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Couple visit 100th lifeboat station in challenge

Allan Thornhill Allan and Helen Thornhill with an RNLI launch land vehicle at RNLI lifeboat station in Flint in north Wales. He is leaning outside it. She is sat in the driving seat Allan Thornhill
The Thornhills tried out a launch vehicle in Flint in north Wales on their visit

A couple from Surrey who are attempting to visit all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations have ticked off their first 100.

Allan and Helen Thornhill, from Smallfield, are raising funds for the life-saving charity which celebrated its 200th anniversary earlier this year.

On reaching their 100th site at Tower Bridge in London Mr Thornhill said they were "on target" to complete the challenge by summer 2026.

He said being out on their mission around the UK in a couple of recent named storms had been "interesting and a bit challenging".

Mr Thornhill said: "It actually focuses the mind on the conditions that the RNLI crews sometimes have to go out in."

The couple started their challenge visiting Teddington RNLI, south-west London, in June.

This autumn they have travelled to north and south Wales, south-west Scotland, north-west England, Somerset, and Gravesend and Sheerness in Kent.

Mr Thornhill said: "North Wales was a highlight with some amazing coastline and the people were really friendly."

Allan Thornhill Allan and Helen Thornhill standing outside the RNL lifeboat station in Blackpool with the seafront promenade and Blackpool tower behind them Allan Thornhill
The couple visited Blackpool in October

Mrs Thornhill added: "I really enjoyed Scotland because of the rugged coastlines and the warm welcome.

"In Portishead in Somerset we were privileged enough to see our very first Atlantic lifeboat launch of the challenge, which was so interesting."

The couple said they were taking a break over the winter months and would pick up their travels again in March, heading to Cornwall.

They hope to complete the challenge in Poole in Dorset, which is the RNLI's headquarters.

The Thornhills have so far raised more than £1,300 for the charity.

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