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THELIFEBOAT

Autumn 1979

/^( j .̂ Notes of the Quarter, by Patrick Howarth 183

To all lifeboat supporters: messages from His Grace the Duke of Atholl,Chairman of the Committee of Management, and Rear Admiral Wilfred i.

_ -, -, •* T-T i TT Graham, CB MNI, Director of the Institution 184Volume XLVINumber 469 Llfeboat Services 185

Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards 190

Fastnet Race Storm 195Chairman:THE DUKE OF ATHOLL Week's Good Cause, by Coxswain Derek Scott, BEM 195

Director and Secretary: Women's Work, by Ray Kipling 196REAR ADMIRAL W. J. GRAHAM, CB MNI

Channel Islands, by Joan Davies 198

Naming Ceremonies: Eastbourne and Islay 203Managing Editor:PATRICK HOWARTH How sdling souvenirs and gifts buys lifeboats 204

JOAN"DAVIES Some Ways of Raisin8 Monev 205

Shoreline 208Headquarters:Royal National Life-boat Institution, Book Reviews 209West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH151HZ (Telephone Poole 71133). Letters 210Telex: 41328

Offshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1979 213

London Office:Royal National Life-boat Institution, Inshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1979 21421 Ebury Street, London SW1W OLD(Telephone 01-730 0031). Index to Advertisers 216

COVER PICTURE

Superintendent Coxswain Brian Sevan ofHumber lifeboat station, the first lifeboat-man to receive the gold, silver and bronzemedals for gallantry at the same annualpresentations of awards meeting. He wasawarded the gold medal, and his crew wereawarded bronze medals, for the service toRevi on February 14, 1979; he was awardedthe silver medal, and his crew wereaccorded the thanks of the Institutioninscribed on vellum, for the service to DianaV on December 30, 1978; and he wasawarded the bronze medal for the service toSavinesti on February 15, 1979, when thesilver medal for gallantry was awarded toCoxswain David Cox of Wells lifeboat. Thephotograph was taken by Margaret Murray.

Editorial: All material submitted forconsideration with a view to publica-tion in the journal should be addressedto the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, RoyalNational Life-boat Institution, WestQuay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ(Telephone Poole 71133). Photographsintended for return should be accom-panied by a stamped and addressedenvelope.

Next issue: the winter issue of THELIFEBOAT will appear in January andnews items should be sent by the end ofOctober. News items for the springissue should be sent in by the end ofJanuary.

Advertisements: All advertisingenquiries should be addressed toDyson Advertising Services, PO Box 9,Godalming, Surrey (TelephoneGodalming (04868) 23675).

Subscription: A year's subscription offour issues costs £1.40, including post-age, but those who are entitled toreceive THE LIFEBOAT free of chargewill continue to do so. Overseas sub-scriptions depend on the cost of post-age to the country concerned.

Printers: The Friary Press, Dorchester,Dorset.

181

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182

NOTES OFTHE QUARTER

by Patrick Howarth

THREE LIFEBOAT STATIONS have

recently been re-opened. One of theseis Fraserburgh, the station which suf-fered two major disasters in less than20 years and from which the lifeboatwas withdrawn after the 1970 disaster.The boat which will be permanentlyallocated to Fraserburgh, R. HopeRoberts, is of the 48ft 6in Solent classand was formerly stationed at RosslareHarbour.

Brighton now has an Atlantic 21lifeboat on service. The station wasclosed temporarily until suitable berth-ing facilities were available in the newBrighton marina. A D class inflatableILB is now in service at Hunstanton.

All three stations have long histories.Fraserburgh was established in 1831,and it is known that there werelifeboats at both Brighton and Hunt-stanton before 1825.

New RNLI ChairmanAfter four highly successful years as

Chairman of the RNLI Major-General

(Below) Members of The Mumbles crew meet Dan A. Colussy,President of Pan American World Airways which flew them toNew York to take part (right) in the Harbor Festival. (I. to r.)Tony Lewis, Arthur Eynon, Carl Smith, Bob Garner and GaryRidd.

When Dr Donald Coggan,Archbishop of Canterbury,and his wife paid an informalvisit to Whitstable ILB sta-tion on July 27, they wentout in the Atlantic 21 andHis Grace took the wheel.Since the founding of theInstitution in 1824, eachArchbishop of Canterbury inturn has been a vice presi-dent of the RNLI

photograph by courtesy ofC. P. Nelson

Ralph Farrant has retired. His succes-sor, the Duke of Atholl, has a wideknowledge of the work of the Institu-tion, having served as a member of theCommittee of Management for 20years. He is particularly knowledge-able about fund raising in Scotland andpublic relations generally. He wasConvener of the Scottish LifeboatCouncil from 1965 to 1975 and has beenchairman of the Public RelationsCommittee of the RNLI ever since itwas founded.

Lt-Cdr P. E. C. Pickles, for manyyears chairman of Scarborough branch,remains one of the Deputy Chairmen.The other Deputy Chairman is Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Compston, thechairman of the Fund Raising Commit-tee, whose many visits to branches andconduct of numerous district confer-ences has made him widely known toand warmly liked by large numbers ofvoluntary workers.

National Lifeboat MuseumThe RNLI has agreed to the estab-

lishment of a national lifeboat museumin Bristol provided the necessary funds

photographsby courtesy ofPAN AM.

can be raised. The proposal is to housethe museum in a building on the site ofthe old Patterson's shipyard whereBrunei's Great Western was built. It isonly a short distance from the dry dockwhere Brunei's ss Great Britain isalready on display.

The chairman of the museum's trus-tees is Peter Elliot. Bristol City Councilhas given its support to the project.

The sum required to put the museuminto full operation is £140,000 and it isintended to raise this without detrimentto general fund raising for the RNLI.The RNLI's organising secretary forthe South West, Cdr Peter Sturdee, hasbeen associated with the project fromthe outset and when the museum is selfsupporting its profits will be donated tothe RNLI.

Lifeboatmen row in New YorkThrough the generosity of Pan

American World Airways a crew fromthe Mumbles lifeboat station was ableto take part in the New York HarborFestival rowing races on July 1. The

continued on page 184

183

To all lifeboat supporters . . .. . .from His Grace The Duke of Atholl

new Chairman of the Committee of Management

IT GAVE ME great pleasure to be electedChairman of the Institution at the meet-ing of the Committee of Managementon June 28 in succession to Major-General Ralph Farrant. As I am sure

you are all aware, he has left theInstitution in excellent shape and all Ihave to do is to keep up the momen-tum; I do, therefore, ask you to give methe same support that you have givenGeneral Farrant; this should enable usto raise the huge amount of moneyrequired each year to keep the Institu-tion at its present high standard (about£10m is needed this year), to make surethai our crews have the best boats andequipment available, and to deploythem as efficiently as possible. This,plus knowing the vast amount of sup-port they receive from you and all

members of the public, keeps theirmorale and enthusiasm at a very highlevel.

I look forward to visiting as manybranches and guilds as possible duringmy term of office, and to thankingmany of you personally for all yourhard work.

. . . from Rear Admiral Wilfred}. Graham, CB MNInew Director and Secretary of the Institution

i SHOULD LIKE to thank all those read-ers of THE LIFEBOAT who have writtento me and sent me their good wishes asI start my new job as the Director andSecretary of the Royal National Life-boat Institution. And I also thank allthose of you at lifeboat stations,branches and guilds who came along tomeet me when I paid my brief first vis-its around the country. Time preventedme from visiting many places.

I want to pay a special tribute to JohnAtterton, the Deputy Director, who hasacted as Director for over six monthsthis year and whose friendship, helpand wise counsel have been invaluableto me.

In my very short time with the RNLII have learnt a number of things—but I

have also learnt that there is still a greatdeal to learn.

First and foremost, my job must beto ensure that everything connectedwith putting the lifeboats to sea is infirst class order—that includes themen, their training, health and welfare,the boats, their design, constructionand equipment and all the supportwhich is needed to keep the service intip top condition.

Next is the vital question of money.And of course to carry out the first partof my job—putting the lifeboats tosea—we need a lot of money. Every-thing costs more every year. We areliving in inflationary times and so weare always looking for more money. Iam already quite delighted and amazedat the enthusiasm and dedication of allthose who support the RNLI. Fundraising is one obvious form of supportbut there is also another 'support' inthe form of good will and a helpfulattitude. I have found a wealth of suchsupport wherever I have been all overthe country.

I am firmly convinced that the RNLIis a unique 'charity' in that it provides

an essential service to the community.No other charity is quite in this categ-ory. I hope it will stay that way and Iam certain that we shall be able to con-tinue to thrive as long as we go on get-ting the support we do from lifeboatpeople all over Great Britain and theRepublic of Ireland. We are giving ourcountrymen very good value formoney.

I am anxious that the Institutionshould not just move with the times butthat it should continue to be the pacesetter in the business of saving life atsea. This has been its hallmark since itsearliest days. Today we have in theArun, the Atlantic 21 and our othermodern lifeboats superb craft to take usalong towards the twenty-first century.But technology moves fast and wemust make use of every worthwhilenew idea so that we can continue tomake sure that every pound we raise isreally well spent.

Notes of the Quarterfrom page 183

crew acquitted themselves with distinc-tion in spite of the fact that two of themembers were in their 50s. Rowing anunfamiliar type of craft known as aMonamoy, they won their heat againsta formidable crew representing the USNational Maritime Union. In the finalthey came second, being beaten onlyby a highly trained young crew repres-enting the Seafarers International

Union. A crew from Queen Elizabeth IIcame third.

The crew were accommodated bythe festival authorities. The visit wasdesigned to promote the efforts of theAssociation for the Rescue at Sea inraising funds towards the provision of anew lifeboat for the RNLI.

The day before they left for NewYork the Mumbles crew attended areception held in aid of the Ameri-can/British Lifeboat Appeal in theTower of London, which raised morethan £1,300.

Exhibition Director retiresA man who has served the RNLI

well in his capacity as ExhibitionDirector for National Boat Shows,Alan Jones, has retired. Ever since thefirst National Boat Show was held inLondon the organisers have given theRNLI free space for exhibiting either alifeboat or putting up a stand, and AlanJones himself has helped the RNLI ininnumerable ways. In 1973 the RNLIawarded him a statuette for outstandingservices in the field of public relations.We wish him well in his retirement.

184

South Eastern Division

Twenty rescuedCAPE COAST, a 2,650 ton Panamaniancargo vessel, broadcast on Channel 16VHP at 0327 on Wednesday January 10that she was in distress and takingwater in her engine room; she was 2.2miles from Nab Tower on a bearing of121°. HMS Eskimo was in the vicinity,heard the broadcast and reported thatshe was making for the casualty at bestpossible speed. Cape Coast then sent asecond radio message saying that shehad an increasing list to starboard andthat there were 20 people on board.

A mayday relay was sent out at 0335which was answered by a French ves-sel, Montlhery; she reported that shewas 3.6 miles from the casualty andmaking for her. Selsey lifeboat wasplaced on stand by.

Twenty minutes later Cape Coastreported that, as her anchor was notholding in the southerly storm force 10winds and she was drifting, sheintended to put a liferaft over the sidefor her crew to abandon ship. In viewof the extremely severe sea conditionsand the darkness, however, HMSEskimo, assigned the duties of on scenecommander, advised her not to attempteither to launch a liferaft or to abandonship.

At 0400 Eskimo reported that the seaconditions were so severe that shecould not launch her seaboat and askedfor the help of a lifeboat. ShorehamCoastguard telephoned the honorarysecretary of Selsey lifeboat station andat 0410 Selsey's 48ft 6in OakleyCharles Henry launched down herslipway into a southerly wind recordedon the lifeboat station anemometer as63 knots (violent storm, force 11) givingvery rough seas and heavy swell. It wasone hour after high water on a bitterlycold morning.

Coxswain Michael Grant cleared theslipway and reduced speed to allow thecrew to ship the VHP and radar aerials.Once this task, made very difficult bythe rough sea and strong wind, wascompleted Coxswain Grant ordered allhis crew into the wheelhouse and set acourse of 175° to clear the Mixon rocksat best possible speed. The Mixon, notsighted except by radar because of thesevere weather, was cleared at 0425and a course of 255° set to pass through

the Looe channel. At the west end ofthe shallow Looe the channel buoyswere not sighted but a clearing bearingwas obtained by radar from the shore.

Almost immediately after taking thisfix the lifeboat was hit by three hugesuccessive breaking seas, the first ofwhich flung the lifeboat upwards clearof the water and then sent her crashingdown into a great trough where shecame up all standing. The height of thewaves was judged to be some 30 to 35feet. Speed was reduced but thelifeboat continued to be pitched andpounded heavily.

Charles Henry, reaching Cape Coastat about 0520, found that her deckswere being swept continuously by hugewaves and that she was dragging heranchor. Two liferafts which had beeninflated were blowing around in the rig-ging like kites. At 0540 Montlhery,unable to offer further help, resumedher passage to Southampton. After dis-cussions between the captain of HMSEskimo, Coxswain Grant, the Coast-guard, Selsey honorary secretary andthe divisional inspector of lifeboats(SE) it was agreed that the crew ofCape Coast should be strongly advisedto stay aboard until daylight and untilthe weather eased, as, according to theforecast, it would do. The lifeboatwould stand by meanwhile.

By first light, at about 0720, the windhad gone round to the south south westand eased to strong gale force 9; the seawas still very rough. Coxswain Grantadvised the master of Cape Coast thathe intended taking off her crew a few ata time. At 0730, with the 4'A> hour floodtide setting north easterly, the lifeboatwas manoeuvred bows in to the star-board quarter of the heavily pitchingCape Coast which had a pilot ladderhung down her side; her freeboard wassome 20 feet. She was pitching heavilyand Coxswain Grant carefully broughtthe lifeboat in so that all but her heavilyfendered port bow remained clear ofCape Coast's heaving stern.

With four of her crew on deck,Charles Henry was held bow in to thecasualty while seven of Cape Coast'screw were in turn snatched from thesnaking pilot ladder on to the foredeckof the lifeboat. Then the two boatswere swept apart by a large sea.

On a second similar run in alongsidea woman crew member mis-timed herjump from the pilot ladder, was caughton the guardrail and only preventedfrom falling between the ship and thelifeboat by the prompt action of threeof the lifeboat crew. On the third, andlast, run in the remainder of CapeCoast's crew of 20 were snatched fromthe ladder, but while the lifeboat's bowwas held in position several large seaspicked her up and drove her hardagainst the cargo vessel's plating, caus-ing damage in way of the port belting,bow pudding and foredeck bulwark.

At 0751, some 20 minutes after start-ing to take off the crew, CoxswainGrant was able to report the entire

Selsey: Coxswain Michael J. Grant (r.),awarded the silver medal for the service tothe Panamanian cargo vessel Cape Coaston January 10 and the thanks of the Institu-tion inscribed on vellum for the service tothe fishing vessel New Venture on the nightof December 30/31, 1978. Second CoxswainGeorge E. Woodland (I.), and other crewmembers have been presented with medaland vellum service certificates respectivelyfor these two services.

photograph by courtesy of 'ChichesterObserver'

crew of 20 safely aboard the lifeboat.The woman, who had hurt her back,was wrapped in blankets and watchedover by a crew member. Course wasthen set for Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Harbour was reached at0955 and the survivors landed at HMSVernon. Hot soup was waiting and theQueen's Harbour Master's staff andpersonnel from HMS. Fife took care ofboth lifeboat crew and survivors. Thewind continued to fine away and hadveered to the west. By 1030 it waswesterly force 5 to 6 and with thelifeboat crew now warm and refreshedCharles Henry sailed from Portsmouthand was rehoused and ready again forservice by 1410.

For this service the silver medal wasawarded to Coxswain Michael J. Grantand medal service certificates werepresented to Second Coxswain GeorgeE. Woodland, Motor Mechanic FrancisR. Wells, Assistant Mechanic TerenceA. P. Wood and Crew Members PaulG. Smeaton, Derek F. Allchurch andRichard S. Smith. Letters of thankssigned by John Atterton, acting di-rector of the Institution, were sent toCaptain P. A. Pinkster, the Queen'sHarbour Master, Portsmouth, and toCaptain R. G. Fry, RN, commandingofficer of HMS Fife.

South Eastern Division

Sinking fishing boatNITON RADIO advised Solent Coast-guard at 2031 on Saturday December

185

30, 1978, that the 42ft fishing vesselNew Venture reported to be midwaybetween Nab Tower and HaylingIsland had sent a message by VHP thatshe was sinking and needed immediatehelp.

Helicopter assistance was requestedbut, with a strong gale, force 9, blowingfrom the north east and violent snowstorms giving at times almost nil visibil-ity, no helicopter could take off. So, afew minutes later Shoreham Coast-guard requested the launch of Selseyand Bern bridge lifeboats and by 2100both Selsey's 48ft 6in Oakley CharlesHenry and Bembridge's 48ft 6in SolentJack Shayler and the Lees hadlaunched and were on their waythrough blinding snowstorms.

With Coxswain Michael Grant at thehelm, Charles Henry was headed 215°for a mile to clear Selsey Bill and thesurrounding shallows and then turnedto starboard to 300° and at 2114 to 310°to enter and search Bracklesham Bay.New Venture had reported touchingbottom close to a pole with a basket onit and Selsey lifeboat had been asked tosearch the bay and particularly the areaaround the East Pole Sands targetbeacons.

