RNLI sells two Ferraris to buy Pwllheli boathouse

An early Christmas present anyone would wish for, the RNLI volunteer crew received the most valuable gift ever left in a single legacy.

The Pwllheli RNLI volunteer crew will soon be moving into a new boathouse, thanks to the generous legacy of Richard Colton, a businessman and classic car enthusiast. Mr Colton left a fantastic gift to the RNLI in his will in the form of two rare Ferraris.

Both Ferraris were sold at auction raising over £8.5m for the RNLI. The extraordinary gift of two Ferraris left by Mr Colton happened to be two of the world's rarest Ferraris. At the auction, a 1960 red Ferrari 250 GT SWB sold for £6.6m and a silver 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 sold for £1.93m.

Part of the money raised also funded new equipment for the all-weather lifeboat and the launch and recovery system for the lifeboat at Hastings. £2.8m of the funds raised will support the RNLI volunteering crew move into their new home.

The local community has also raised a massive £83,000 towards the new build, selling bricks which make up a special commemorative wall at their station.

Cliff Thomas, Operations Manager, said: “Receiving this fantastic news really was quite a shock, what an exceptional Christmas gift for us all! Seeing the boathouse build develop over the year and the support we've had for the community appeal in these challenging times has been inspiring."

"I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and for whatever they have given to support us, however big or small. It really is appreciated."

Clive Moore, Pwllheli coxswain, commented: "We are a small Welsh station and the move to the new building and site will mark a significant period in the history of the station. I have a keen interest in classic cars and I find it remarkable and very humbling that a gentleman who had no seafaring connection should have the desire to support the RNLI through the sale of his treasured cars, and that we should now benefit at Pwllheli as a consequence of his generosity."