It is indeed fortunate for charitable institutions such as the RNLI, which depend solely and wholly on donations, that members of the public keep on coming up with ingenious schemes to raise money for them.
A prime example is John Newson, from Stone-in-Oxney, who is bringing together a private hobby and passion with a scheme for the public good. From the age of sixteen he has been fascinated by British vintage motorcycles, collecting and restoring them. He is the proud owner of three Vincent machines, amongst others, and on one of these he intends to set out in June from his home, travelling from John O’ Groats to Land’s End and also taking in the most northerly, southerly, westerly and easterly points on the UK mainland. He will journey 2,500 miles in 12 days, bearing his own fuel and living costs and aiming to stay with fellow Vincent owners.
The goal of this whole enterprise is to raise much-needed money for the lifeboat station at Rye Harbour which serves everyone, locals and visitors, using the waters of Rye Bay with the aim of saving lives and rescuing those in distress.
WI’ve always dreamed of owning a Vincent” explains John, “and now I have three! I’ve been inspired by other epic motorcycle journeys, especially one by a chap in his sixties on a 1920’s Brough Superior who rode the circumference of the British Isles. I’m sixty this year and wanted to make my own journey but also do something important for someone other than me. Volunteer lifeboat crew are up against it every time they launch – that’s why I wanted to help them.”
Image Credits: kt Bruce .