Visibility continued to be almost nilin the blinding snowstorms and theclearance of snow from outside and icefrom inside the wheelhouse windowswas a continuous task. On four occa-sions the radar ceased to operate andthe scanner had to be cleared of snowand ice before it could function again.

Depending almost entirely on radarblind pilotage and the echo sounder,and with Assistant Mechanic TerenceWood continuously at the radar set,Coxswain Grant searched the shallowinshore area to no avail.

Following discussion betweenShoreham Coastguard and Selsey hon-orary secretary it was agreed that NewVenture had probably misjudged herposition and that the pole with a basketthat had been sighted had in fact beenthe Mixon Beacon, and so it wasdecided that Charles Henry shouldcheck the shoremarks eastwardstowards the Mixon. The new searchstarted at 2330.

At 0034 on Sunday December 31 MVEsso Caernarvon, which had beenhelping with the search, located NewVenture 7.2 cables from Nab Tower ona bearing of 050°; she was in a semisunken state and her crew were suffer-ing from exposure. Neither Esso Caer-narvon nor the outward bound ferryViking Venturer could reach the casu-alty so they floodlit the area until thearrival of Selsey lifeboat. At this timeBembridge lifeboat was advised thatshe could stand down and, unable torehouse on her own slipway, she madefor Cowes for the night.

By 0120 Charles Henry had arrivedon scene and Coxwain Grant, man-oeuvring close up to New Venture'sport quarter, took off the two very coldfishermen. The wind remained north

easterly force 9 with poor visibility inthe snowstorms. The tide was twohours ebb.

An attempt was made, at the requestof the owner, to take New Venture intow, but she started to sink almostimmediately the lifeboat got underway. The tow rope was axed throughand the boat sank.

With New Venture lost, CoxswainGrant headed for Chichester Harbourwhere the lifeboat arrived and disem-barked the two survivors at 0410. Asthe weather was far too severe either torehouse or moor off the slipway atSelsey a Land Rover led two carsthrough the snow from Selsey toChichester to pick up the exhaustedlifeboat crew. Charles Henry returnedto station the following forenoon,January 1, and at 1120 was againreported ready for service.

For this service the thanks of theInstitution inscribed on vellum wereaccorded to Coxswain Michael J. Grantand vellum service certificates werepresented to Second Coxswain GeorgeE. Woodland, Motor Mechanic FrancisR. Wells, Assistant Mechanic TerenceA. P. Wood, Crew Members PaulDavis, Martin J. Rudwick and DavidF. Munday and Fleet Mechanic DavidCrossley. Letters of thanks signed byJohn Atterton, acting director of theInstitution, were sent to CoxswainPeter Smith, BEM, of Bembridgelifeboat and his crew, and to the masterof MV Esso Caernarvon.

Western Division

Yacht on barTHE A U X I L I A R Y COASTGUARD On Watchat Penrhyn on Tuesday April 17 saw, at1155, a small yacht under outboardengine with her mainsail up making forthe River Teifi. It was a fine day with aclear sky and the sea in the bay wascalm with a long ground swell. How-ever, the wind, although only light, wasfrom north west, the spring tide hadjust started to ebb and on the bar thesea was rough with breaking wavesabout eight to ten feet high. An extractfrom Teifi Boating Club book notes:

'Cardigan Bar may become dangerous inwest to north-west winds. It may alsobreak when ground swell is present. Thisusually happens on the ebb tide aboutone hour after high water. The bigger thetide, the greater the risk. It may happenon a fine day with little or no wind.'

At 1200 the auxiliary coastguardtelephoned the deputy launchingauthority of Cardigan ILB station, wholives by the beach at Poppit Sands, andit was agreed that the inshore lifeboatshould launch. By this time the yachthad entered the rough water, broached,her outboard had been flooded and shehad anchored. Her mainsail was stillup.

The ILB launched at 1212, manned

by Helmsman Vernon Evans and CrewMember Robert Reynolds, and madefor the yacht at full speed until reachingthe rough water on the bar. She foundthat the yacht, Snow Wych, her bowpointing out to sea and her mainsail up,was being carried seaward by the ebbuntil the breaking seas forced her backon to her anchor, so that she was surg-ing and yawing violently with no regu-lar pattern.

Helmsman Evans circled the casu-alty noting the rough seas and thewildly yawing boat. He waited for atime when the sea was relatively quietand then made his approach, drivingthe ILB in against the yacht's port sideand holding her there while CrewMember Reynolds took the twoyounger members of her crew onboard; they were landed safely at Pop-pit Sands.

The ILB was then taken back intothe rough water and once again she cir-cled the yacht awaiting the relativelyquiet period when she could drive inalongside her port side. As the yachtyawed she was rolling and pitching soheavily that from the shore her keelwas seen clear of the water. The ILBtook off the two remaining men but, asshe cleared the casualty, the yachtyawed again violently and the ILBpropeller cut the yacht's anchor rope.

After landing the two men at PoppitSands, the ILB launched again andwent into the bay to recover the yacht,which had now drifted out to sea clearof the bar. She was taken in tow andsecured at Cei Bach, the site of the oldlifeboat house.

The ILB returned to station at 1310and was rehoused and ready for serviceat 1320. The local police inspector, theauxiliary coastguard and the manypeople who had watched the rescuefrom the cliffs were most impressedwith the skill with which the situationhad been assessed, the excellence ofthe boathandling and the courage of thecrew.

For this service the thanks of theInstitution inscribed on vellum wereaccorded to Helmsman Vernon Evansand a vellum service certificate waspresented to Crew Member RobertReynolds.

Scotland North Division

Seven rescuedTHE OIL SUPPLY VESSEL Smit Lloyd47,dragging her anchor and grounded in asevere easterly gale and heavy swell onthe west shore of Peterhead Harbour ofRefuge, about five cables from thelifeboat slipway, was reported to thedeputy launching authority ofPeterhead lifeboat station by MorayCoastguard at 1950 on Friday January19. The vessel was fully laden and hadanchored awaiting an improvement inthe weather before making the passageto the Argyll field.

186

The wind was east, gale force 8 gust-ing to strong gale, force 9, with veryrough seas and a heavy swell inPeterhead Bay. Visibility was onlymoderate and the spring tide was atfour hours ebb.

Smit Lloyd 47, heading about northnorth west, was lying four cables westby north of the South BreakwaterLight. She had grounded astern andthen been driven on to the bank broad-side to wind and sea. It was thoughtthat she was in danger of breaking up.

Peterhead lifeboat, the 48ft 6in Sol-ent James and Mariska Joicey,launched at 2000 and on the short pas-sage to the casualty experienced excep-tionally heavy breaking seas, the sever-ity of which increased as she made herapproached through shallowing water.Coxswain Mechanic John Buchanfound his visibility badly restricted byheavy spray from seas breaking overthe deck and the motion of the lifeboatwas extremely violent with angles ofheel almost continually greater than 45degrees on either side.

However, with superb seamanshipand boat handling, Coxswain Buchancame up on the port quarter of thecasualty, where the crew were mus-tered to disembark, and brought hisstarboard bow alongside just longenough for three crew members to betaken on board. With expert judgementhe repeated this manoeuvre to take offthe remaining four men and all SmitLloyd 47's crew were safely on boardJames and Mariska Joicey by 2012.

As the lifeboat was working in shal-low water on a lee shore with no roomto turn, Coxswain Buchan decided toclear ahead and round the bow of thecasualty where he judged there wouldbe just enough water. The lifeboat pas-

Peterhead: Produced from \a portion of BA Chart 1438with the sanction of theController HM StationeryOffice and the Hydro-grapher of the Navy.

sed clear of the bow of Smit Lloyd 47 at2015 and made the short but difficultpassage across Peterhead Bay to enterSouth Harbour at 2020. The seven sur-vivors were landed into the care of thePolice and the Royal National Missionto Deep Sea Fishermen. As it was notpossible to rehouse the lifeboat in theprevailing conditions, she was madeready for service from South Harbourwhere she remained until January 21.

For this service the thanks of theInstitution inscribed on vellum wereaccorded to Coxswain/Mechanic JohnBuchan. Vellum service certificateswere presented to Second CoxswainAlec Auld, Emergency MechanicGraham Bruce and Crew Members IanSmith, Thomas Buchan, Ian Buchanand James Buchan.

North Western Division

Divers in troubleFIVE PEOPLE in an inflatable dinghy indifficulty on the lee side of Dulas Islandwere reported to the honorary sec-retary of Moelfre lifeboat station byHolyhead Coastguard at 1408 on Mon-day August 21, 1978, and at 1417 thestation's D class ILB launched on ser-vice crewed by Second Coxswain JohnThomas, in command, and CrewMember Kenneth Roberts.

A strong breeze to near gale, force 6to 7, was blowing from the south westwith a slight to moderate sea and mod-erate swell. Visibility was good. It was40 minutes after high water springs andthe ebb stream was setting to the north.

The ILB was taken through MoelfreSound and then course was set directlyfor Dulas Island P/4 miles away. When

abeam of Lligwy Beach the boat beganto meet rough breaking seas and heavyswell. The wind was now estimated tobe a full force 7 and water was breakingover the ILB, but although experienc-ing difficulty in controlling the boat inthe beam sea, Helmsman Thomas stillmaintained full speed. When half wayacross Dulas Bay it was found that theVHP radio was defective.

Shortly after reaching the southernend of Dulas Island, at 1425, KenRoberts sighted the casualty about aquarter of a mile to the west. Headingfor the casualty meant heading into thesea, and the ILB could only make veryslow progress. As she worked her wayup wind her crew could see six peoplewearing wet suits sitting in an inflatableboat which was very low in the water,and which was being driven by out-board engine slowly south towardsLligwy Beach. The ILB was takenround her stern and, at 1435, alongsideher starboard side. The boat was foundto be full of water with some of thecrew trying to bail using face masks.Two people were transferred to theILB along with a large amount of divinggear and then, with the ILB taking sta-tion astern of the casualty, both boatscontinued slowly towards LligwyBeach and into quieter water. Aboutquarter of an hour later, at 1450, bothboats were beached at Lligwy. Beforelanding Ken Roberts had been able toget the radio working and had passed asituation report to Moelfre Coastguard.

Once the divers were safely ashorethe ILB returned to her station keepingclose in to the land in calmer water.She arrived off the slip at 1500 and wasready for service by 1536.

For this service framed letters ofthanks signed by Major-General RalphFarrant, chairman of the Institution,were sent to Second Coxswain JohnThomas and Crew Member KennethRoberts.

Ireland Division

Coaster on fireA TELEPHONE CALL from Belfast PilotStation to HM Coastguard at 1300 onTuesday April 10 reported a fire aboardthe Finnish coaster Into of Helsinkiabout a mile and a half north east ofMew Island. A firefighting tug, Cole-raine, had been alerted and was on herway and MFV Boy James was standingby. No radio contact could be madewith the casualty.

It was established from Belfast har-bour authorities that Inio, with a halfcargo of timber and paper, was on pas-sage from Belfast to Dublin. Boy Jamesreported that the crew were fighting thefire with buckets of water, but itappeared to be spreading and Inio hadcomplete power failure. MV Citrranwas now also standing by.

At 1335 Donaghadee lifeboat station

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was alerted and the 46ft 9in Watsonrelief lifeboat Lilla Marras, Douglasand Will, on temporary duty atDonaghadee, slipped her moorings at1345. The weather was fair with anorth-easterly gentle breeze, a moder-ate to choppy sea and poor visibility.

The lifeboat arrived alongside Inio at1415, took off 19 members of her crew,including three women, and returned toDonaghadee to put them ashore. Shethen returned to stand by the casualty.Five officers had remained on boardInio. A naval patrol had been asked toassume the duties of on scene com-mander, a helicopter was standing byand a naval firefighting crew was help-ing the civilian firemen to fight the fire.

At 1720 it was reported that the firewas out and tugs took/wo in tow to theshelter of Belfast Lough. Donaghadeelifeboat returned to her moorings andwas once again ready for service at1830.

For this service a letter of apprecia-tion signed by John Atterton, actingdirector of the Institution, was sent toWilliam Lennon, the skipper of MFVBoy James. The Institution's apprecia-tion was also conveyed to CoxswainJames Bunting of Donaghadee lifeboatand his crew and to Coastguard OfficerP. Ridley who, at Donaghadee, met therescued crew, none of whom couldspeak English, and being able to talk tothem in German, explained to themthat they would be taken to the Missionto Seamen in Belfast.

Eastern Division

Boy lostA FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ran abouta mile long Cromer beach and up cliffsteps to the Coastguard lookout onMonday afternoon, August 28, 1978, toraise the alarm that his small brother,aged seven, had disappeared in the sea.The young boy had been standing waistdeep in the sea when a wave knockedhim down and he had not been seenagain. His mother, two brothers and asister were still on the beach lookingfor him. It was 1455.

Cromer D class ILB was launchedimmediately, went to the area andsearched close inshore to a mile downtide. A helicopter, also alerted, joinedthe search, the Coastguard mobile wastaken to a point up on the cliff close tothe scene and the Police organisedsearch parties along the water's edge.

Two ILB crew members, Mark Win-dows and John Blackburn, wearing wetsuits, went to the beach and with greatcourage made a detailed search in thevery rough water round the groynes.By now six foot waves were breakingon the beach and inshore, making itimpossible for the ILB to get close tothe groynes; indeed her crew had to useall their skill to continue their searchthrough the breaking seas.

There was, sadly no sign of the boy

and at 1648 the Police called off thesearch. His body was found next morn-ing in the surf at Overstrand Beach.

For this service letters of apprecia-tion signed by John Atterton, deputydirector of the Institution, were sent toCrew Members Mark Windows andJohn Blackburn.

Ireland Division

Valiant attemptHM COASTGUARD asked the deputylaunching authority of Bangor ILB sta-tion to stand by at 1135 on SundayMay 20; a canoist had capsized half amile north of the harbour and anothercanoist was trying to bring him in. TheDLA called Crew Members James P.Ellesmere and William R. Killiner, whocame to the boathouse at once.

After watching for a minute or twothe three men realised that the task wastoo much for the rescuer and theylaunched the ILB at 1200.

It was a fine day. There was a mod-erate southerly breeze blowing and thesea was choppy. Visibility was verygood. The tide was five hours ebb.

On reaching the canoists at 1210 theILB crew found that the man in thewater was unable to help himself at all.His companion, David Snale, had madea valiant effort to rescue his friend andhad nearly succeeded, but he was nowhimself exhausted. The ILB broughtthe capsized canoist ashore and he wastaken to a hotel where he was revived.An attempt was made to recover thecanoe but it was found to be sunk.

The ILB returned to station and wasrehoused and ready for service at 1330

For this service a letter of apprecia-tion signed by John Atterton, actingdirector of the Institution, was sent toDavid Snale.

Scotland South Division

Stranded childrenEDINBURGH CITY POLICE informedQueensferry ILB station at 1725 on Sun-day February 4 that four children andtheir dog were stranded on CramondIsland. The children had tried to returnto the mainland by the causeway but,cut off by the tide, had been forcedback to the island and had had to wadeashore waist deep. It was a calm, clearevening but very cold.

The crew mustered immediately andthe Atlantic 21 was launched at 1735,her engines responding immediatelydespite the -4°c temperature. Whenthe ILB arrived at Cramond Island at1750 there was minimal water, butHelmsman Thomas Robertson raisedthe engine skegs while Crew MembersKenneth Burchell and Rass Watsonwent over the side to help the boat tobeach. They found the children, all

aged between ten and twelve, sufferingfrom cold and needing help to boardand disembark.

The Atlantic 21 returned to station at1820 and the children, together withtheir dog, were helped into the waitingPolice patrol car. The boat, on recov-ery, was totally iced over above herwaterline; she was rehoused and readyfor service at 1900.

For this service a letter of apprecia-tion to the crew signed by Cdr BruceCairns, chief of operations, was sent tothe honorary secretary of Queensferry,Captain J. F. Kersley.

Scotland South Division

Two ILBs searchA SMALL INFLATABLE DINGHY in whichit was thought there were two boys andwhich appeared to be in difficulty 600yards off Southerness Light wasreported to Silloth ILB station by Ram-sey Coastguard at 1819 on WednesdayMay 2; the ILB was asked to stand bywhile Portling Coastguard went to thescene. A request to launch came at 1838and at 1847 the ILB set out with SeniorHelmsman Colin Akitt in command andwith Derek Wilson and Robert Litt ascrew.

It was an overcast evening and verycold. There was a strong breeze, force6, gusting to gale, force 8, blowing fromnorth north west and, with the tide attwo hours ebb, the sea was choppywith a heavy swell.

The ILB had only been at sea a fewminutes when her transom carrying hertwin outboard engines was damaged,splitting across horizontally, so thatshe had to reduce speed; she could onlymake four knots in safety. KippfordILB was asked to help in the searchand left her boathouse at 1855. To savetime she was taken by road the 12 milesto Southerness and launched there.

Ramsey Coastguard then asked Sil-loth ILB to return to station, but radiocontact was lost until 1922, when theILB reported that she was four mileseast south east of Southerness and thather transom was in no worse state. Bynow it was known that the casualty wasa 12ft inflatable dinghy in which therewere three men.

