The King's Guide to the Sands has spoken to Beyond Radio about his life of leading people across Morecambe Bay - including those who do the cross bay walk naked!
Michael Wilson will lead a naturists' walk next month as part of his duties as the royally-appointed guide to the sands of the Bay.
It will be part of a busy year for Michael, who is set to lead 10,000 people across the sands in 2023, and is hoping to beat last year's total of £500,000 raised for charities.
He was speaking to Beyond Radio on Morecambe Promenade as he attended Sunday's celebrations to mark the coronation of King Charles III.
LISTEN to our interview with Michael Wilson, King's Guide to the Sands of Morecambe Bay (pictured below with Greg Lambert from Beyond Radio)
Michael has been in the role as the 26th King's Guide to the Sands of Morecambe Bay for seven years.
He took over from the late Cedric Robinson MBE, who he has known since he was a boy, and who he said was "a great man".
"He was a great predecessor to follow," said Michael.
"Cedric always said, 'you've got the knowledge, just look after the people'.
Cedric, who died in 2021 aged 88, is pictured below with Michael.
Michael gained that knowledge of the sometimes treacherous sands of the Bay from his years of work as a fisherman.
"My dad and grandad were fishermen, that's all we've ever done. That's all I've done since I left school. We're tractor fishermen.
"Shrimping in the River Kent, that's what's gained my knowledge to get people safely across."
Michael said he expects to guide 10,000 people across the Bay in 2023 and has already completed two walks this year.
All walks are booked up with 500 participants every weekend until September, such is their popularity.
"It's officially my job to guide anybody who needs guidance across the Bay," he said.
"We raised around £500,000 for charities last year and this year we're set to beat that.
"We've got walkers coning from all over the world, we've got some from Australia and America coming, just to walk the Bay."
Michael hasn't yet met any members of the Royal Family, but said: "You never know.
"Next year is 40 years since Cedric took the Duke of Edinburgh across the sands, so there might be something in the pipeline for that."
As for the Naturists' Walk, where people will strip off and walk across the Bay naked, that takes place on Sunday June 11.
It's the Cross Morecambe Bay Naked Heart Walk from Arnside to Grange-over-Sands, raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
"They asked me if I wanted to participate and I said no thank you, I'll gladly lead at the front!" said Michael.
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