The wife of a former Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) volunteer is marking the first anniversary of her late husband’s death with a walk to raise funds for the lifesaving charity.

Charlotte Burry is today (July 15) walking from Exmouth Lifeboat Station, where Andy Burry’s name is etched on the ‘Launch a Memory’ Exmouth lifeboat, to Teignmouth Lifeboat station, where he served as a volunteer launch authority.

Charlotte has already smashed her £1000 target to raise funds for Teignmouth lifeboat station and team with the total nearing £1500 as she set off on her walk.

Andy Burry died suddenly last year at the age of 59 just a few years after retiring from the Royal Navy where he served for 38 years. He was well known within the local community. As well as volunteering with Teignmouth RNLI, he was a volunteer groundsman at Teignmouth Cricket club.

‘Andy’s unexpected and untimely death has left a cavernous hole in so many lives, none more than mine,’ Charlotte said. ‘Although I know he will never be forgotten, it is important for me to continue to honour him in every way I can,’ she added.

Teignmouth’s volunteer lifeboat crew provides a 24-hour search and rescue service 365 days a year, but none of this would be possible without the support of the public and their donations. It costs in the region of £56,000 a year to run and maintain the service in Teignmouth, all of which comes from the generous donations of the public.

‘Andy was a big part of our lifeboat family and we will be cheering Charlotte along on her journey,’ commented a Teignmouth RNLI spokesperson.