The two ILBs met at 2020 three milessouth of Southerness. They wereinstructed to investigate an object twomiles further south, but they could findnothing. A helicopter now joined in thesearch.

At 2047 Helmsman Akitt reportedthat Silloth ILB was in no difficulty asthe transom and engines were beingheld by temporary lashings. At 2059 thecoastguard 'on scene' asked SillothILB to search towards Maryport andthen to return to station slowly as thehelicopter might still sight the casualty.Nothing was seen, however, and at2250 the search was abandonedbecause darkness made it impossible.

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The helicopter returned to base; Kipp-ford ILB reached her station at 2245and Silloth ILB at 2307. The ILB crewsdispersed to reassemble at first light,but in the meantime, at 0110, the inflat-able dinghy with the three men onboard drifted ashore near Flimby.

For this service a letter of apprecia-tion signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chiefof operations, was sent to SeniorHelmsman Colin Akitt of Silloth.

South Eastern Division

Fishing partyDUNGENESS LIFEBOAT, the 37ft 6inRother Alice Upjohn, had launched onexercise on Thursday March 8 and wasclose to her station when, at 1700, twolocal fishermen on shore were seenwaving. Second Coxswain PeterThomas, in command in the absence ofthe coxswain who was on leave, tookthe boat close inshore and the fisher-men told him that they had seen a redflare approximately south by east, dis-tance unknown.

Dungeness Coastguard was informedand, at 1705, the lifeboat set out at fullspeed. It was a fine evening with verygood visibility but a near gale, force 7,was blowing from the south west. Thesea was moderate, the tide flooding.

Four crew members were sent for-ward to act as lookouts and after tenminutes a small fishing boat was seenflying a distress signal. The lifeboatwas alongside at 1730. The five passen-gers were taken on board the lifeboat,leaving the owner of the fishing boat athis own helm, and the boat was towedback to Dungeness. Arriving off thebeach at 1805, in smooth water in thelee of the shore, Crew Member M.Isted was put on board the casualty tohelp in slipping the tow while the ownersteered his boat ashore to his ownwinch.

Crew Member Isted was then pickedup and the lifeboat returned to stationwhere the five men were put ashore. Adoctor was waiting to examine one ofthe fishing party who was not well ; hewas, however, found fit enough toreturn to his home.

The lifeboat was rehoused and readyfor service at 1850.

Ireland Division

Three boatsTWO DINGHIES in difficulties werereported to the honorary secretary ofWicklow lifeboat station at 1655 onMonday April 16. The first dinghy,with two adults and five children onboard, was a mile south of the lifeboatstation and within yards of the rocks;the second dinghy, her outboard enginebroken down, was a quarter of a milefurther south.

Visibility was very good, there was

no wind and the sea was calm, but thetide was ebbing at about four to fiveknots.

The 41ft Watson relief lifeboat StAndrew (Civil Service No. 10), on tem-porary duty at Wicklow, launched at1700 and came up with the first dinghyat 1720. She took off the two adults andfive children, towed the boat clear ofthe rocks and anchored her 100 yardsoff shore. She then went on to look forthe second dinghy which by now wasabout a mile further south, just goingon to a small beach. The lifeboat wentin as close as she could, took twoadults and a child on board and thentook the dinghy in tow. On the wayback the first dinghy was also taken intow. Both boats were towed to Wick-low Harbour where the ten people wereput ashore at 1830.

As the tide was low, the lifeboatremained at moorings.

At 1845 the Bailey Lighthousekeeper informed Coxswain PatrickKeogh that a distress call had beenpicked up from the yacht Orinoco, onpassage from Cork to Wicklow. She wason the rocks just north of Mizen Head,nine miles south of the lifeboat station.

By now a light southerly breeze hadsprung up, but the sea was still smoothand visibility was very good when thelifeboat slipped her moorings at 1850and again put to sea. While under wayshe made radio contact with the cargovessel Isabel Mitchell, also making forthe yacht. Isabel Mitchell reached thecasualty first and by the time thelifeboat arrived, at 1950, she hadlaunched one of her boats and refloatedthe yacht. The two was taken over bythe lifeboat, and, as the yacht was mak-ing water and was being sailed single-handed, a lifeboat crew member wasput on board to help.

On reaching Wicklow Harbour at2115 the lifeboat was once againmoored, with the yacht alongside, untilnext day, when she was rehoused by1230.

Scotland North Division

WreckFIRST SERVICE CALL for Fraserburghlifeboat station, since it was reopenedat the end of April, came at 1533 onSunday June 3; it was to a Panamanianmerchant vessel, Antonio, bound forHamburg loaded with stone chips,which had run aground in dense fogabout 100 yards from the Fishmeal Fac-tory, Broadsea. The 48ft 6in Solentlifeboat The Royal British LegionJubilee launched at 1600 in nil visibilityand made for the position given.

Although the weather was clearingby the time the lifeboat reachedAntonio at 1637 and the south-easterlywind was light, the seas were still roughalongside. The lifeboat took off eight ofthe crew that evening and put themashore at Fraserburgh, but the master,

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston: ILB CrewMember H. E. "Dilly" Appleton with theyoungest of 121 people taken off the pleas-ure cruiser Queen of the Broads which ranaground on Breydon Water in thick fog onTuesday June 19. After being stranded forabout ten hours she was located by theinshore lifeboat and Crew Members DillyAppleton and Stanley Woods wadedthrough mud with a portable radio to estab-lish a communication link. As no othermeans of rescue was available, the 46ft 9inWatson relief lifeboat Edian Courtnauld, ontemporary duty at Great Yarmouth and Gor-leston, launched at 2245. Helped across aplank bridge to the ILB, then ferried toEdian Courtauld, all 121 people, and onedog, were eventually landed at Yarmouth at0530.photograph by courtesy of Great Yarmouth

Press Agency

his wife and dog and the chief engineerremained on board. The lifeboatreturned to Antonio and, making faston her lee side, stood by until, at 0300the next morning, the captain consi-dered that the position was hopelessand that it would be dangerous toremain on board any longer. The lastthree people and the dog were thentaken off and put ashore at 0400 and thelifeboat was refuelled and ready forservice at 0500.

A few weeks later, at 2130 on Satur-day June 30, Fraserburgh lifeboat waslaunched again to go to the help of foursalvage men whose dory had founderedin a near gale and rough seas and whowere stranded on the wrecked Antonio.The men were taken off and landed atFraserburgh at 2252. The lifeboat wasonce again ready for launching at 2310.

North Eastern Division

Two girls strandedA DOCK POLICEMAN at Hartlepool sawtwo girls stranded on a sewer pipe nearSeaton Beach on the afternoon of Sun-day May 27. He informed the DockMaster's office immediately and, as thecrew were in the vicinity of the boat-house, the Atlantic 21 ILB GuideFriendship III launched within fiveminutes; it was 1449. She was mannedby Helmsman Michael Elwine andCrew Members J. Stephen Stoddartand Ronald Latcham.

A gentle breeze was blowing from

continued on page 213

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGand presentation of awards

SOUTH BANK, LONDON, TUESDAY MAY 22

AN OUTSTANDING DAY: THE CROWN OF A MEMORABLE YEAR

LIFEBOAT PEOPLE from all parts ofGreat Britain and the Republic of Ire-land, and, indeed, from many otherparts of the world, came to the RoyalFestival Hall on the afternoon of Tues-day May 22 for the 1979 annual presen-tation of awards by His Royal Highnessthe Duke of Kent. Remembering the943 lives rescued during 1978 and thatmany of last winter's services had beenundertaken in violent storm, wild seas,snow and bitter cold, the crowded hallwas filled with heartfelt applause aslifeboatmen from Plymouth, StDavid's, Barmouth, Angle, Torbay,Rosslare Harbour, Sheerness, St PeterPort, Bridlington and Wells receivedtheir medals from the Duke. ThenSuperintendent Coxswain Brian Bevanof Humber came up to receive first thebronze medal for the service toSavinesti, next the silver medal for theservice to Diana V and finally the goldmedal for the service toRevi. It was thefirst time that, at the same meeting, anylifeboatman had received all threemedals—gold, silver and bronze—andby now the whole audience had risen toits feet. When Coxswain Bevan's crewjoined him on the platform to receivetheir bronze medals everyone roseagain to give a second standingovation.

Next came the presentation ofawards by the Duke of Kent to honor-ary workers who had given long anddistinguished service, and particularwarmth and admiration was expressedin the applause which greeted MrsDoris Tart and Mrs Joan Bates, the lasttwo lady lifeboat launchers of Dunge-ness, as they received gold badges fortheir outstanding services.

There was good cause for satisfac-tion, too, in the splendid financialresults achieved in 1978 by the Institu-tion's voluntary fund raisers, membersand other supporters. The year hadended with a small surplus of incomeover expenditure of some £200,000 andthat despite the fact that, after a pausein the past few years, the boat-buildingprogramme was once again back in fullswing.

Even on the day of the annual meet-ing donations were being received.That morning, Major-General RalphFarrant, Chairman of the Institution,had been handed one cheque for£250,000 from Mrs M. H. Winstone forthe building of a fast offshore boat inmemory of her husband; he had alsobeen given donations amounting to£155 in memory of a former staff

member of the Royal Festival Hallitself, William Austin, who had hadclose connections with St Peter Portlifeboat station. Another cheque, for£100, was presented to Coxswain BrianBevan by the owners of Diana V,International Shipbrokers Ltd.

So it was a day of pride in pastachievement; a day on which to look tothe future with renewed inspiration anddedication; a day of friendship. It was aday, too, of welcome and remem-brance. At the beginning of both themorning annual general meeting of thegovernors and the afternoon presenta-tion of awards, silent tribute was paidto Captain Nigel Dixon, the late Direc-tor, whose sudden death last Decembermeant such a great loss to the lifeboatservice, and sympathy was expressedto his widow and family. Everyone wasdelighted that Jo Dixon was herself inthe hall for the afternoon meeting.

Rear Admiral Wilfred Graham, whohas been appointed as the RNLI's newDirector and who took up his respon-sibilities in August, was also present.He was welcomed by all lifeboat peo-ple, whose good wishes go with him. Atthe same time the Institution's appreci-ation was recorded of the excellent wayin which John Atterton had managedthe RNLI's affairs as Acting Director.

It was the last time that Major-General Ralph Farrant would take thechair at the AGM as he was soon toretire from office, and as the day pro-gressed he could have been left in nodoubt that during his four years asChairman he had won the respect, thethanks and the affection of the Institu-tion to which he had given suchunstinted and able service.

* * *The day had begun with a very well

attended annual general meeting of thegovernors of the Institution, held dur-ing the morning at the National FilmTheatre. After the minutes of the lastmeeting had been approved and signed,Major-General Ralph Farrant, Chair-man of the Committee of Management,gave his report:

'/ am happy to be able to tell you, inthis last of my reports to the governors,that the affairs of the RNLI are today invery good shape. The year 1978 was anextremely successful one, though it wasmarred for all of us by one very sadevent. I refer, of course, to the suddendeath of Captain Nigel Dixon, our veryable and much liked Director . . .

'That the affairs of the RNL1 areindeed in good shape is due of course tothe whole team, to the gallantry and skill

of our crews, the devotion of our honor-ary workers and our full-time staff, andalso, if I may be permitted to say so, tothe wise planning by those responsiblefor policy.

'A few years ago we had to introducewhat we described as a "pause" in ourboat-building programme. We decidedto do this because of a very real fear thatwe might otherwise be overwhelmed byinflation and other adverse factors. Weintended it strictly as a pause, and I amglad to be able to confirm my report toyou last year that the pause was comingto an end. Indeed, at this particularmoment we have no fewer than 11 boatsunder construction compared with a fig-ure of five a year ago. To put that inanother way, our boat building expendi-ture last year, that is 1978, went up by noless than 51 per cent, whereas our totalrecurrent expenditure increased by only16 per cent. As the principal task ofthose who support our lifeboat crews isto provide them with the best boats andequipment which skill can devise andmoney can provide, I am sure you willagree that this is a very satisfactory stateof affairs, especially so because we havealso been able to complete the secondphase of fully establishing our depot atWest Quay Road in Poole. We had anarrangement to be able to call on a£200,000 loan from the bank but we didnot have to draw on it, so that wasanother measure of the successful yearwe have had.'

General Farrant went on to speak ofthe justifiable pride the Institutioncould have in the quality of its boats,remembering how the Torbay andBroughty Ferry Arun class lifeboatsand the Bridlington 37ft Oakley classlifeboat had, during the past year, allrecovered successfully from knock-downs in tremendous seas. That it hadbeen possible to step up the boat-building programme, without having todig into financial reserves, was a tri-bute to the RNLI's wonderful army offund raisers:

'It also shows the respect and affec-tion felt for the RNLI among the publicat large. We did in fact have a small sur-plus of income over expenditure,amounting to some £200,000. For this weare indebted to many people, includingthose who remembered the RNLI in theirwills. Indeed in 1978 our income fromlegacies exceeded the figure for 1977 byabout a quarter of a million pounds.'Reference was made to the gratifying

income now being produced by thetrading company, a profit of almost£230,000, more than a quarter of a mil-lion, having been achieved in 1978.

'Notice,' the General continued, '1 usethe word "profit" and not "turn-over" . . . Our increased income has of

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course been due partly to planning but,more important still, to the efforts of ourvoluntary branches and guilds whoremain the backbone of all our fundraising.'

General Farrant then returned to thefirst factor he had mentioned whenspeaking earlier of the sound state ofthe Institution: the quality of thelifeboat crews:

'. . . during the afternoon . . . medalsfor gallantry will be presented by ourPresident, HRH The Duke of Kent. How-ever, this morning I would like to men-tion one point. In the whole of theRNLl's history, which now extends overa century and a half, there has neverbefore been an occasion on which alifeboat coxswain received the gold, thesilver and the bronze medal for gallantryat the same meeting. This extraordinarydistinction will be conferred this after-noon on the coxswain of the Humberlifeboat, Brian Devon. This will not onlybe a tribute to his own gallantry and thatof his crew but an indication of theexceptional demands which have beenmade on almost all our crews during thepast year.'

Looking to the future, the Generalsaid the Institution would of coursehave problems—it always did—but hewas confident that in all aspects of itswork its great traditions of service andpublic support would be maintained tothe full. In the next year an extra £l'/2million would probably have to beraised—'a formidable task but I believea possible one.' The credit balancefrom 1978, which was partly due to latedeliveries and late completion of work,would soon be absorbed in the currentyear's expenditure; there was the costof the full boat-building programme tobe met; and also the Institution wasfaced with urgent and expensive shoreworks because an appreciable numberof its lifeboat stations, particularlythose where the lifeboat has to belaunched from a slipway, require hugecapital sums for their maintenance and,for some, their complete rebuilding:

'May we hope that, just as we havebeen provided in the past with so manyof our lifeboats by people who havegiven large sums in their lifetime orbequeathed such sums in their wills, soperhaps we may find generous peoplewho would like to meet the cost of a newlifeboat station, which would then, ofcourse bear their name so long as thestructure remained? This we hope wouldbe at least twice as long as the life of aboat.'

At the AGM in 1978 it had beenagreed to raise the amounts payableannually by governors, and GeneralFarrant now reported that the agreedwording of the resolution, carriedunanimously, had been referred to theInstitution's solicitors, approved andwas now a part of the byelaws:

'To those who feel obliged to continueon the old subscription, I would like toexpress our gratitude and to tell themthat we shall continue to welcome themat the annual presentations of awardsand that they will of course continue to

receive our lifeboat journal. To theothers who have raised the subscription.I would say once again "Thank you"and I would ask you to give my successorthe same support as you have given tome and to my predecessors.'

Referring to his impending retire-ment from office, General Farrant said:

'During the years in which I have heldthe office of Chairman I have been mostadmirably supported by my colleagueson the Committee of Management andby the Institution's staff, and I wouldnow like to pay a warm tribute to themall. I have also been ably sustained byyou as governors of the Institution, and Iwould like to express my very sincerethanks to you all.'

The report and accounts were agreedwithout further discussion.

Elections followed of the President,HRH The Duke of Kent; the Vice-Presidents; the Treasurer, the Duke ofNorthumberland, and the DeputyTreasurer, David Acland; and mem-bers and ex-officio members of theCommittee of Management.

In approving these elections, theChairman asked for a show of hands,and later in the meeting MajorShowell-Rogers, Poole, said that heconsidered this show of hands impor-tant and he would like to see it formallyincorporated for future meetings.

Messrs Price, Waterhouse and Co.were then elected as auditors for thecoming year.

Discussion followed on a proposalput forward and introduced by Council-lor T. Jennings, chairman of Lewishamfinancial branch:

'That honorary secretaries of RNLIstation branches and properly consti-tuted financial branches and ladies'guilds, should automatically beappointed as governors of the Institutionwhile they are in office.'

