Lake District challenge for William Riley

The following information was published detailing the recent successful fundraising venture undertaken by the Whitby Historic Lifeboat Trust and the former Upgang lifeboat William Riley and is reproduced with grateful permission by the Whitby Gazette

Published: Thursday 15 September 2011 11:38

A TEAM of Whitby men raised more than £6,000 by completing the gruelling Three Lakes Challenge in Whitby’s historic old lifeboat.

Twenty men rowed the 102-year-old William Riley across Ullswater, Coniston and Windermere to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance.

The team was made up of men from all over, including one from South Korea, and included Whitby trio Paul Headlam, Roger Turton and John Scott.

Organiser Paul Headlam said: “We had great weather, made many new friends and most importantly raised a lot of money for a service that is used frequently in our area.

“The William Riley was built in 1909 to save lives and it is nice to think that it is still doing that by raising money for the likes of the air ambulance and the RNLI.”

The Whitby Historic Lifeboat Trust who organised the fund-raiser would like to thank all the people who took part and supported the event.

Special thanks have been given to Ripon Land Rovers who supplied the towing vehicle, and the support from The Board Inn, the Hare and Hounds in Hawsker, the Whitby Licensed Victuallers’ Association, Arthur and Angie McGill and the villagers of Sneaton.

The William Riley, continues to make an excellent platform for fundraising events and one that seems to have a successful future.