In September John Cook, honorary secretary of Claygate branch, and Dave Avey from Brighton, undertook a long, 72-mile sponsored walk around the island of Malta.

Sponsored by Monarch Airlines the two friends raised £2,700, including sponsorship of £1 per mile from TV personality Michael Aspel.

Walking 12 miles a day for six days, the couple wore Union flag shorts, and were initially upset when the locals hooted and gave them the thumbs down sign... until they met a Scotsman who asked if they were football supporters and explained that Glasgow Rangers were playing the local side. The locals mistook John and Dave for Rangers fans! The heat and bad signposting were the main problems. The back-up car, provided free of charge by Festa Car Hire of Malta, was driven by the wives and when thegoing got tough they drove ahead to find the roads. On one occasion the road no longer existed - a housing estate had been built on it! John and Dave normally undertake their sponsored walks in England, this was their fourth, and they have raised £6,369 for the RNLI so far..