While no one rose to support theproposal, the intention of which was tostrengthen the links between branchesand guilds and the governing body, anumber of governors opposed it. Firstto speak was Commander RalphSwann, a former Chairman of theCommittee of Management:

'I am against this proposal for severalreasons. The first is the financial one.We have a large number of governorswho are paying H5 a head. If they findthat other governors are admitted with-out paying anything ex-officio, they arelikely to ask for their money back, or atany rate not to go on paying. The secondobjection is that the divisive nature ofthe proposal. Honorary secretaries workvery hard for the Institution. So do a lotof other people, including members ofthe Committee of Management. Whyshould honorary secretaries beprivileged to get in as governors withoutpaying while other people are not? Third-ly, on the administrative side, the prop-osal suggests that honorary secretarieswill only be governors while holding theirposts. This would mean quite a strain onthe organisation's head office keepingtrack of the movements of honorary sec-retaries. Finally, the implications are

very considerably because if you allow inone class of person without subscription,where do you draw the line?'

Lt David Case, station honorary sec-retary, Wells, speaking as a subscribinglife governor, also emphasised theincreased administrative expense thisproposition would entail if adopted:

'It is one of our proud boasts that weonly spend 15p (now 8p on fund raisingand publicity, 8p on administration—editor) in the pound on administrationand I know that goes a long way whenI talk lifeboats to the general public. Ihave been concerned with lifeboats for 26years as a helper, as a crew member andas an honorary secretary, and frankly Ido not want it for myself. It is the firsttime I have been here. It is a delightfulmeeting. It goes along very happily and Ihave no complaints with the manage-ment. Speaking from the coast, if wewant any help we have the most excel-lent help and I am sure all you veryworthy people who raise funds get all thehelp you want. . . .'

Mr Threlfall, Wellington, said that,through the various district confer-ences, branches and guilds already hada perfectly adequate way of makingtheir views known. After one or twoother speakers had added their com-ments the proposal was withdrawn.

Coming to any other business, JohnAtterton, Acting Director, replying to aquestion from Mrs Birnett, Bucking-ham, on the nature of the links betweenthe Mission for Seamen and the RNLI,confirmed that while the Mission didgive help to some lifeboat crew mem-bers, it did not contribute financially inany way to the lifeboat service.

Mr Kirby, President of Seahambranch, then spoke of the closing ofSeaham lifeboat station in February1979. While not questioning the deci-sion, he said that he thought that thethree months notice given was rathershort considering that the station hadbeen in operation for 109 years andasked that the Committee of Manage-ment should bear in mind the effect, inhuman terms, of such a closure on thecrews and on people who do voluntarywork for the station. The Chairmanassured Mr Kirby that the Committeedid appreciate these other aspects justas much as the operational reasoningfor changing a station designation orclosure of a station. Vice-Admiral SirArthur Hezlet, chairman of the RNLISearch and Rescue Committee, pointedout that before any station is closed itdoes get its say. A Committee of Man-agement delegation had visited Seahamand had been received very cour-teously. The delegation had listened towhat the station had to say and hadtaken it into account, but the state ofthe lifeboat house and how much itwould cost had also had to be takeninto account. The stations on the northeast coast were very close togetherand, with fast boats coming into ser-vice, consideration had to be given towhether the money could be used tosave more lives elsewhere.

191

'Nobody,' said Admiral Hezlet, 'likesclosing a station . . . We think all thisover very carefully for a very longperiod . . .'

Lady Tollemache, Petersfield, spokeof 'the amazing brilliance and bravery'of the helicopters which help theRNLI, to which Admiral Hezlet added:

7 would support Lady Tollemache.Both the Navy and RAF helicopters do awonderful rescue job. We keep closecontact with them in exercises and at thetop again through the GovernmentSearch and Rescue Committee uponwhich the Services are rep-resented . . . They do a wonderful job inthe most appalling weather. Having saidthat, they have not replaced lifeboats.We are still saving 900 to 1,000 people ayear and helicopter coverage round ourwaters is pretty well complete; it is prettywell everywhere and we work in theclosest co-operation and I have greatadmiration for them, as you have, LadyTollemache.'

When Ben Dean, station honorarysecretary, Whitby, asked whether theActing Director could say when therevised green book of regulations couldbe expected, Mr Atterton replied:

' Yes, I can. I am delighted to say thatthey were delivered yesterday!'.

7 am so glad you asked the question!'.

added the Chairman amid laughter.In moving a vote of thanks to the

Chairman, the Duke of Atholl, aDeputy Chairman, spoke of theRNLI's financial and operationalproblems and successes during theGeneral's period of office:

'We have been very lucky to haveGeneral Farrant as our leader duringfour such tricky years and we thank you,sir, for all the guidance and inspirationyou have given us.'

After prolonged applause, the Gen-eral had the last word:

'. . . As I said before, it is a team effortand without the effort of the whole teamwe would not have come through so wellas we have, but I thank you, sir, verymuch for your remarks. I hereby declarethe meeting closed. Thank you, ladiesand gentlemen.'

* * *By early afternoon lifeboat people

were already gathering for the presen-tation of awards, and there was muchfor them to see both outside and in theRoyal Festival Hall. The latest Arunclass lifeboat, soon to go on station atFalmouth, was moored off in the RiverThames and an Atlantic 21 ILB was onshow on the Embankment.

In the foyer of the Festival Hall,pride of place was taken by TheLifeboat Service Memorial Book* inwhich are inscribed on vellum all theplaces where lives have been lost inlifesaving work, with the names of thedead, the date and the service. Thismost beautiful and precious volume isbound in boards cut from the oak kneesused for the stems of lifeboats and each

*Described by The Lord Saltoun in thewinter 1975/76 issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

page is illuminated with miniaturepaintings, arms and borders of flowers,birds and insects all characteristic ofthe seaboard towns and villages theyillustrate.

There were also in the foyer displaysof photographs and of the miniaturemodel lifeboats made by Brian Wil-liams. The RNLI Trading Companywere showing (and selling) new items inthe souvenir range and Shoreline werebusy enrolling new members and sel-ling insignia to members old and new.

* * *The Annual presentation of awards

itself began at 3 o'clock. In his openingaddress, Major-General Ralph Farrant,Chairman of the Committee of Man-agement, praised the work of both thelifeboatmen and the fund raisers:

'We have had a winter in which manyhave suffered discomfort and even hard-ship, but there must be few sections ofour community which have had to facerigours comparable with those experi-enced by our lifeboat crews. How theyresponded you will learn from the cita-tions for medals . . .

'In the past two or three winters therehas been a recurring meteorological pat-tern with severe gales around Christmas,causing many of our lifeboat crews tospend Christmas Day or Christmas Eveat sea going to the help of others in dis-tress. These have been followed byfurther gales in the early part of the NewYear causing severe damage to lifeboatinstallations and involving us, as aresult, in very heavy expenditure.

'As always, the response to challengesby our lifeboat crews has been matchedby that of our voluntary fund raisers.You will remember a few years ago wewere obliged temporarily to slow downour boat-building programme because ofinflation and other factors. As a result ofthe efforts of our supporters we are nowback in full production . . . "

Looking a little ahead, General Far-rant spoke of the cheque for £250,000he had been given that morning by MrsWinstone:

'We have been able, in this instance,to start building almost at once an Arunclass boat. We are also developing newtypes of boats. We are making goodprogess with the model of the fastlifeboat to be launched down a slipway,a new project which we hope to bringinto production in a few years. We haveunder construction the first experimentalmodel of a new intermediate lifeboat,which is 35 feet in length. This prototypehas been developed by the staff at ourCowes base in the Isle of Wight, underthe direction of its superintendent, DavidStogdon, and to recognise the work theyhave done we have named this class ofboat the "RNLI Medina". These areonly some of the developments for afuture to which I look forward withconfidence . . .

'This, I am sorry to say, will be the lastoccasion on which I shall be addressingyou at this meeting, as I shall be retiringbefore the end of the year. I would there-fore like to take the opportunity of thank-ing the great army of supporters whichwe have in the RNLI, in particular the

members of the lifeboat crews and theirfamilies, the administrators of ourlifeboat stations, our dedicated band offund raisers, the members of our perma-nent staff and my colleagues on theCommittee of Management. You haveall served to make my period of office asChairman personally highly enjoyableand you have all helped to make it one inwhich the Institution has, I am glad tosay, prospered.'

General Farrant's final duty was, ashe said, the exceptionally pleasant oneof introducing the principal speaker,the President, His Royal Highness TheDuke of Kent, who then gave the fol-lowing speech:

7 regard it as a great privilege to ad-dress this meeting at which we assembleto present awards for conspicuouslymeritorious lifeboat service during thepast year. Gathered here are people whorepresent so much of what is best in thisnation and also in that neighbouringcountry, with whom we have had such along association in the task of rescuinglife at sea, namely the Republic ofIreland.

'The standing of the Royal NationalLife-boat Institution is high not only inBritain and in Ireland but in many otherparts of the world. Last month the thir-teenth International Lifeboat Confer-ence was held in the Netherlands. TheRNLI was represented by a delegation,which, like other delegations, produceda number of valuable papers concerningthe problems of saving life at sea. It wasalso represented by the splendid newlifeboat, later to be stationed at Fal-mouth, which is at this moment mooredin the River Thames and which many ofyou will have seen.

'As a nation we are, I sometimesthink, inclined to undersell ourselves, tominimise our achievements and even toboast of our shortcomings. This isemphatically not the case of the lifeboatservice of whose record of achievementwe can all feel justifiably proud. In thissphere of activity we sit by right at thetop table. At the request of all the othernations which have lifeboat services theRNLI provides the central secretariatfor them all. At its headquarters inPoole, which I had the pleasure of open-ing a few years ago, there is a plaque onthe front door with the words "Perma-nent Headquarters, InternationalLifeboat Conference".

'This status which the world accordsto the RNLI has not come about byaccident. It is the consequence of a greattradition, which the modern generationis maintaining in a manner fully worthyof its predecessors. This is illustrated bysome of the awards to be made thisafternoon.

'As your Chairman has said, the cox-swain of the Humber lifeboat station, BrianBevan, will he a unique recipient ofawards for gallantry. It so happens thathe and his crew have also demonstratedthe truly international nature of ourlifeboat service. One of their rescues forwhich awards have been made was froma Panamanian vessel, another from aDutch vessel, another from a Romanianvessel.

'Mr Bevan is a young man, only 32.Others who will be coming up on to thisplatform were serving the RNLI beforehe was born. Among them are two

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ladies, Mrs Tart and Mrs Bates. Theyhave been helping to launch the Dun-geness lifeboat for 44 and for 37 yearsrespectively. That I think must be arecord combination for years of service.

'All over the United Kingdom and theRepublic of Ireland people are to befound who give their services voluntarilyto the RNLl, not only to serve inlifeboats or to raise money but to giveexpert help and advice. Anyone whostudies the year book of the Institutionand looks at the composition of its sub-committees must be impressed by theextraordinary wealth of talent given vol-untarily to this great cause. Supportingall this expertise is a professional staff ofhigh competence, of which the lateCaptain Dixon was an outstandingrepresentative.

'Our Institution is immensely fortu-nate in the loyalty which it enjoys fromall its many workers, helpers and sup-porters but-from none more than thatfine and dedicated body of lifeboatcrewmen whose readiness to serveothers is such an inspiring example. Andas your Chairman said, this last winterhas made unusually heavy demandsupon them.

'In leading this formidable array oftalent, you General Farrant, as Chair-man of the RNLl's Committee of Man-agement, have served the cause of sav-ing life at sea with great distinction. Wewish you all happiness in your retirementfrom this onerous duty and know thatyou will continue to help this great causewherever you can. The thanks ofeveryone connected with the RNLI aredue to you for all you have done, and asan expression of these thanks and as atribute during the year of your retirementas Chairman, the organist will play theRoyal Artillery Slow March at the end ofour meeting. I have a feeling it will evokehappy memories so far as you areconcerned.'

'And I shall now move the Resolution:'That this meeting fully recognising

the important services of the RoyalNational Life-boat Institution in itsnational work of lifesaving, desires torecord its hearty appreciation of the gal-lantry of the coxswains and crews of theInstitution's lifeboats, and its deepobligation to the local committees, hon-orary secretaries and honorary treasur-ers of all station branches; to all othervoluntary committees and supportersand to the honorary officers andthousands of voluntary members of thefinancial branches and the ladies'lifeboat guilds in the work of raisingfunds to maintain the service.'

HRH The Duke of Kent then pre-sented the awards for gallantry:

Second Coxswain Patrick Marshall,Plymouth: bronze medal

Motor Mechanic Cyril Alcock,Plymouth: bronze medalOn February 15, 1978, Plymouth

lifeboat, Thomas Forehead and MaryRowse II, rescued two of the crew ofthe trawler Elly Gerda in a violentsouth-easterly storm with very heavysnow and a very rough sea. Thelifeboat was manoeuvred close to thetrawler which was aground on rocksand the motor mechanic pulled two ofher crew to safety.

The Medallists (from front, I. to r.) Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan. (First row) MotorMechanic Bill Sayers, Assistant Mechanic Ronald Sayers, Crew Member Michael Storey andCrew Member Peter Jordan, Humber. (Second row) Second Coxswain Dennis Bailey, Snr,Humber, Coxswain David Cox, Wells, Crew Member Sydney Rollison, Humber, MotorMechanic Cyril Alcock, Plymouth and Crew Member Dennis Bailey, Jnr, Humber. (Thirdrow) Coxswain William Morris, St David's, Coxswain Evan Jones, Barmouth,Coxswain/Mechanic William Rees Holmes, Angle and Second Coxswain Patrick Marshall,Plymouth. (Back row) Coxswain Arthur Curnow, Torbay, Acting Second Coxswain SeamusMcCormack, Rosslare Harbour, Coxswain/Mechanic Charles Bowry, Sheerness, CoxswainJohn Petit, St Peter Port, and Coxswain Fred Walkington, Bridlington.

photograph by courtesy of Peter Hadfield

Coxswain William Morris, St David's:bronze medalOn March 11, 1978, St David's

lifeboat, Joseph Soar (Civil ServiceNo. 34), saved the Royal Naval tenderMFV 7 and her crew of seven in a mod-erate north-north-easterly wind andconfused seas. The lifeboat went closeto treacherous rocks to pass a tow lineto the casualty which, her enginebroken down, was being carried intodanger by a strong spring tide.

Coxswain Evan Jones, Barmouth:bronze medalOn November 22, 1978, the relief

lifeboat BHMH, on temporary duty atBarmouth, rescued the crew of MFVBoy Nick aground on North Bank in awesterly gale and a very rough sea. Thelifeboat was driven through breakingseas close to the harbour bar, fre-quently grounding, to reach the twomen who had abandoned the fishingvessel and taken to their liferaft.

Coxswain/Mechanic William ReesHolmes, Angle: bar to his bronzemedalOn December 1, 1978, Angle

lifeboat, Richard Vernon and MaryGarforth of Leeds, rescued the crew ofthree of the fishing vessel Cairnsmorein a south-easterly storm and heavybreaking seas. The lifeboat recoveredone man from the water and with greatdifficulty, because of the rolling andpitching of the casualty, took off theremaining two crew members.

Coxswain Arthur Curnow, Torbay:bronze medalOn December 2, 1978, Torbay

lifeboat, Edward Bridges (Civil Sen-iceNo. 37), rescued the crew of the fishingvessel Fairway being driven into shoal-ing water in a south-south-easterlystorm and a very heavy sea. To take offthe six men the coxswain had to man-oeuvre the lifeboat twice alongside thefishing vessel, which was rolling andpitching violently in steep seas rangingto 25 feet.

Acting Second Coxswain SeamusMcCormack, Rosslare Harbour:bronze medalOn December 7, 1978, the relief

lifeboat Sir Samuel Kelly, on tempor-ary duty at Rosslare Harbour, rescuedtwo of the crew of the fishing boatNotre Dame du Sacre Coeur in a viol-ent south-easterly storm and veryheavy seas estimated at 30 feet high.The lifeboat went alongside the fishingboat twice in these mountainous seas,taking off one man each time.

Coxswain/Mechanic Charles Bowry,Sheerness: bar to his bronze medalOn December 30, 1978, Sheerness

lifeboat, Helen Turnbull, rescued thecrew of two of the motor cruiser MaJolie II in a strong north-easterly galeand a very rough, confused sea. Tomake the rescue the lifeboat had to betaken three times into shallow waterwhere, because of many yacht moor-ings and a submerged wreck, there wasvery little sea room.

Coxswain John Petit, St Peter Port:third bar to his bronze medalOn the night of January 4/5, 1979, St

Peter Port lifeboat, Sir William Arnold,took part in a search for survivors from

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the Greek freighter Cantonad whichsank in the English Channel in aneast-north-easterly hurricane, and ter-rific seas. Visibility was reduced bysnow. During the 12 hours and moreshe was at sea one huge wave rolled thelifeboat over 45 degrees, throwing thecoxswain out of his seat and knockinghim unconscious for a few moments.Coxswain Fred Walkington, Bridling-

ton: bronze medalOn February 15, 1979, Bridlington

lifeboat, William Henry and MaryKing, launched in a blizzard and a viol-ent north-easterly storm to help thedisabled German freighter, Sunnanhav.The freighter regained power and thelifeboat was on her return passagewhen, with visibility down to 50 yardsin the snow and the radar out of action,she had to turn hard to port to avoidrocks. She was struck by a huge waveand knocked over to starboard, theengine cut-out operating. The 'capsizeswitches' were made and the enginesfired first time.Coxswain David Cox, Wells: silver

medalSuperintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan:

bronze medalOn February 15, 1979, Wells

lifeboat, Ernest Tom Neathercoat,launched into a violent north-easterlystorm and continuous blizzard to standby the disabled Romanian freighterSavinesti which was in danger of run-ning aground. In temperatures wellbelow freezing and with huge seaswashing right over her, this openlifeboat stood by until Humber Arunclass lifeboat City of Bradford IV hadmade the 37 mile passage from SpurnPoint and could take over the service.Wells lifeboat had to make the first partof her return passage at half speed withthe drogue streamed and snow blowingdirectly into the after cockpit; then,turning into the breaking seas, it tookher two hours to make good the lastseven miles; she had been at sea forover 11 hours. Humber lifeboat even-tually escorted Savinesti to the safetyof the River Humber after more than 15hours at sea.

Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan,Humber: silver medalOn the night of December 30/31,

1978, Humber lifeboat, City of Brad-ford IV rescued six of the crew of theDutch coaster Diana V, in distress in astrong easterly gale and very heavyseas. After her mechanics had repairedan oil pipe which fractured under way,the lifeboat maintained full speed to thecasualty despite the fact that she wasreceiving a terrific pounding. Reachingthe casualty, the lifeboat made threeruns in, being thrown against the heav-ily listing coaster by the breaking seas,before a 12-year-old girl, a woman andfour men were all successfully takenoff.Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan,

Humbert gold medal

Second Coxswain Dennis Bailey,Humber: bronze medal

Motor Mechanic Barry 'Bill' Sayers,Humber: bronze medal

Assistant Mechanic Ronald Sayers,Humber: bronze medal

Crew Member Michael Storey,Humber: bronze medal

Crew Member Peter Jordan, Humber:bronze medal

Crew Member Sydney Rollinson,Humber: bronze medal

Crew Member Dennis Bailey, Jnr,Humber: bronze medalOn February 14, 1979, Humber

lifeboat, City of Bradford IV, rescuedthe four crew of the PanamanianfreighterRevi in a north-easterly storm,very heavy seas and snow storms. Thelifeboat was taken alongside about 35times before the crew could be takenoff. The last survivor, the captain, wasstill on board, clinging to the outside ofthe stern guardrails awaiting the chanceto jump, when the freighter rose 20 feetabove the lifeboat and began to crashdown towards the crew on theforedeck. The coxswain, immediatelyputting his engines hard astern, man-aged to pull clear by inches. Revi wasthen completely covered by three suc-cessive waves but, when the watercleared, her captain, feared lost, wasseen still hanging on the stern rails; thelifeboat drove in again in a trough bet-ween two waves and rescued himminutes before the freighter sank.

Since the last annual presentation ofawards meeting the Committee ofManagement had awarded two honor-ary life governorships, two bars to thegold badge and 14 gold badges to volun-tary workers for long and distinguishedservice. All but three of the recipients,T. Taylor, Mrs T. W. A. Swallow andT. Woodhouse, were present to receivetheir awards from The Duke of Kent.Honorary Life GovernorMrs E. M. WalkerCommittee member of Dundee ladies'guild from 1942, vice-president from1962 to 1971 and president since 1971.Alderman C. F. Baker, MBEJPFRICSJoint honorary secretary of Eastbournestation branch from 1949 to 1953 andhonorary secretary since 1953;awarded binoculars in 1960 and goldbadge in 1975.Bar to Gold BadgeMiss I. DaviesCommittee member of South Caernar-vonshire ladies' guild from 1945 andhonorary secretary since 1958;awarded statuette in 1953 and goldbadge in 1968.T. TaylorHonorary secretary of Llandudno sta-tion branch from 1948 to 1978; awardedbinoculars in 1959 and gold badge in1974.Gold BadgeT. Woodhouse, OBEJPHonorary secretary of Flamborough

station branch from 1954 to 1979;awarded binoculars in 1965.Mrs J. B. SoutterFounder member of Hamilton ladies'guild in 1938 and president from 1960to 1979.S. A. ChasePresident and chairman of Thurrockbranch since 1953; awarded silverbadge in 1969.Mrs B. MorrisA collector from 1947 to 1952, commit-tee member of Woolwich branch from1952 to 1965, acting chairman from1965 to 1966 and chairman since 1966;awarded letter of thanks in 1973 andsilver badge in 1974.N. WellsHonorary secretary of Kingston-on-Thames branch since 1956; awardedsilver badge in 1967.Mrs A. M. BoltonFounder member of Adlington ladies'guild in 1940 and honorary secretary ofBramhall and Woodford ladies' guildsince 1953; awarded silver badge in1964.R. W. Beasley, MBEHonorary secretary of Isle of Wightlifeboat board from 1953 to 1979;awarded silver badge in 1964.Mrs D. TartLauncher, Dungeness station branch,from 1935 to 1979.Mrs J. BatesLauncher, Dungeness station branch,from 1942 to 1979.W. A. P. Cormack, JP'Honorary secretary of Peterhead sta-tion branch from 1954 to 1973, andadministrative officer from 1973 to1978; awarded binoculars 1965.J. W. EagleVice-chairman of Walton-on-the-Nazestation branch from 1953 to 1956 andchairman since 1956.J. T. SuttonHonorary treasurer of Kilmore Quaystation branch from 1951 to 1966 andhonorary secretary and treasurer since1966; awarded binoculars in 1968.T. P. NolanHonorary treasurer of Howth stationbranch since 1957; awarded silverbadge in 1969.Mrs T. W. A. SwallowFounder member of North Sunderlandladies' guild in 1932, assistant secret-ary from 1934 to 1940, vice-chairmanfrom 1951 to 1962 and chairman since1962; awarded silver badge in 1974.

D. K. Redford, a member of theCommittee of Management, moved ahearty vote of thanks to HRH The Dukeof Kent for addressing the meeting andpresenting the awards. Then, the busi-ness of the day concluded, tea wastaken in the foyer during which therewas the opportunity for His RoyalHighness to meet informally some ofthose to whom awards had been givenand their families.

194

Fastnet RaceStorm

DURING THE NIGHT of Monday August13 and Tuesday August 14 south-westerly storm force winds, veering towest north west and gusting to hur-ricane force, struck the south-westernapproaches while the internationalFastnet Race fleet of 306 yachts wasstrung out across the 150 mile stretch ofthe south Irish Sea between Land'sEnd and the Fastnet Rock, off thesouth of Ireland. The race had startedfrom Cowes on Saturday August 11;the finish would be at Plymouth. Theseas, with a fetch right across theAtlantic funnelling into narrowing wat-ers, were not only phenomenally highand breaking but they were alsotreacherously short. Although themajority of the yachts weathered thestorm and came safe to harbourunaided, 85 of them in fact finishing therace, it was soon known that somewere in serious trouble and grave anxi-ety was felt about the safety of thewhole fleet.

A massive search and rescue opera-tion was launched, co-ordinated by HMCoastguard at Land's End and theMarine Rescue Co-Ordination Centreat Shannon, and during the next 36hours great gallantry and endurancewas shown by lifeboatmen from bothsides of the Irish Sea, by naval helicop-ter crews from HMS Culdrose, by RAFNimrod crews, by the crews of navaland merchant ships and fishing boats of

difference nationalities in the area andindeed by the crews of the yachtsthemselves, some of whom went to thehelp of other boats even though itmeant putting themselves in jeopardy.

Thirteen lifeboats from both sides ofthe Irish Sea took part in the operation,towing in or escorting at least 20 yachtsand landing survivors. Several of thelifeboats made a number of missionsand between them they spent a total ofmore than 170 hours at sea. At theheight of the storm Baltimore lifeboatwas at sea for about 24 hours, Court-macsherry lifeboat for about 22 hoursand St Mary's lifeboat for nearly 21hours. Ballycotton, Dunmore East,Lizard-Cadgwith, Padstow, St Ives andSennen Cove lifeboats were all out onservice in the storm for many hours.Angle, Clovelly and Penlee lifeboatsalso took part in the search and rescueoperation. Falmouth's fast afloat Arunlifeboat, which on the night of August14 was sent out of her district to oper-ate in the main search area north of theScillies, was away from station for 38hours with only brief visits to St Mary'sand Newlyn.

Despite all the efforts made, 15yachtsmen were lost from yachts tak-ing part in the Fastnet Race and fourfrom a catamaran in the area. It was anunprecedented tragedy in the long his-tory of ocean racing. Among those lost,the RNLI particularly mourns PeterDorey, the owner and skipper of theGuernsey yacht Cavale. As well asbeing a member of the States of Guern-sey and a prominent ship owner, MrDorey was for some years a reserve

As the journal was goingto press we learned withgreat sorrow of the deathsof Admiral of the FleetThe Earl Mountbatten ofBurma, on August 27, andof Lord Saltoun, on August31. Appreciations of theirwork for the lifeboat ser-vice will appear in thewinter issue.

crew member of St Peter Port lifeboatand went out on service a number oftimes.

Following the search and rescueoperation the Prime Minster, Mrs Mar-garet Thatcher, sent a telegram to theChairman of the Institution which read:

7 should be glad if you could pass onto the lifeboat crews involved and all ofthose who work to support them my con-gratulations on their achievements in theFastnet Race rescue operation thisweek. It has brought home to us onceagain how much we depend on the brav-ery and willingness to serve of those whoman our lifeboats.'

It was not only in the south west thatlifeboats were launched on service dur-ing that 36 hours from 0001 on TuesdayAugust 14 to 1200 on WednesdayAugust 15. At least a further 13offshore lifeboats in other parts of thecountry were called out as well, makingsome 26 lifeboats in all. A detailedreport of what will surely be remem-bered as the Fastnet Storm will be pub-lished in the winter journal.

Week's GoodCause

ON SUNDAY AUGUST 12 Derek Scott,BEM, coxswain of The Mumbleslifeboat, made an appeal on behalf ofthe RNLI on BBC Radio 4. The text ofthe appeal, in response to which morethan £11,200 has already beenreceived, is given below:

'All my life I've had to do withlifeboats. My first memory of a cox-swain was of a local man called BillyGammon who lost his life on our boatwhen I was young.

'I didn't know much about the RNLIthen, and I certainly didn't know that itwas run entirely on voluntary contribu-tions. Once, when I was about 14, Isneaked out of the village with a pal togo fishing in a leaky old ship's lifeboat.It soon began to blow like mad and itwas all we could do to get back in. Webrought the boat up on the stones withan almighty thump, hardly in control.When I looked up, I saw Billy Gammonstanding there, a stocky, big-shouldered man, and he said, "Son, if Iever see you handle a boat like thatagain, I'll tan your backside for you!"

'Handling boats sounds easier thanit is, and I began to learn that day.Now, when the maroons go to call outthe lifeboat crew, I stand as coxswainat the foot of the ladder by the lifeboatto pick my crew. On a bad night withthe slates coming off the roofs, thetelephone wires down and a big searunning, I know how they feel. I've feltit myself. But bad weather is whatwe've prepared and trained for.

'Some time ago, we had a call to goto a sand-dredger aground on a spur ofrock near where Billy Gammon's boatwas lost with all aboard her. When wegot there, it was as black as pitch, andthe crew had been washed away fromthe dredger on a raft. We picked themup at once. That was easy. But the rafthad broken away from the ship, leavingthe skipper on board. Now we had togo back for him, running over rocksthis time with the dredger on its sideand surf breaking over it.

'We saw the skipper hanging on tothe wing of the bridge, dressed ineverything he owned with an overcoat,suitcase and carrying the ship's pap-ers. We had to put the bow of thelifeboat actually on the deck, but whenthe skipper jumped, the ship rolled andhe almost went into the water, but oneof the lads grabbed him and all his

gear. This is what we had come to doand we sang all the way home.

'Of course, all our jobs are not asdramatic as this. We go for yachtsmen,canoeists, swimmers, kids in bits ofrubber boats, and once we even wentfor horses which had been stranded bythe tide. They were exhausted and hadto be strapped alongside. The import-ant thing is that we do go, and arealways ready to go, and are well equip-ped to do so.

'An old Irish coxswain once told me,"Drown you may but go you must,"and there are sayings like this up anddown our coasts, and the same tradi-tions in all our 200 lifeboat stations. Allour boys are volunteers. They don'tcost much. But each boat costs at least£250,000 and we have to build ten newboats each year.

7 always say that a lifeboat rescuebegins with the lady who stops you inthe street with a tray of flags, and it'strue. We are proud of them, proud ofour boats and glad to belong to every-thing that has gone on before. If youcan help us find a little of the ten mill-ion pounds we need a year to stayready and prepared, please send yourcontribution to me: Derek Scott,RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset. . . Thank you.'

195

Women's Work . . .

. . . IN THE RNLI IT IS NEVER DONE.

by Ray Kipling

DEPUTY PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, RXLI

'/ don't know where we would havebeen sometimes without the ladies. Nocredit would be too high for what theydid.'

Ben Tart, former coxswain ofDungeness lifeboat, was talking aboutthe ladies who used to launch hislifeboat. He could just as well havebeen referring to the overall role ofwomen in the RNLI for there is hardlyan aspect of lifeboat work in whichthey are not involved.

Ladies no longer help to launch thelifeboat across the beach at Dungenessor anywhere else in the country. Lastyear the woods (greased wooden skids)which for so many years they hadhauled over the shingle and laid in aline so that the lifeboat could slidedown to the sea were replaced with atractor and carriage. It was the end ofan era for the lifeboat service.

There used to be many small fishingcommunities where most of the malepopulation was needed to crew thelifeboat, leaving only a few men and thewomen to launch her. Each station hasits stories of courage; Holy Island,where the women turned out in theblinding snowstorm of a January nightto launch the lifeboat, 60 helperswading waist deep into the sea to getthe boat afloat; Runswick, where thefishermen's wives used to launch thelifeboat which, when the fishing fleetwas caught out in bad weather, wouldescort their husbands to safety; Cress-well, where Margaret Armstronghelped to drag the lifeboat half a mile tothe sea and then ran five miles alongthe coast, waded across a storm swol-len river and finally collapsed when shereached Newbiggin Coastguard stationto tell the officers that the rocketapparatus was needed; Newbigginitself, where the cry used to be: 'Everyman to the boat and every woman tothe rope'.

The ladies of Dungeness brought thelong and honourable tradition right upto the present day; ladies like MrsSerena Fair, for instance, who servedas a launcher for more than 50 years;like Doris Tart, Ben Tart's wife, whoserved for 44 years; and like JoanBates, wife of the late honorary sec-retary, Mick Bates, who served for 37years.

The worst launch Mrs Fair recallswas in 1929 when her husband, Edwin,was in the crew. The storm was sosevere that a man in the stern of thelifeboat could not be seen from the

bow. In those days there was no radioso the launchers, cold, soaked andexhausted, used to huddle around astove, awaiting the return of thelifeboat and the important job ofrecovery.

7 never expected to see them again,sometimes,' said Mrs Fair, 'but J nevermissed a launch.'

To meet the returning lifeboat theheavy woods were laid across thebeach and then the boat was hauled upwith a capstan pushed around by menand women alike; there was no electricwinch in those early days. It took twohours to heave the boat up.

'It was never a woman's job,' saysBen. 'It was too hard. But there was noone else to do it.'

Launching can make great demands,too. When the lifeboat hits the sea thedepth of water is critical.

'If she meets a sea going in, she's allright,' Doris Tart explains. 'If she meetsa drawback (as the sea recedes), you'rein trouble. But when the pin's gone,she's away.'

On February 11, 1974, the 42ft beachlifeboat Mabel E. Holland met a'drawback' when she launched intohurricane force winds to take a seri-ously injured man off MV Merc Texco.The conditions were the worst everexperienced at the station and thelifeboat was swept broadside on to thehuge breakers. As the launchersdashed down the beach to haul her upfor another attempt, Ben Tart grippedthe wheel and made a snap decision.The lifeboat started lifting on the nextwave and he drove her out stern first.

Somebody watching the launchthought that the lifeboat would over-turn and had reported this to the press,so there was little rest for Joan Bateswhen she returned to the house and thetelephone after helping to launch thelifeboat.

'That night, Mick and I kept gettingcalls asking if the boat had capsized.'

Doris Tart had been blown off herbicycle twice on her way to the lifeboathouse.

'The only time I was really worried,'she said, 'was the night of the MercTexco.'

When the lifeboat returned, Doristhought it was too rough for the boat tocome ashore. It was so bad that themen who waded into the sea to connectthe winch wire were secured with arope so that the other launchers could

hold on to them should they be sweptoff their feet.

The women of Dungeness allremember the terrible storms, the longrun between the houses before roadswere built, banging on doors to alertthe crew and their wives, the dinnersleft on the table to go cold, the bliz-zards, the drenchings and thenthe sitting and waiting, making coffeeor soup for their husbands' return.

Waiting. That is perhaps the hardestof all the contributions made to thelifeboat service by the wives of crewmembers. And they give, and theygive, and they give again. The part theyplay is fully appreciated by their hus-bands. Keith Bower, second coxswainof Torbay lifeboat, said after the rescuewhich earned him a gold medal:

'/( was probably more difficult for mywife than for me. I had a job to do all thetime, whereas she could only contem-plate the hazards we were facing.'

'It's the women, waiting at home, thathave the worst of it.'

is the verdict of Matt Lethbridge, cox-swain of St Mary's lifeboat and threetimes silver medallist.

