Surrey couple visit 164 RNLI lifeboat stations

The couple boarded the lifeboat at RNLI Buckie in north-east Scotland

A couple from Surrey, who are on a two-year mission to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland, have completed more than two thirds of their challenge.

Allan and Helen Thornhill, from Smallfield, are raising funds for the 200-year-old life-saving charity.

They have visited 164 locations since June 2024 and plan to finish at the RNLI's headquarters, Poole in Dorset, in summer 2026.

Mr Thornhill said: "It's a great milestone to have reached and it makes the finish line seem in sight."

The couple started their challenge visiting Teddington RNLI, south-west London, on 1 June 2024.

In 2025 they have so far visited Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Northumberland, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire as well as eastern Scotland and Orkney and Shetland.

Mr Thornhill said: "The highlight for me was visiting the most northerly lifeboat station in the UK in Shetland.

"Longhope in Orkney was also stunning with a turquoise blue sea."

He added: "The Cornwall coast was also absolutely spectacular - one of most attractive we have visited so far."

The couple visited the RNLI lifeboat station in Fowey in Cornwall

Ms Thornhill has a fear of flying and had not been on a plane for 15 years.

That all changed when the sea was too rough to travel to the Scilly Isles and they had no choice but to go by air.

She said: "I don't really remember the flight as I had my eyes shut and was crying my eyes out."

The pair have been undertaking their charity challenge in holidays from their jobs.

Ms Thornhill said: "Pembrokeshire was stunning. When we arrived in Cardigan we actually witnessed the lifeboat launch on a rescue.

"They successfully towed a small boat back to harbour.

"It made us realise what our challenge is all about."

The couple hit their original fundraising target of £2,380 in June and now aim to double that by the end of the challenge.