'I spent 24 hours cast away on tiny North Wales island - and it was truly scary'

Di picked a lofty perch to keep away from sea spray
-Credit: (Image: Luke Roberts)


An Anglesey woman went the extra mile to help ensure a treasured village building is not turned into a holiday let. Fundraiser Di Mills spent 24 hours on a rocky islet off the Anglesey coast – and vowed never to return again - "even if someone offered me £10,000!”

In a tearful video filmed after making it through the night, clearly shaken by her ordeal, the unlikely castaway described being buffeted by wind, rain and “seagulls like dinosaurs” on the tiny uninhabited island. “That was scary for me,” she said. “I’m not very good in the dark.”

Di, a yoga teacher from Rhosybol, arranged the stunt to raise funds for the Porth Llechog (Bull Bay) boat house near Amlwch. The former RNLI lifeboat house, built in 1867, had launched 41 rescues, saving 63 lives, but was in danger of being lost as a community asset.

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Fearing it falling into the hands of property developers, campaigners need to raise money to acquire the building – and Di was determined to do her bit. After a postponed attempt, she this week made it out to East Mouse, a spartan 1.5-acre rocky islet devoid of plants a few hundred metres off Amlwch (its Welsh name is Ynys Amlwch).

It was the scene of Porth Llechog lifeboat station’s most famous rescue when, in 1877, a boat went to the aid of the SS Dakota, a passenger liner sailing from Liverpool that had run aground on the rock. The station remained in service until June 1924.

Di's arrival on East Mouse wasn’t without mishap. “The sea was very choppy and as I embarked on the island I did the splits and fell in, so that wasn’t the best of starts,” she told BBC Wales. “It was a typical Bridget Jones entry onto the rock.”

Until rain arrived in the early hours, the night sky was mesmerising, she said. Di, who also works as a school bus driver, camped under an umbrella as East Mouse is too rocky to peg down a tent. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

Sheltering from the wind
Sheltering from the wind -Credit:Luke Roberts
Di's East Mouse base camp
Di's East Mouse base camp -Credit:Luke Roberts

Not that a tent would have been much use. “There’s only one flat bit on the rock where you can sit,” she said. “It’s like slices all over the islet, there’s nowhere comfortable to sit.”

Although her lights could be seen at night from Amlwch, Di was very much alone on the islet other than screeching gulls. Wind and rain made for a less-than-comfortable night – but the weather was far from the worst part. “

The island is actually covered in poo,” she said. “The smell was unbelievable.” Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday

Just yachts and birds for company
Just yachts and birds for company -Credit:Luke Roberts
At night, in pitch darkness, Di huddled under her umbrella. Her lamp could be seen from the mainland, letting everyone know she was OK
At night, in pitch darkness, Di huddled under her umbrella. Her lamp could be seen from the mainland, letting everyone know she was OK -Credit:Luke Roberts

After 24 hours on the rock, she returned to a hero’s welcome. At Porth Llechog, members of the Trireme Ynys Mon Rowing Club formed a shoreline guard of honour with their oars. Waiting to greet her was the only person who knew exactly the miseries Di had endured.

Some 41 years ago, Doreen Glennard became the original East Mouse castaway when spending 24 hours on the islet, to raise funds for boathouse repairs. “This was obviously before mobile phones,” said Wendy Steele, a member of the boathouse appeal committee.

“She really was all alone, apart from the ship-to-shore radio she was given for emergencies only.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

When Di was collected off the islet, she vowed never to repeat the experience
When Di was collected off the islet, she vowed never to repeat the experience -Credit:Luke Roberts
East Mouse lies a few hundred metres off the Anglesey mainland. Di's campsite is circled
East Mouse lies a few hundred metres off the Anglesey mainland. Di's campsite is circled -Credit:Luke Roberts

A total of £100,000 is needed to buy and renovate the old boathouse and an anonymous benefactor has agreed to loan money up front. Sale completion is possible later this month, after which campaigners will have a year to find money to repay the loan.

Appeal organisers have been fundraising for six months already. “We wanted to have a running start,” said Wendy. “The worry is that developers will step in to buy the boathouse, do it up and sell it on as a holiday home for a vast profit for someone to stay there just a few weeks each year.

"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. If we’re successful, it will be the last building in Bull Bay not in private ownership.”

The old Bull Bay boathouse in its RNLI heyday
The old Bull Bay boathouse in its RNLI heyday -Credit:RNLI
How the boathouse looks now. Campaigners plan a full restoration
How the boathouse looks now. Campaigners plan a full restoration -Credit:Google

For the last 20 years, the building has mostly been used for storing boats and the rowing club’s equipment. Villagers are keen to see it returned to its former glory.

“It’s been rendered, which looks awful,” said Wendy. “Most people in the village have never seen inside it but old photos show the interior as timber-clad – it was absolutely beautiful.

“It’s a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside, so we’re aiming to establish it as a community hub. Everyone wants a cafe there but we’d also like to use the space for food fairs, craft events, Welsh classes and so on. We may even be able to put in a mezzanine level.”

More details about the appeal, and how to donate, can be found here. Would Di do it again? “I’m happy that I achieved it," she said. "But if someone offered me £10,000 to do another night, I wouldn’t do it.”

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