A)i round the coast, lifeboatmen'swives are very actively involved in rais-ing funds for their stations; and theyare backed up by the members ofladies' lifeboat guilds in towns and vil-lages throughout the land on whom theInstitution puts such dependence.

The first organised ladies' commit-tees were formed at the end of the lastcentury. Following the tragic loss of 27men from the St Anne's and Southportlifeboats in 1886, Sir Charles Macara, aLancashire businessman, analysed theincome of the RNLI and found thattwo-thirds of it was provided by abouta hundred people. In 1891 he foundedLifeboat Saturday, the first-ever char-ity street collection, and a year laterLady Macara organised the first LadiesAuxiliary Committee, in Manchesterand Salford. A network was soonestablished throughout the country andin 1921 a Ladies' Lifeboat Guild wasformed, absorbing earlier organisa-tions. The Duchess of Portland waspresident of the guild and Sir GodfreyBaring, chairman of the RNLI,announced at the Institution's annualmeeting:

'We, on the Committee of Manage-ment, anticipate great things from thatguild. We hope we shall soon be able torake in a good deal of money and it hasled the Institution to take a step which Ican only describe as being revolutionaryin character. We have placed two ladieson our Organising Sub-Committee . . .may I say at once to those who may be,perhaps, a little nervous at suchrevolutionary proceedings, that this isnot our old and esteemed friend the thinend of the wedge—it would beunchivalrous to compare a lady withanything so prosaic and dull as awedge . . .'

The 1921 Committee of Managementcan hardly have envisaged just what

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Dungeness: (right) The women launchers onthe job, and (below) Mrs Joan Bates. (I.) andMrs Doris Tart at the Royal Festival Hall afterreceiving gold badges awarded to them fortheir many years service as launchers.

Photograph by courtesy of Peter Hadfield

'great things' the ladies' guilds wouldachieve in years to come, for the guildshave raised millions of pounds for theRNLI. Some individual members have,indeed, devoted almost their entirelives to ensuring that the money tobuild and maintain the boats wouldalways be there. It was not, however,until 1975 that two ladies, Lady Nortonand Mrs Georgina Keen, were electedto the Committee of Management.

Lady Norton and Mrs Keen hadbeen active fund raisers for many yearsand both admit that the invitation tojoin the Committee came as a sur-prise—and an honour. They feel that,as well as taking their part in the nor-mal work of the Committee itself, theyhave an important role in opening upbetter communications between theCommittee and the branches, guilds,crews and their wives. Regularlyattending RNLI functions, they wel-come the opportunity of meeting andtalking to lifeboat people. Also, as MrsKeen says:

'The ladies' role can be a little broaderthan fund raising. We try to learn moreabout the other aspects of the service onvisits to the coast.'

An expert on the operational, as wellas the fund raising, side of the RNLI isMrs Maire Hoy, honorary secretary ofClogher Head lifeboat station. MrsHoy's husband was the honorary sec-retary for eight years and, when he diedsuddenly, the district inspector oflifeboats, Cdr Acworth, asked MrsHoy if she would take over as a tem-porary measure. That was 18 years agoand Mrs Hoy now regards it as aneveryday job.

'/ didn't find any difficulty taking over.I was in contact with the job as my hus-band was the honorary secretary. I justtake it in my stride.'

Mrs Hoy's deputy launching author-ity is the harbourmaster and they usu-ally consult about lifeboat launches.She finds no difficulty working with themen of the crew and, as she is alsoresponsible for the station's fund rais-ing, she enlists their help as collectors.

Sally Parker, the wife of CrewMember Michael Parker, is alsoactively and deeply concerned in therunning of a station branch. She is sta-

(Right) Borth: ILB CrewMember Anna Hubbard outon exercise with CrewMember leuan Griffiths andHelmsman Ronnie Davies.

(Below) Dr Margaret Shim-min, honorary medicaladviser, with (I.) CoxswainKenneth Henry and (r.) Sec-ond Coxswain WilliamAnderson.

photograph by courtesy ofAberdeen Journals

tion administrative officer at Mudefordand, living near the boathouse, is closeat hand to fire the maroons and helplaunch the D class ILB. A strongswimmer. Sally did not hesitate when,one November day in 1974, a man fellinto the Run and was carried into tur-bulent water near Bass Rock. While theILB was being launched, she jumpedin, swam to the man and brought himback to the quayside. For her promptand courageous action she wasawarded the Royal Humane Society'stestimonial on parchment.

Another lady at the 'sharp end' of theservice is Dr Margaret Shimmin, hon-orary medical adviser of Aith lifeboat.She is the GP for the Bixter area ofShetland and her two predecessors,both local men, were lifeboat doctors.Dr Shimmin was a little apprehensiveabout being the only woman on thelifeboat and also thought the crewmight feel inhibited. Her first call camein 1974 when a steel hawser snapped onthe factory trawler Schiitting andwrapped around the first and secondmates. Dr Shimmin remembers theincident well.

'There was a bit of lumpy water, as theShetlanders say. There was no rope lad-der long enough to reach the lifeboat so

the trawlermen threw down a rope. Thesecond coxswain tied a knot around mywaist and they hauled me up the side ofthe trawler. I gave first aid but the menneeded a hospital so we sailed to Scal-loway . . . I wasn't sick on the lifeboatwhich gained approval.'

Dr Shimmin is also chairman of thestation branch and was proposed forthe office by Coxswain Ken Henry, sothe rope trick must have worked! Shewas president of the ladies' guild forsome years and held all three jobs con-currently. Aith lifeboat does not get alarge number of calls but, as DrShimmin says,

'. . . When they come, they are fairlynasty.'

Aith lifeboat has the extra role of fer-rying a doctor to offshore islands whenaeroplanes cannot go in and also acts asan ambulance. On exercise Dr Shim-min has had practice lifts from thelifeboat to a British Airways search andrescue helicopter.

Latest on the list of women's jobs inthe RNLI is ILB crew member. Therewas a reserve crew of women for theoffshore lifeboat at Coverack in thefirst world war, when many men wereaway fighting, but they never launchedon service. The first female ILBhelmsman, who qualified in 1970, wasElisabeth Hostveldt, an 18-year-oldstudent at Atlantic College where theILB is crewed by students. There arenow over a dozen women in ILB crewsthroughout the country and theirreasons for joining are much the sameas those of their male colleagues.

Kim Edwards at Gorleston becameinvolved as her father was in the crew.

continued on page 202

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Channel Islands

OUR MOST SOUTHERLY LIFEBOAT STATIONS

by Joan Davies

SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL Sailingwaters in the world; a cruising man'sdream in themselves and the gatewayto Brittany. Such are the seas whichsurround Alderney, Guernsey, Herm,Sark and Jersey and the many othersmaller islets and rocks which togethermake up the Channel Islands. Yet theseare waters which demand not only skil-led pilotage but also the utmostrespect. The very names of such off-lying hazards as the Casquets, RochesDouvres and the Plateau des Minquiersare at once evocative of that yearning'sea fever' recognised by every sailorand of the wariness and vigilance whichmust be at the heart of all good sea-manship.

In his 'Channel Harbours andAnchorages', Adlard Coles speaks of:

'. . . the varied coastlines, the strangerock formations, the sandy bays, theclear water and the constantly changingscene which results from a tremendousrise and fall of the tides . . . "Here right away, is the key to the

nature of these waters: the tide. Therange can be as much as 40ft and, ofcourse, the tidal streams run particu-larly strongly in the Race of Alderney.They also run like a recurrent themethrough the notes in the Admiralty'Channel Pilot'.

'The Channel Islands are encompas-sed by numerous rocks and shoalsrendered doubly formidable by the greatrise and fall of the tides and the greatrates attained by the tidal streams.

'Gales from between south west andnorth west send in the heaviest seasamongst the islands and this is accen-tuated by the strength of the tidalstreams . . .

'Overfalls and ripples form over sub-merged rocks and outlying banks whenthe tidal stream is running strongly; inpoor visibility such indications can beused to advantage . . . "

'Owing to the great range of the tide,rocks and islets have a marked differ-ence in appearance at high and lowwater . . . 'Indeed in some places, what at high

tide may appear to be an unobstructedsheet of water will be revealed by theebbing tide as an obstacle course ofsharp-toothed rocks waiting for theunwary.

Such a coastline presents dangers toshipping in fog as well as in gales, and itpresents a great challenge to lifeboatcrews. It is inevitable that, sooner orlater, in the worst possible conditionsfor inshore work, they will be calledupon to pick their way among theserocks. It is a challenge met by plaingood seamanship; by the local know-

ledge which comes from lifetimes ofexperience of pilotage in these exactingwaters; by an up-to-the-minuteapproach which enthusiasticallyembraces every available technicalfacility in the lifeboats themselves andin the professional back-up ashore; andby the lively co-operation whichflourishes between the RNLI and allthe other island services.

In fact the sparkle, the energy andthe sheer vitality of the sea is reflectedin everything to do with lifeboat workon the Channel Islands, be it opera-tional or fund raising; and there is aspecial extra element—a wonderfulcommunity spirit.

Station branchesGuernsey lifeboat station at St Peter

Port, established in 1803, and Jerseylifeboat station at St Helier, establishedin 1884, both have fast afloat lifeboats,and speed in itself can play a vital partin an area of strong, fast tidal streams.Sir William Arnold, a 52ft Arun (max-

imum speed about 19 knots), isstationed at St Peter Port, a stationwhich has been closely involved withthe development of the Arun class fromits earliest days. Thomas James King,a 44ft Waveney (maximum speed about16 knots) is stationed at St Helier.Since 1969 Jersey has also had a Dclass inshore lifeboat (capable of some20 knots) stationed at St CatherineBay, on the east coast.

Both John Petit, coxswain of St PeterPort lifeboat, and Michael Berry, cox-swain of St Helier lifeboat, are pilots.So is Jersey's second coxswain, FrankLawrence. All three of Guernsey'sdeputy coxswains—Lloyd de Mouil-pied, Peter Bougourd and MichaelScales—are professional seamen. Allother members of both crews are sea-men of long and tried experience, bethey professional or amateur.

Both station honorary secretaries areharbour masters: Captain H. L. Wolleyat St Peter Port and at St Helier Cap-tain R. S. Taylor, who is also thelaunching authority for St Catherine's1LB station. Each is responsible for theco-ordination of search and rescue inhis area, for there is no Coastguard onthe islands. Both harbour offices arecontinually manned and here, at thehub, duty officers are always on handto take control of rescue operationswhich may demand the active help of anumber of people and other organisa-tions both within and without theislands themselves. Like a stone drop-

The Channel Islands: Produced from a portion of BA Chart 5053 with the sanction of theController HM Stationery Office and the Hydrographer of the Na\y.

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1 in a pool, when a call comes the'es of activity spread out to encom-

not only the island people andL island organisations, but also,perhaps, SAR organisations on themainlands of England or France.

The immediate circle of ripples, ofcourse, brings in the lifeboat crews.When a call comes the maroons arefired by the harbour officers, who willthemselves be in direct radio contactwith at least some of the crew membersworking within the confines of the port.The local telephone exchanges arealerted and, from carefully preparedcrew lists which they hold, they knowexactly who to call. Jersey has foundfrom experience that most of its callscome at the weekend and two crewmembers are on stand by from Fridayevening unti] Monday morning.

One member of Guernsey lifeboat

station who is always at hand in anemergency is the branch chairman,Jurat Guy Blampied. As soon as thelifeboat is called out he goes down tothe port signal station and remainsthere until the boat is on her way in; bythe time she reaches harbour he isdown on the jetty ready to work thediesel pump and look after the land-ward side of refuelling; and by the timethe crew have moored the boat andcome ashore he will have hot tea wait-ing for them.

The circles spread out next to localservices. St Helier lifeboat stationworks closely with the States of JerseyFire Service, which itself has twoinflatable rescue boats permanentlymanned and ready to be trailed to anypart of the island to deal with bathingand holiday incidents ('We beat themon the east coast, with our own ILB!'claim the crew.) The RNLI's ILB isstationed in St Catherine Bay and isclosely linked with St Helier YachtClub. She was donated by the club andis manned by club members and, onceagain, a crew is on stand by throughoutthe weekend. As well as watching over

holiday makers and sea anglers, she canback up the club's own guardboat in anemergency; St Catherine Bay is afavourite sailing water for dinghy rac-ing and off the breakwater the tide canat times prove too strong to allow cap-sized dinghies to be righted.

Guernsey lifeboat station worksclosely with the St John Ambulance,which not only runs the land ambul-ance service but also a high speedmarine ambulance, Flying Christine II.Flying Christine may well be madeavailable to help with sea searchesunder the RNLI direction; equally, thelifeboat may bring a sick or injured per-son from one of the smaller islands orfrom a ship when the weather is tooextreme for Flying Christine. Amongmany other services which it performswith supreme efficiency for Guernseyresidents and visitors, the St JohnAmbulance also has inflatable inshorerescue boats on trailers housed at theambulance station ready for round-the-clock immediate use, and alsoinshore boats moored in St Peter PortHarbour. It also maintains a fullyequipped cliff rescue trailer complete

Fast afloat lifeboats at Jersey and Guern-sey: (above) 44ft Waveney Thomas JamesKing, stationed at St Helier, and (left) 52ftArun Sir William Arnold, stationed at StPeter Port.

photograph by courtesy of'GuernseyEvening Press'

with portable searchlight and, of greatimportance, a mobile radar unit whichcan be taken to any part of the coastand which is an invaluable aid in com-bined search and rescue operations atsea.

Combined. That is the heart of thematter. On each island the lifeboat sta-tion knows that it will have unstintedhelp from everyone: the States depart-ments, the Police, the Fire Service, theAmbulance Service and also the Air-port, from which VHP DF bearings areimmediately available. A great deal ofthought has gone into planning, withparticular attention being given toarranging direct and immediate com-munication between all the services.When, in February 1978, the oil rigOrion ran aground on Guernsey's westcoast and a major incident developed,everyone knew what had to be done;each service played its part with confi-dent authority; and every islander whocould help ashore—taxi drivers, forinstance, and hoteliers—pulled theirweight. The success of the operationproved the value of all the preparatorywork. For his part in this service, Cox-swain John Petit was awarded thesilver medal for gallantry.

The ripples may well widen out toinclude SAR services across the sea.The Channel Islands lifeboat stationsare in close communication with Brix-ham Coastguard and also with searchand rescue services in France: theCentre Regional Operational de Sur-veillance et de Sauvetage, SecteurManche (CROSSMa), established atJobourg near Cap de la Hague; Frenchcoast radio stations; and the FrenchCoastguard. To the north, servicehelicopters from the English mainlandmay well work with Guernsey lifeboatgoing to the help of a ship in the Chan-

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Coxswain Michael Berry of St Helier (I.),who was awarded the silver medal for gal-lantry for the service to the yacht Bacchus in1973, with the late Coxswain Thomas JamesKing, who was awarded the gold medal forthe service to the yacht Maurice Georges in1949. photograph by courtesy of

'Jersey Evening Post'

(Below) Hubert Petit, coxswain of St PeterPort from 1948 to 1964, was awarded boththe KNLI's gold medal and the gold medalof the Norwegian Lifeboat Institution forthe service to Johan Collett in 1963. Withdeep regret we announce his death last Julyat the age of 79.

Coxswain John Petit of St Peter Portreceives from HRH The Duke of Kent a thirdbar to his bronze medal; it was for the ser-vice to the Greek freighter Cantonad in lastJanuary's storms. John Petit has also beenawarded the silver medal, for the senice tothe oil rig Orion in 1979.

photograph by courtesy of Peter Hadfield

nel, while further south it may be a Pro-tection Civile helicopter from Francewhich joins a search and rescue opera-tion. Liaison is also good with lifeboatstations along the neighbouring Frenchcoast.

The speed of the two modern Chan-nel Islands offshore lifeboats has meanta great/ saving of time in reaching acasualty. Equally, by the use of alldirection finding aids available, a casu-alty can usually be located with theminimum delay; with DF bearings fromcivil airports and from CROSSMa, andwith radar signals received by thelifeboats' own radars and, roundGuernsey, by the St John Ambulancemobile radar, a good working 'fix' can,on most occasions, quickly beobtained. All lifeboats and all shoreestablishments, French and British,carry a chart of the area on which a gridhas been superimposed to help in co-ordinated searches.

On the spot information about acasualty can, perhaps be obtained fromother responsible people in outlyingparts of the islands; like, for instance,the port officer of Alderney Harbour.In fact, a few sentences from the jour-nal report of Guernsey lifeboat's ser-vice in 1975 to the tanker Point Law,aground in a south-westerly gale on theextreme south-west tip of Alderney,illustrate well the sort of co-operationthat can be expected:

" . . . Sir William Arnold then stoodby, being held by her engines stern to thesea within 100 yards of Point Law. Atabout 0300 MFV Christmas arrived andlay off astern of the lifeboat. She carriedAlderney pilots on board who were ableto advise Coxswain Petit when heenquired regarding rock hazards nearby.Meanwhile, Alderney Fire Brigade andCliff Rescue Team arrived at the top ofthe 300ft cliffs and helped in illuminatingthe area with searchlights . . . '

This was the service for which Cox-swain Petit was awarded a bar to hisbronze medal (he has since beenawarded two further bars). A bronze

medal was also awarded to EmergencyMechanic John Robilliard, who ferriedsix of Point Law's crew across to thelifeboat, rowing an inflatable dinghysecured on a veering line.

