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RNLI sells two Ferraris to buy Pwllheli lifeboat station

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the two Ferraris donated to the RNLIImage source, RNLI
Image caption,

Two rare Ferraris sold for 拢8.5m at auction

A new lifeboat station has been built in north Wales after a businessman left the RNLI cars worth 拢8.5m in his will.

Businessman and classic car enthusiast Richard Colton, died in 2015.

He left two rare Ferraris to the charity, which later sold for about 拢8.5m at auction - the most valuable items ever left to the organisation in a single donation.

Part of the money funded new equipment in Hastings, while 拢2.8m paid for the new station at Pwllheli, Gwynedd.

Mr Colton left the RNLI a red 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, which sold at auction for 拢6.6m, and a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, which raised 拢1.93m.

Work on the new boathouse is now complete, although Covid delayed the manufacturing of a new lifeboat - due to arrive in April.

'Humbling end to difficult year'

Pwllheli lifeboat operations manager Cliff Thomas said: "Receiving this fantastic news really was a shock. What an exceptional Christmas gift for us all.

"This latest donation really is a humbling end to what has been a difficult year for everyone."

Clive Moore, Pwllheli coxswain, said: "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 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."

The local community has also raised 拢83,000 towards the new station.

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