot, Oxfordshire, he instigated a fundraiser for the charity in 1988. This raised £10,000 and enabled the RNLI to put a D class lifeboat (D 407, named The Marlborough Club) into the relief fleet.

During each visit they are donating three ‘Betty 5p’s Pots’ to every station along with some treats for the crew room.

Their visit to Wells is the second to last and they will end their tour on Tuesday 15 October in Hunstanton. Julian and Debbie explained that they have visited 239 RNLI locations in total - the 238 lifeboat stations and the inshore lifeboat centre in Cowes.

After thanking them for their donation, Martin showed Julian and Debbie the charity’s Shannon class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh and inshore lifeboat Peter Wilcox.

Julian and Debbie took an interest in the history behind the Old Lifeboat Station and the current boathouse.

They commented that they have been learning interesting facts about each station they visit on their tours around the UK and have met some really fantastic people.

Explaining why they are undertaking this challenge, Julian said: ‘We intend to complete this "Grand Tour" within a year, and to donate to each station three 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.'

Julian and Debbie said: 'It has been an epic adventure seeing every class of RNLI boat, the stunning scenery and remote locations, but our enduring memories will be of the dedicated, friendly and selfless people we have met along the way.

'Coxwains, mechanics, crew, shore crew, shop volunteers, fundraisers, visits office and water safety teams truly are one team, and are the best people we’ve ever met.’

Note to editors

· 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 5ps, which are donated to the RNLI when full.

RNLI Media contacts

[email protected]

Jess Curtis: 0786020079

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.

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