They are busy lifeboat stations, inthe Channel Islands. Throughout thesailing season the waters are alive withyachts and motor cruisers, smallmotorboats and dinghies. With somany small boats at sea there is, ofcourse, a good deal of self help andlifeboat crew members speak highly ofthe seamanship displayed in badweather by yachtsmen from the islandsthemselves and from Britain or France.The pleasure boats most at risk areperhaps yachts chartered on theFrench coast by people with littleexperience (when Jersey lifeboat goesalongside a French yacht, DerekSeymour, a crew member of manyyears standing and a good linguist, cangive invaluable help as interpreter).There are calls to fishing vessels andcommercial ships, particularly forGuernsey lifeboat, stationed as she issome 15 miles south of the EnglishChannel shipping lanes. With ferrieslarge and small, with hydrofoil ferriesand with aircraft daily plying to andfrom the mainlands and between theislands the lifeboats are in fact watch-ing over the safety of many thousandsof travellers by air and sea.

Gold medalsSince the end of the last war, the gold

medal for conspicuous gallantry hasbeen awarded to a coxswain of both StHelier and St Peter Port lifeboats. Thegold medal of the Institution and thegold medal of the Norwegian LifeboatInstitution were awarded to the lateCoxswain Hubert Petit of St Peter Port(father of the present coxswain) for theservice on February 5, 1963, to theNorwegian vessel Johan Collett, listingheavily 14 miles west north west of LesHanois Lighthouse. In winds rising to

storm force, very rough seas, snow andbitter cold, nine men were successfullytaken off the listing ship, the last sixwhen she was on her beam ends. Forthis service the bronze medal was alsoawarded to John Petit, then a crewmember, and to Motor Mechanic EricPattimore, both of whom received theNorwegian Lifeboat Institution's silvercup with a diploma.

The gold medal was awarded to thelate Coxswain Thomas James King ofJersey for the service in a single screwreserve lifeboat on September 13, 1949,to the yacht Maurice Georges with fourpeople on board. The lifeboat wasreturning to station after a long searchfor a missing French aircraft throughrain and fog in very rough seas, when alight flashing sos was seen; despite thefact that the lifeboat was running shortof fuel, Coxswain King without hesita-tion took her inshore, found the yacht,which had been driven in among rocksnear La Sambue after her anchor cablehad parted, and, in the face of severehazards, towed her clear and back toport. Jersey's present lifeboat is namedafter Coxswain King who, in hisninetieth year, was present to seeThomas James King named by HMQueen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in1975.

It was for a service to another yacht,Bacchus, driven in among the rocksnear La Sambue by west-south-westerly gales that Coxswain MichaelBerry was awarded the silver medal in1973. Despite grounding on submergedrocks, Coxwain Berry felt his wayslowly in and took off the yacht's crewof six. The Fire Service Zodiac rescueboat had also launched to help, but, asit was considered too dangerous for herto make the return passage, her crewwere taken aboard the lifeboat and sheherself was taken in tow. Jersey har-bour launch, Duchess of Normandy,manned by Captain Taylor and lifeboatcrew members, was standing by andhelped to guide the lifeboat out from

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among the rocks. Co-operation yetagain.

Lifeboat appealsThe Channel Islands not only have

an impressive operational record; theirfund raising record is also quiteremarkable. When, for instance, in theearly 1970s new fast afloat lifeboatswere needed to replace more tradi-tional boats, both Jersey and Guernseyrose to the occasion magnificently.

The chairman of Jersey branch, JuratR. E. Bailhache, opened an appeal in1972 to fund a new lifeboat, the futureThomas James King, and in less thantwo years he was able to present to theInstitution a cheque for £100,000, thecost in those days of a 44ft Waveney;£3,500 came from a sponsored boardingboat row by six members of the lifeboatcrew from St Peter Port to St Helier butmost of the remaining money was builtup with donations from individuals andorganisations within the island, whichhas a population of some 72,000.

At just about the same time, anappeal was under way in Guernsey forthe future Sir William Arnold, and theisland people, some 52,000, managed toraise £55,212, more than half the cost,then, of an Arum. £40,000 had been thetarget set, but money kept coming in.There were very few large donations. Itwas a community effort representing across section of the island's activitieswith contributions coming from clubsof all kinds, from schools, from churchcollections, from flower shows, frompeople who opened their gar-dens . . . There was another sponsoredrow, this time by the Police from Sal-combe to Guernsey, when well over£1,000 was raised.

These results are even more impres-sive when it is remembered that theseappeals were quite separate from ordi-nary annual fund raising. During thoseyears Jersey, for instance, collectedover £13,000 for general funds in 1972and over £10,000 in 1973. It helps ofcourse, that a great many people will becoming to the islands on holiday but theresidents are remarkably generous, notonly in what they give at the presentbut also in the thought they give to thefuture so that bequests play an appreci-able part in branch income. The islandshave a very good record, too, forShoreline recruitment.

In Jersey a flag day is only permittedonce in three years. The total revenuefor those years is phenomenal: 1975,£20,355; 1978, £31,980. But the inter-mediary years are not all that farbehind! It is the ladies' guild, with itslong history reaching back to the 1920s,which organises the flag day. The menhelp, of course. The guild honorarytreasurer is in fact a man, P. E. F.Newbald, and the crew members makesure that boxes are distributed to allpubs. There is one hotel just across theroad from the harbour office, thePomme d'Or, very sympathetic to thelifeboat service; George, the barman,

always has a box at the ready and withmoney thus collected and raffles ofwoolly animals provided by the ladies'guild, he has raised more than £9,000since 1967.

Jersey ladies' guild has a committeeof 35 to 40 members and each of the 12parishes on the island is represented.As well as receiving many regular sub-scriptions, between them they plan allkinds of other ways of raising money:coffee mornings, bridge parties, collec-tions of used stamps and coins, perhapsa sponsored slim or a house opened inconjunction with the Flower Club. Abring and buy sale at Church House in1978 proved a great success; it was abeautiful day, banners were streamedacross the street in St Helier andholidaymakers came pouring in. Morethan £1,100 was raised between 10o'clock and 1230. Two open days havebeen held at the lifeboat station andsouvenir stalls are run at a number ofevents, such as race meetings.

Boat showsVery often Jersey fund raising events

are local efforts but the second ChannelIslands Boat Show (the first was held inGuernsey last year) brought everyonetogether. The show, from May 1 to 5was the first to be held in St Heller'snew Exhibition Centre at FortRegent—and very bright and attractiveit was too; the RNLI stand was the firstvisitors saw as they entered thehall. Many of the ladies' guild membershelped with manning including thechairman, Lady Thompstone, vice-chairman, Mrs Eileen Moore, and hon-orary secretary, Mrs. S. D. Felkin.Eileen Moore had arranged for threelocal celebrities—ex-boxer BillyWalker, the singer Stuart Gillies andthe Irish comedian Pat Mooney—tovisit the stand and autograph prog-rammes. The yacht basin, where boatswere also on show, was visited byThomas James King on the Thursdayand Saturday and one way and another,with souvenirs, raffles and boxes,£1,173 was raised.

The occasion was also taken for theladies of the guild to meet together inother ways. Lady Fitzpatrick, wife ofHis Excellency the Lieutenant Gover-nor and the guild president, held areception for the guild at GovernmentHouse on the evening of the openingday of the Boat Show, and the next dayMrs Betty Simms-Hilditch arranged aluncheon party at her home. Twodelightful occasions in themselves anda wonderful opportunity to reviewguild affairs informally.

In Guernsey, fund raising is sharedbetween the branch and the ladies'guild, which was formed after theappeal for the Arun lifeboat was closedin 1973. Between them, in 1977 theyraised £ 16,075 and in 1978 £23,574. Thebranch's sphere is in the main subscrip-tions and collecting boxes. Lt Cdr J. R.Thompson is the box secretary andmanages to keep an amazing 200 'in

play'; it takes three visits a day, sevendays a week, to keep them emptied andin 1978 alone, between them, they col-lected £3,600. He has boxes housed inpubs, in hotels, in jewellers shops;there are boxes on ferries, atHerm—even as far afield as Spain. Topcollections in 1977 and 1978 (£196 and£575 respectively) were both achievedby Bob Roberts, mine host at HoumetTavern up in the north of the island.

The branch also has an RNLI roomin the museum in Castle Cornet. It is asmall room, but bright and wellarranged. For instance, the Arun modelmade by Robert W. Brown, set in a'sea' and giving a fine impression ofspeed, is flanked by plans of theboat—a profile and general arrange-ment. The case for this and models ofearlier lifeboats were made by the Col-lege of Further Education, and a ser-vices board has particular impactbecause the position of each incident ismarked on a map. Money collected atthe museum by July this year, £283,was three times as much as had beentaken by the same time last year.

Guernsey ladies' guild has steadilyincreased its totals from £1,664 in 1974to £5,574 in 1978—and it has done itwith a spirit of great exuberance. A lotof laughter accompanies the hard workin Guernsey and, with Mrs AlbertaAshton as chairman, overflowing withenergy, enthusiasm and fun, that isreally no surprise. The year starts witha fund-raising luncheon, goes on to anEaster dance and then settles in to vig-orous souvenir selling; assistant honor-ary secretary Mrs Joan Bagley, wife ofthe author Desmond Bagley, is thehardworking souvenir secretary. Bet-ween May and August the guild's'Lady Goodwill' model lifeboat stall isset up each week in St Peter Port's OldMarket; in October Creasey's, adepartmental store, allows the guild toset up a stall within its precincts for aday and a half to sell Christmas cards;then for three weekends beforeChristmas the stall is set up in the FishMarket. That means a very early startand is one of the occasions when theladies are most grateful for the helpreceived from their husbands. AsAlberta Ashton writes in one of hercheerful poems, thanking the men:

'300 women in the guild,600 hands are always filledWith work, for raising lots of cash.While doing it with much panacheThey sometimes need a kindly manTo help them to complete a plan . . . "

A great deal of money raised comesin coin, and, with £1,404.26 taken lastyear at the Fish Market, this has meanta great deal of hard work just at thefestive season for the honorary treas-urer, the Hon. Mrs Nicola Renny.Manning is planned by Mrs LeslieFoss, the honorary secretary, who isparticularly skilled at matching friendsto work together.

Of course, there are other, more

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individual, events during the year suchas coffee mornings and bring and buysales (at one held in February there is aspecial stall for unwanted Christmasgifts). One member not only collectsstamps, but she sorts them into sets.

Each year Guernsey guild tries toarrange one very special event, a 'redletter day' which everyone will enjoyand remember. This year it was twofirst class demonstrations on one day inBeau Sejour, the same venue as thedance. In the afternoon there was ademonstration of flower arranging byFred Wilkinson who, coming fromWinkfield, the school started by Con-stance Spry, has arranged the flowersat Windsor Castle and BuckinghamPalace for a number of Royal weddingor birthday celebrations. In the eveningSarah Nops of the London CordonBleu School of Cookery prepared asplendid four-course dinner whileeveryone watched. This year, in fact,

with the Easter dance, the demonstra-tions at Beau Sejour and a gift of £500,the guild raised £1,314.44 in just 28days.

Sark takes part in Guernsey's flagday each year, and so does Alderney.

AlderneyAlderney: now there's another

remarkable island. It has a populationof only 1,800 and yet, in 1978, it sent toGuernsey for lifeboat funds some£3,187.29—and it is just as generous tomany other charities. Everyone knowseach other so that there is a family feel-ing about the island's fund raising. Andat the heart of the 'family' is Mrs JoyceAllen, who, an untiring worker herself,has the gift of getting the best out ofeverybody. Perhaps someone will holda cocktail party, or go carol singing, orsell vegetables from the garden—verypopular with the many yachtsmen whovisit Alderney Harbour in the summer.

One gift of £100 was the percentage ofan antique dealer's sales; and rafflescan be of anything from chocolates to abrandy cake made by an ex professorof surgery at St Thomas's Hospital!There is 'something' going on allthrough the year, but the main eventsare centred around flag day in July,when Guernsey crew are welcomeguests. As well as the flag and souvenirselling on the day itself, a cocktail partyis arranged for the previous evening.Friendship with Guernsey crew is closeand much prized. If ever Sir WilliamArnold should have occasion to comeinto Alderney Harbour at the end of aservice, the crew will be very welllooked after; and when the Alderneylifeboat people visit Guernsey they areequally well entertained by the crew.

Holiday islands? Perhaps, but howhard the Channel Island volunteerswork for the lifeboat service, at sea andon land.

Long distance walkerWhen 21-year-old Guy Pain arrived

at Poole headquarters at 5 pm oneAugust afternoon the office was closingbut a special celebration in his honourwas ready to begin. For Guy, who suf-fers the handicap of diabetes, hadreached his destination after a 515 milewalk round the South West PeninsularCoast Path which had begun atMinehead lifeboat station 28 daysearlier.

Calling at other lifeboat stations enroute, where he was greeted by lifeboatcrews and supporters, Guy was spon-sored for every ten miles walked andraised over £3,000 for the lifeboatservice.

Guy, whose home is in Solihull, isstudying accountancy and he plannedhis walk months in advance encour-

aged and supported throughout bymembers of the Lions Club of GreatBritain.

Among those waiting to welcomehim and photographed with him above,were Rear Admiral Wilfred Graham,director of the RNLI, who presentedGuy with a plaque, and Des Chaplin ofPoole Lions Club.

ObituariesIt is with deep regret that we

announce the following deaths:November, 1978^

James Henry Brown, who joinedCaister lifeboat crew in 1914, was sec-ond coxswain from 1941 to 1949 andcoxswain from 1950 to 1956.July, 1979

Richard Harris, motor mechanic ofShoreham lifeboat from 1930 to 1938and of Torbay lifeboat from 1938 to1966. He was awarded four bronzemedals, in 1939, 1944, 1959 and 1964.

Eustace Williams, motor mechanicof Newburgh lifeboat from 1941 to1965.

Reginald Hawthornthwaite, amember of Newbiggin-by-the-Seabranch for 17 years and at one timevice-president.

Women's Work

from page 197

Debbie Stewart, now in the Aberyst-wyth ILB crew, originally trained atAtlantic College where there are sixgirls on the crew. Jeanne O'Gorman isan instructor at the Outward BoundSchool at Aberdovey where the villageand school each provide crew mem-bers. Anna Hubbard, who is marriedwith three children, has lived in Borthfor most of her life and has always beenat sea in various boats.

Of course there is nothing new aboutgirls rescuing people at sea. The mostfamous of all, Grace Darling, had a lotin common with today's girl crewmembers. Like them, she was used toboats and the sea—her father was alighthouse keeper. She regarded it asnatural to help the shipwrecked sur-vivors of Forfarshire and her fathertook it so much for granted that hemade no mention of Grace's part in therescue when he wrote a brief accountof it in his log.

The main problem today's girls faceis one which Grace Darling found farmore wearing than her rescue: the pub-licity. Some people have even sug-gested that the tremendous attentionthat Grace received from the newspap-ers, well-wishers and even showmen,who wanted her to appear in a circusand on the stage, may have contributedto her early death. The pressures ontoday's girls are nothing like as greatbut they would still prefer to be leftalone to get on with the job of fittinginto a crew. As Anna Hubbard says:

' Why focus attention on women crewmembers when the men have done somuch without receiving any recognition?It seemed a natural thing to me to jointhe crew as I have always beeninterested in the sea. My husband andfamily were not particularly surprised.'At Borth, all crew members have to

know how to handle the ILB and alltake turns at the helm. Like any othernew crew member, Anna felt she had toprove herself, '. . . perhaps more thanthe others, as I'm a woman'. JeanneO'Gorman also joined because itseemed '. . .a natural thing to do. Yon

are doing something to help people.'Once the girls have proved they are

capable of handling an ILB they seemto have been readily accepted by themen, and treated like any other crewmember. The criteria for joining crewsapply to anybody, regardless of sex.Fitness is essential, for ILBs can givethe crew quite a pounding. The abilityto form part of an efficient team is vitalas in emergencies there is no time fordelay or argument. Crew membersmust also be trainable—the sea is noplace for the arrogant or the foolish.

It would be impossible to relate allthe stories of the bravery, devotion andself sacrifice that women have shownin their work for the RNLI. Each couldform the chapter of a giant book whoseforeword would surely be the words ofCoxswain Derek Scott of TheMumbles:

'From the time the lady sold her flagor arranged her coffee morning to raisefunds—that is when the rescue startedand not when the maroons were fired.Anybody who works for or supports thisInstitution in some way is responsible forthe preservation of life at sea.'

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Naming Ceremonies

EASTBOURNE, JULY 3

and

ISLAY, JULY 28

Eastbourne

IT SEEMED AS IF the whole populationof Eastbourne, together with itsholiday makers, had assembled roundthe lifeboat museum on the afternoonof Tuesday July 3. The occasion wasthe naming of Eastbourne's first newoffshore lifeboat in 30 years, and it wasappropriate that it should be a perfectsummer's day.

