Dalkeith pensioner cycling the UK coast for charity that saves lives at sea
A retired schoolteacher is planning to cycle to every lifeboat station in the country as he completes a tour of the UK and Ireland’s coastline.
A sailor as well as a keen cyclist, Ian Malcolm, from Dalkeith, began his epic ride two years ago with the aim or raising £2500 for lifeboat charity RNLI.
He reckons to have ticked off more than 70 of 238 stations so far, including remote outposts on the south western and eastern coasts of Scotland.
He’s already smashed his fundraising target, raising enough money to fully equip one crew member.
The 72-year-old, who is camping out each night along the way and carrying all of his equipment and supplies on his bike, was given a warm welcome when he reached Hunstanton RNLI Station in Norfolk earlier this month.
Ian said: “Looking for a challenge to help keep me fit I decided to try to visit – over an extended period – as many RNLI stations as I can.
“I'm setting no particular time scale. It's taking me to a lot of bits of the country I'd never otherwise get to visit.
“As a sailor I'm aware that many people are still drowning. More than ever we need the RNLI’s help. It depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe.
"Very many thanks to all who have so generously helped to reach my target so quickly.”
At Hunstanton, Ian met senior helm Dave Cleland and listened into a crew briefing before lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk was launched for one of her regular Sunday exercises.
Support Ian at www.justgiving.com/page/ian-malcolm-rnli