On 19th July 2025 members of Nith Inshore Rescue and Friends will be undertaking a Motorcycle Ride Challenge to all of the Independent Lifeboat Stations in the Southern half of Scotland. The riders will include:

Peter Bryden (Chairman / Team Leader)

Drew Stewart (Maintenance Lead)

Callum Dowell (Crew Member)

David Irving (Ambulance Technician - Scottish Ambulance Service)

Jamie Milligan (Treasurer / Crew Member)

Others will also join the journey which covers 443 miles in one day. And is as follows:

- Nith Inshore Rescue, Glencaple (leave 06:00)

> Portwilliam Inshore Rescue

> Loch Lomond Rescue Boat

> Glasgow Humane Society (worlds oldest independent lifeboat)

> St Abbs Lifeboat

> Finish at Nith Inshore Rescue

It is anticipated that with stops, rest, refreshment and refuelling, this will take approximately 12-14 hours. The journey is across a range of road classes and will includes stops at Kilwinning & Galashiels for fuel.

This is an epic journey in one day for a group of experiences riders which has never been undertaken to all of the named independent lifeboat partners.

At this time Nith Inshore Rescue is seeing the impacts of the financial climate with reduced donations for general running costs which are up to £40,000 per year.

Chairman Peter Bryden said:

“We urgently appeal to our community, individuals and businesses to support us in any way possible and help us continue our vital work. Every donation matters and has the power to save lives at sea and in our inland waters.

“We urgently appeal to our community, individuals, and businesses to support us in any way possible and help us continue our vital work. Every donation matters and has the power to save lives at sea and in our inland waters.

Nith Inshore Rescue is a Registered Charity (number SC022223), one of many independent lifeboats around the coast of Britain who are not part of the RNLI.

Our aim is to protect life and property under threat from the sea, inland water, flooding and other water related incidents in the Upper Solway and surrounding area.

To this end Nith Inshore Rescue maintains craft and equipment which are deployed, when required to do so, by the HM Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

Nith Inshore Rescue is proud to be an HM Coastguard Declared Facility.

We also work closely with a range of partners including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, RNLI, and the local Moffat & Galloway Mountain Rescue Teams.

Our service is delivered through the training and development of a highly committed cross-generational team of voluntary lifeboat crew.