Walking the pier: Lennie Denton walked up and down Southend Pier for 24 hours to raise money for a new winch to launch Southend lifeboat. He aimed to beat the world 24-hour walk record of 133 miles 21 yards but despite his cracking pace he clocked just over 70 miles in 24 hours, during which he kept walking up and down the pier 56 times, braving cramps and a cold night. Sponsorship money is still being collected but well-wishers on the pier gave £100 during the event. The new winch costs around £10,000 and was needed after the lifeboathouse was wrecked last year when the ship Kings Abbey sliced through the pier. photograph by courtesy of Evening Echo.