Woman Spends 24 Hours Alone on Tiny Welsh Island And Vows ‘Never Again’

A Welsh woman, Di Mills, took on the challenge of spending a night on the rocky islet of East Mouse off the Anglesey coast to fundraise for the preservation of a historic RNLI boathouse in Porth Llechog (Bull Bay). Here’s a recap of this daring adventure:

• Di Mills, a 65-year-old yoga teacher and school bus driver from Rhosybol, Anglesey, stayed on the tiny uninhabited East Mouse for 24 hours.
• She endured harsh weather conditions with gale winds, rain, and noisy seagulls during her solitary stay on the rocky islet.
• Di embarked on this challenging fundraiser to support the community in their effort to purchase the old RNLI boathouse and transform it into a community center.

Di’s night on East Mouse was far from comfortable. Unable to pitch a tent due to the rocky terrain, she camped under an umbrella. Despite her visibility from Amlwch, she was truly alone on the islet except for the screeching gulls. The weather, coupled with the island’s less-than-pleasant conditions, made for a tough experience.

“The island is actually covered in poo,” Di shared. “The smell was unbelievable.”

Upon her return after 24 hours, Di was welcomed ashore by members of the Trireme Ynys Mon Rowing Club, who stood guard with oars in hand. Her experience mirrored that of Doreen Glennard over four decades ago, who was the original East Mouse castaway, fundraising for boathouse repairs.

• The community aims to raise £100,000 to purchase and renovate the old RNLI boathouse.
• An anonymous benefactor has stepped in to offer a loan to kickstart the purchase.
• The boathouse, an integral part of Bull Bay’s history, is at risk of being acquired by property developers and turned into a holiday rental.

The villagers are determined to preserve this piece of their heritage. They envision turning the boathouse into a vibrant community hub hosting various events such as food fairs, craft activities, Welsh classes, and more. Fundraising efforts are underway to secure the remaining funds needed to save the boathouse from private ownership.

“It’s one of the last original lifeboat houses on the island and it’s been part of the community for more than 150 years, and we want to keep it that way,”

said Wendy Steele, a member of the boathouse appeal committee.

Di’s determined effort has spurred the community’s fundraising drive, bringing them closer to their goal of preserving this historic landmark for future generations.