Fund-raisers plan to row the William Riley from Tynemouth to Whitby.

The 60-mile trip will incorporate overnight stops at Sunderland, Hartlepool and Staithes, with the boat arriving in Whitby during the town's Lifeboat Weekend.

The William Riley played a major role in the HMHS Rohilla disaster at Saltwick Nab in 1914.

The lifeboat, which was built in London in 1909, will be crewed by a charity called the Ales Angels, a group of six men including two members from Whitby – Graham Chaddock and Steve Cook, who is a boat builder.

Graham (59) said: "We are from all over really – London, York and Whitby. We have been doing lots of training and we will be joined by actor and anchorman Graham Hughes who's coming up from London. He will beat a drum at the front of the boat during the row."

Art teacher Graham, who lives in Ruswarp, said: "We are looking forward to it but with some trepidation. Despite our previous pedalo-ing and cycling fund-raisers we still see this as a fair old challenge."



In 2005 the William Riley was discovered abandoned in Devon and rescued with the aid of a National Lottery and other grants. After much hard work she was restored in Whitby gaining her seaworthy certificate last month and is now ready to go to sea.

The rowers hope to raise £50,000 which will be divided between the five stations at Tynemouth, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Staithes and Whitby.

Sandra Smith, fundraiser co-ordinator, said: "I hope the people of Whitby will get behind us to support the revival row and our annual lifeboat weekend which takes place on 12-13 July.

"Please sponsor the rowers, sponsorship forms are at Whitby Lifeboat Museum and Whitby Lifeboat Station. We hope to hit our fundraising target of £50,000.

"We have sent sponsorship packs to almost 200 Whitby businesses and people seem fascinated with what we are attempting to do."

The idea of the row came from Pete Thompson, Lifeboat Press Officer, after watching the award winning documentary Spoke on the Water about the Ales Angels pedalo-ing the length of Loch Ness.

He approached them with the idea for the row and they were very enthusiastic about doing it.

They will wear smocks, kapok lifejackets and red woolly hats which they will put on while departing from and arriving at the stations en route.

The RNLI is asking people to sponsor the rowers and forms are available from Whitby Lifeboat station.They are also looking for companies to sponsor the boat, an oar or part of the voyage.

The Whitby Gazette is running a painting competition for schoolage children who wish to send us a picture of The William Riley.

Full details of the contest will be in next week's Whitby Gazette.

Anyone who would like to support the rowers can go along to see them on the boat in Whitby or Staithes at the following times which are approximate:

Saturday 12 July the boat will arrive at Staithes at 6pm.