BURNHAM-ON-SEA’S lifeboat volunteers were visited by a retired couple undertaking an ambitious challenge for charity in a Porche 911 on Tuesday, September 2.

Recently retired couple Belinda and James Richardson, who live in London, had set themselves the challenge of driving clockwise around the whole of the British Isles and Ireland to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations in 911 hours.

To make the challenge even harder, the trip also involved driving around each of the main islands, including Shetland, Orkney, Outer and Inner Hebridies, the Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight – and even Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey.

The couple were able to drive to some of the most beautiful and diverse coastline in the UK in their challenge car, a Porche 911 named ‘Splash’. The pair are huge fans of the RNLI since owning a rigid inflatable boat on the River Thames over 20 years ago.

The start for their ambitious challenge was RNLI Morcambe lifeboat station at 9.11am on August 23, with an anticipated finish at the RNLI Peel (Isle of Man) lifeboat station on September 30 at 9.11am.

Belinda arrived at Burnham-on-Sea lifeboat station at 7.30pm on Monday, September 23, with James still on a ferry and in transit. While Belinda was there, she spoke with RNLI volunteers and presented a sponsored gift to Burnham Lifeboat Operations Manager, Matt Davies.

Belinda said: “I suppose our challenge comes down to one thing: Whilst the RNLI station locations are fabulous, the stations impressive and the boats are magnificent, it is all about the people. The people are the RNLI volunteers and the people whose lives are saved by them – extraordinary people facing extraordinary challenges in extraordinary circumstances. Ask not what the RNLI can do for you, but what you can do for the RNLI – and donate today!”