Round GB fundraiser passes through Scarborough

Harry, 23, visited the town on day 27 of his marathon cycle trek which aims to visit the UK’s 168 mainland lifeboat stations, plus Anglesey and Skye, in just 42 days.

The day began at Newbiggin, where he bivouacked by a church. Harry cycled 192 km south, calling at Blyth, Cullercoats, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Redcar, Staithes and Whitby before pulling up in Scarborough for the night.

He was met by Scarborough lifeboat’s full-time mechanic Dave Horsley, and uncle, Jim Lidgley, headteacher at Northstead School, who gave him a bed for the night.

It was the first time Harry had slept in a proper bed since leaving Wick, Scotland.

Harry, 23, said: “Having rowed around Britain last year as part of team Eve Endurow, I thought anything less than the full monty of going round again would just be underwhelming”.

Visiting only mainland lifeboat stations ensures that the journey is continuous, upholding the endurance aspect of the challenge.

He said: “Too much time sitting around on ferries to get to all the islands would make it more of a pleasure cruise. And I wanted to take on a real physical challenge.”

The formidable circumnavigation drops down to sea level to reach the stations several times a day which adds serious elevation - over 65km in total (almost eight Everests).

Harry, who lives in Cambridge, said: “My family has a sailing background, and we’ve seen the crews in action a couple of times.

“Rowing around Britain last year clearly made the RNLI an even more important presence for our team, and after various crews offered us advice and motored out to see us, it was an easy choice to support the lifeboats.”

Donations can be made online at www.Gblifeboatcycle.com, where Harry’s progress can also be monitored.