ON Saturday Will Bishop joined volunteers at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station as he began his walk of the South West Coast Path where he plans to visit to each Lifeboat Station along the route.

The following day on Sunday Teignmouth RNLI were thrilled to welcome back Bill Folley after sailing around the UK.

Will Bishop began his journey along the South West Coast Path at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station, for the first leg he walked to Brixham where he visited Torbay Lifeboat Station.

Will intends to visit all 21 stations on the SW Coast Path over the next 12 – 18 months, when asked why he wanted to undertake the challenge has said that he ‘was inspired by his son and daughter, aged eight and six, when they raised £460 by walking from their home in Kingsteignton to the lifeboat station in Teignmouth’.

The following day on Sunday Bill Folley who, after 529 miles and 128.5hrs of sailing, returned to Shaldon after completing his journey around the UK.

The William Folley Gulliver Circumnavigation of the UK 2022 started on June 20 from Shaldon and went clockwise around the UK.

Unfortunately, the trip wasn’t free of flaws, engine failure near Grimsby required Bill to call the Coastguard and request assistance from the RNLI, the Humber lifeboat were quick to respond, coxswain Joe and the rest of the volunteer crew towed Bill safely into Grimsby.

Bill carried on the trip with just the one engine, stopping later at Newhaven to get repairs. Peter Leonard repaired the boat and from there Bill travelled to Lymington and then the final 81 miles back home were completed on Sunday 13th November.

This has been a challenge which Bill had wanted to do for some time and is now complete speaking of the experience Bill said that it was ‘fantastic at times, not so great at others’.

Teignmouth RNLI would like to thank Bill for choosing to undertake this challenge whilst raising funds to help save lives at sea. His support for the wonderful achievement has so far raised more than £4,500.