Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! New fundraising Welly Trail launched by Exmouth RNLI

Now RNLI supporters, visitors and local people can explore Exmouth following the iconic yellow RNLI wellies and learn about the seventeen lifeboats that have served Exmouth RNLI in its history of saving lives at sea.

Following the success of the first Welly Trail which honoured the volunteer coxswains of the Exmouth RNLI crew over the years, the new and improved trail has been put together with the sponsorship of many local businesses. The new trail, aimed at adults and children alike, which has already raised approximately £8,900 for Exmouth RNLI, takes you on a journey around Exmouth with seventeen checkpoints to walk you through the story of the vessels used by the volunteer crews from 1803 to the present day.

The launch event invited local business sponsors of the trail to the Exmouth RNLI boathouse where they were welcomed by Geoff Mills, one of Exmouth RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew. In a presentation on the slipway alongside the Exmouth RNLI’s D-class lifeboat, George Bearman II, our sponsors received certificates in recognition of their valued support from Rob Anderson, Acting Chair of the Exmouth RNLI Fundraising committee. They were photographed with Stormy Stan, the RNLI mascot, and afterwards, refreshments prepared and served by some of the RNLI shop volunteers were enjoyed by all.

Welly trail guides can be collected from the RNLI shop at the Exmouth lifeboat station or at one of thirty venues across the town. A full list of venues can be seen at https://www.exmouthlifeboat.org.uk/the-welly-trail/. The trail concludes back at the RNLI shop where completed trail leaflets will be rewarded with a certificate and a pin badge of the iconic yellow RNLI welly.

Ian Rick, Welly Trail co-ordinator and member of the Exmouth RNLI shore crew said, “The trail takes participants around the town and does not need to be completed all in one go. However, once completed, we’d be delighted to welcome people back at the shop and hand over their reward. The reward for us is that we can continue to put those famous yellow wellies on our volunteer crews and continue with our mission to save lives at sea.”

Notes to editors

• Photo credits: RNLI/Ian Bateman

• A pair of RNLI yellow wellies worn by the volunteer crew costs £90

• Sponsorship received from business supporters has raised approximately £8,900. This is the equivalent of around 90 pairs of the iconic RNLI yellow wellies.

• For full list of sponsors please see photo in RNLI Media Centre link