The 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat TheDuke of Kent had been provided as theresult of a special Jubilee year appealby branches and guilds to honour theirPresident, with Eastbourne itself rais-ing over £75,000 towards the cost of thelifeboat. HRH The Duke of Kent hadaccepted an invitation to name thelifeboat, and his arrival by bright redhelicopter was the signal for loudcheers of welcome.

L. A. Lelliot, chairman of East-bourne station branch, opened the pro-ceedings, greeting the Duke of Kent,the station's guests and everyone pres-ent at the ceremony.

Rother 37-37 was handed over to thecare of Eastbourne station by theDuke of Atholl, carrying out his firstformal duty as newly elected chairmanof the RNLI. Accepting the lifeboat onbehalf of the branch, Alderman CecilF. Baker, station honorary secretary,assured His Grace that

'. . . with such a wonderful boat, thecrew will be able to carry on the long-standing tradition which has been estab-lished in Eastbourne'.

The service of dedication which fol-lowed was conducted by the LordBishop of Lewes, the Right Reverend

Peter Ball, assisted by the Vicar ofEastbourne, Canon C. Best, and by theVicar of Langney and Lifeboat Chap-lain, the Reverend R. Butler. Music forthe ceremony was by the Rhine StaffBand, Royal Tank Regiment, under thedirection of Major C. V. Wright.

Before naming the lifeboat andbreaking the bottle of champagne, theDuke of Kent expressed his gratitudethat his name had been chosen by theRNLI, and noted that the occasion wasunique because he had never named aboat on dry land before:

7 have been assured by those whoshould know, that this lifeboat can float!and I look forward to returning to East-bourne in the not too distant future, totake a trip in her.'

The Duke then went aboard with CdrB. Cairns, chief of operations, andCoxswain/Mechanic Derek Huggett.The inspection over, a miniaturereplica of The Duke of Kent was pre-sented to His Royal Highness by LisaBuckland, daughter of Winchman E.Buckland, as a fitting reminder of thehappy occasion.—H.D.

_

Eastbourne: (top) All the world and his wifecame to wish the new Rother lifeboat well,(above) The moment of naming, (left) LisaBuckland presents a model of The Duke ofKent to His Royal Highness.

photographs by courtesy of Peter Hadfield

Islay

CLOSE ON A THOUSAND islanders, visi-tors and their guests crowded the pierand harbour at Port Askaig, Isle ofIslay, on Saturday July 28 for the nam-ing of the new Islay lifeboat, the thirdto be stationed there since the branchopened 45 years ago in 1934.

To welcome the guests, Mr and MrsFrank Spears, branch committee andladies' guild workers, entertained 200people to tea in a marquee on the lawnof their hotel overlooking the station.

At 5.20 pm, three maroons were firedand immediately Coxswain AlastairCampbell and his crew brought their50ft Thames class lifeboat smartly intoposition just off the ramp of the newlyfinished vehicle ferry pier and the IslayPipers led the branch chairman, Alas-tair Macrae, and his party to the nam-ing platform. A welcome touch of col-our was added by the fishing boatsRanger and Windy Isle representing thefishing fleets at Port Ellen and PortAskaig. Western Ferries' Isle ofGigha,which provides the link with the adjoin-ing Island of Jura, was gaily dressedoverall and crowded with spectators.

The combined Bowmore and PortEllen Gaelic Choirs opened proceed-ings, singing the National Anthem inGaelic, and there followed a service ofdedication conducted by the Parish

203

Minister, the Reverend Ian R. Munro.Catriona Campbell, daughter of

Motor Mechanic Archibald Campbell,then presented a magnificent bouquetto Mrs George Mallinckrodt, who wasto name the lifeboat, and Neil Macmil-lan, the branch honorary secretary,read messages of congratulation fromthe Duke of Atholl, Chairman of theInstitution, and good wishes from thebranch president and vice-presidentLord and Lady Margadale and their

Islay: (above) The 50ftThames class lifeboat Hel-mut Schroder of Dunlossitarriving on station, (left)More than 200 guestsflanked the dais to which theIslay Pipers had led thebranch chairman, AlistairMacrae, and his party.Others watched from thepier parapet or the highground surrounding the tinybay that forms Port Askaig.

son, the Hon. James I. Morrison.On behalf of Islay branch, Mr Mac-

rae thanked the Schroder Family Trustfor their generosity in making the build-ing of the new lifeboat possible andasked Bruno L. Schroder formally tohand over the new lifeboat to theInstitution.

In an amusing speech, Mr Schroderreferred to his own enthusiasm andsupport for Islay lifeboat and told howhe had inherited it from his late father.

Their business had always been bank-ing, but their family originated from animportant European seaport and theyhad always had a close affinity withthose who go to sea in ships. While itwas sad that it was now ten years sincehis father had died, it was a matter ofgreat satisfaction and pleasure to him-self and his family that all the Schrodergrandchildren were present, making itvery much a family affair. The bondwith the Institution was furtherstrengthened by the presence of RobertHollond, a director of Schroders andalso a member of the RNLI Committeeof Management.

Sir Charles McGrigor, Convenor ofthe Scottish Lifeboat Council,accepted the lifeboat on behalf of theRNLI and, in turn, gave her into thecare of the branch, on whose behalf shewas accepted by Neil Macmillan. MrsW. C. Wood, president of Islay ladies'guild, then proposed a vote of thanks.

Mrs George Mallinckrodt, the daugh-ter of the late Helmut Schroder, namedthe lifeboat Helmut Schroder of Dun-lossit in memory of her father and, assoon as the bottle of champagne wasbroken, the crew brought the boatalongside the pier to embark some ofthe guests. They were taken for a shortcruise up and down the Sound of Islay.

Among a large party from DunlossitHouse one particularly welcome guestwas Mrs Helmut Schroder, the late MrSchroder's widow.

COMING EVENTSNovember 21: Naming of Margate

lifeboat by HRH Princess Alexandra.January 3 to 13: London International

Boat Show, Earls Court.May 22: RNLI annual meeting and

presentation of awards 1980.

HOW SELLINGsouvenirs and gifts

BUYS LIFEBOATS

THE RNLI has been selling souvenirs forwell over half a century. The word'souvenir' indicates what the main pur-pose originally was.

Small items which were expected toappeal to visitors to lifeboat houseswere put on sale, and these served toremind visitors of the work of thelifeboat service. Souvenirs were alsosold by branches and at variousfunctions.

The range of items sold as souvenirsgrew steadily over the years, and intime an appreciable income wasderived. Indeed the point was reachedwhen it was thought advisable to estab-lish a special department whose taskwould be to market goods for sale.

An important step was taken when itwas decided to establish a trading com-pany. This came into being in 1972 and

Douglas Brown was appointed tradingmanager. Over the years the scope ofthe trading company has been extendedgreatly.

In 1976 an illustrated catalogue wasproduced showing the items available.At the same time we formed a smallselection committee representing across section of lifeboat people toimprove the range of souvenirs. Wehad to bear in mind that sales would bedirected not only to lifeboat stationscatering for casual holidaymakers butalso to serious buyers who were look-ing for something for their own homesor, indeed, for presents to take back totheir families.

There is now a range of 94 items var-ying in cost from a few pence to severalpounds, as well as eight Christmascards. The next logical step was tooffer a mail order system to supporterswho are not necessarily members ofour branches and guilds.

It could well be argued that a com-mercial mail order firm could take overthis business and offer a much widerrange of items without the RNLI pro-

viding the capital costs. You have onlyto look at the various catalogues avail-able to see that other charities offer forsale a large variety of goods fromdusters to decorated table ware. Butwith our system all the profit goes tothe lifeboatmen and not to financing acommercial firm. In addition our smallstaff gives a personal service and oursupporters are not greeted with ashower of computerised invoices withwhich it is virtually impossible toargue.

This year we shall be selling £lmworth of goods and, even after deduct-ing every conceivable expense,souvenir and gift trading will providethe cost of a new lifeboat.

Our aim now is to increase the valueof, say, 20 per cent of the goods avail-able so that with the same numericalturnover and without additional hand-ling and warehousing the financialreturn will be greater. At the same timewe must retain a range of smaller itemswide enough to satisfy the visitor tofund-raising events and the holiday-maker.—E.F.P.

204

Some

'A Queen's Gala' at Pitcaple Castle,Inverurie, on Sunday June 10 raised£1,600 for the lifeboat service. Duringthe afternoon six scenes from the life ofMary Queen of Scots were danced onthe lawn by pupils of the Anne TaylorSchool of Dancing (see below). Maryhad visited Pitcaple in 1562 and hadherself danced on the castle green. The

audience was brought right back to thepresent, however, when a Bristowhelicopter, named Pitcaple, arrivedoverhead!

Crew Member Colin Burdenorganised a sponsored swim in aid ofEastbourne lifeboat appeal in whichover 80 swimmers took part, raising£2,581.72. Colin himself raised £900;14-year-old Paul Davies raised £244and John Delauney, a lifeboatlauncher, raised £187.

A weekend at the Anchorage Hotel,Instow, includes a programme of filmsmade by the hosts, Steven and SylviaWhitaker, on their own adventurousholidays—diving beneath the Carib-bean, for instance, or climbing Strom-boli. The show is free, but when thelights come on a lifeboat collecting boxis passed round. In this way Mr andMrs Whitaker have raised £229.41'/2 forthe RNLI since August 1976.

The RNLI ladies' darts league ofRomney Marsh has this year nearlytrebled its efforts, raising £1,412.07. SirAlec Rose was guest of honour on'prize-giving' night, presenting theleague awards. That night there was aspecial raffle the proceeds of which,£700, was divided equally between theamenities funds of Littlestone ILB andDungeness lifeboat stations. To showits appreciation for the work of theleague, Littlestone crew, as a personalgift, has presented a silver shield whichwill be the award for the association'snew summer league.

By kind permission of the NationalTrust, a cheese and wine partyorganised by the recently re-formedCrewkerne branch was held in themagnificent setting of MontacuteHouse great hall, beautifully lit byfirelight and huge candelabra on thecentre table. More than 200 guestsattended the party and over £325 wasraised.

When Ilford branch holds its annualflag week it gets marvellous supportfrom the pupils of Fairlop JuniorSchool. This year the children raised£314.29 with a sponsored swim, sold£97.08 worth of souvenirs and collected£6.75 in flag week boxes plus another£1.63'/2 in a permanent box, making agrand total of £419.75'/2.

The Heron Public House, Luton, ofwhich W. Rooke is licencee, raised£500 for the RNLI in 1978 and by Julythis year had already raised a further£500. A pram race on June 10 alonebrought in £211.

Camberley branch raised £1,900 lastJune with its second sponsored walkwhich started at The Jolly Farmer andmade its way via The Foresters, TheBird in Hand, Fighting Cocks, King'sArms, White Hart, Three Mariners,The Bee, Windmill and The CricketersHotel in Bagshot Cricket Club for a'bangers and mash' supper; among the111 walkers was a former radio officerwho had been among those rescued byNewcastle lifeboat from Browning of

(Right) 'Queen's Gala', Pitcaple Castle (see above): In the second ofsix dance scenes portraying the life of Mary Queen of Scots, theyoung Mary (Julia Moir), in 1548, is rowed out to her ship for Franceby George Douglas (William Lumsden).

(Below, right), Grace Darling, led by Philip and Annette Rydin, pullsGrace Darling on stage during Kiddlington branch's second old tymemusic hall, held at Exeter Hall in May. On board is Miss Oxford 1979,Debbie Risk. The event made i900 profit for the RNLI.

photograph by courtesy of Bob Wheeler

(Below) There's many a slip on the way to the horse's head! Just oneof the games, some old, some new, thought up by Happisburghbranch to test the skills of those attending its fete in May. At the endof the day £218.16 had been raised.

205

Acker Bilk and his Jazzmen were the big attraction at thegrand ball organised by the recently re-formed Brightlingseaand District branch. Held in the spring at a holiday campowned by the branch chairman, D. L. Hammerton, the ballraised £1,800 and the tombola a further £1,000. FenlandGrowhouses Ltd kindly gave a greenhouse to be auctioned.(I. to r.) Bowman Bobby Kemp, Walton and Frinton lifeboat,D. L. Hammerton, Acker Bilk, Captain R. Coolen, Harwichstation honorary secretary, and Crew Member David Wellsfrom Clacton.

kl A T i n N M U|FE-BOAT INSTITUTE

One event to which people in and around Narbeth look forward each year isNarbeth branch's fork supper. The Queen's Hall is decorated with flowers inRNLI colours, flags, silhouette ships and lighthouses and even seagulls, and thesupper, prepared by members, is both a delight to the eye and delicious. Withdancing, a souvenir stall, raffles and tombola, it is a very happy evening. OnMay 12 this year, although numbers were limited to 300 a profit of £870.14 wasmade for the RNLI. (Front row, I. to r.) Mrs Joan Marshall, Mrs JuneHarding-Jones, Mrs Rosemary Jones (honorary treasurer), Mrs PamLangrishe, Mrs Janet Thomas, Mrs Dilys Hanmer (who was in charge ofcatering), Joan Davies (RNLI editor), Mrs Sandra Wood (chairman) and MrsMercia Thomas.

Martyn Joyce, the young son of Loughborough and the Dis-trict branch's publicity officer, David Joyce, raised £28 in fiveweeks selling RNLI souvenirs at his school, Rothley PrimarySchool. Martyn presented the money to Loughboroughbranch honorary treasurer at a charity fayre on Mountsorrelvillage green last May.

Members of the top form of Kensington High School visit Whits table ILB sta-tion. The school had just raised £1,000 from its summer carnival, the proceedsbeing shared between Kensington branch and its station 'twin', Whitstable.Also among the visitors were top walkers from Kensington's annual sponsoredwalk which last year raised over £400 and which was strongly supported bypupils from the High School.

The boys of Eton College chose theRNLI as a charity to which they wouldlike to donate a Chapel collection and acheque for £90.67 was sent to help thelifeboat service.

Liverpool after her convoy ran agroundoff Co. Down in February 1942, a ser-vice for which Coxswain PatrickMurphy was awarded the gold medal. Alittle later in June, 150 people enjoyeda traditional garden party organized byCamberley at the home of the branch'spress officer, Joan Collings, and hersister, Margaret, when £270 was raisedfor the lifeboat service.

Dulwich Hamlet Junior School hascontributed £758.11 to the ASA RNLIinternational sponsored swim appeal.

On Saturday, March 17,Orpington branch set up adisplay in Wallnuts shoppingcentre and in a nine-hourstint raised £192. On dutywhen the photograph wastaken were Mike Reynolds,chairman, and Ray Hem-ings, committee member.

Falmouth ladies' guild held a highlysuccessful coffee morning in Maywhich raised £508. Howard Lang, Cap-tian Baines of 'The Onedin Line', verykindly went along to draw the raffle.

Fancy dress costumes brightened upa dull and rainy May 28, the day ofWeymouth Trawler Race. Weymouthlifeboat, the Arun class Tony Vander-vell, led out the trawlers to the line andfired a maroon to start the race. Theproceeds of the day, £500, were givento the RNLI.

'Newly-weds' Mr and Mrs NoelLeaf, son and daughter-in-law ofCoventry ladies' guild's chairman,greeted guests for the second time intheir 11 years of marriage at a mockwedding reception held at the home ofMr and Mrs Cecil Gay last June to raisemoney for the lifeboat service. Invita-tions were £1 each and guests broughtgifts which were left wrapped and sold'sight unseen'. In all, the event raised£90.

When Shoreline member G. Reevebroke his leg last spring he charged hisfriends and colleagues at WestminsterCollege, Oxford, lOp to sign the plas-ter. More than £15 was raised for thelifeboat service by this novel idea.

206

Eastbourne crew and shorehelpers, who have already raised nearly £3,000towards the cost of their new lifeboat, present two cheques for the Eastbourneappeal to Alderman Cecil Baker, station honorary secretary. (I. to r.) R.Andrews, shorehelper; T. Walker, ILB crew member; G. Cole, crew member; D.Hendy, ILB crew member; Alderman Baker; J. Delawny, shorehelper; J. Buck-land, assistant mechanic; V. Cooley, shorehelper; F. Tyhurst, head launcher; E.Buckland, winchrnan; B. Hamilton, shore signals; M. Charlton and F.Wakefield, shorehelpers. photograph by courtesy of Eastbourne

Gazette and HeraldAt a very successful coffee morning

organised by Bridlington ladies' guildin the spring the Mayor and Mayoress,Councillor and Mrs Ken O'Brien, pre-sented the prizes for the grand drawand Lady Mary Macdonald of Sleat,the president, handed over to the RNLIa cheque for £750, bringing Bridlingtonguild's total to date for 1979 to £1,750.

Seaton Sluice branch's cheese andwine party, organised by Mr and MrsW. Midgley and held in the banquetinghall of Seaton Delaval on Tuesday June12, was attended by Rear AdmiralWilfred Graham, then director desig-nate, and Ken Thirlwell, DOS (NE).The evening's entertainment included afilm of Blyth lifeboat made by MrHartshone and music by the 'CannyLassies', who sang and played theNorthumberland pipes. There was atombola and the raffles included a spe-cial prize of two tickets to a mediaevalbanquet at Seaton Delaval Hall. A pro-fit of £180 was made for the RNLI.

A 24-hour darts marathon was staged last March by the dartsteam of the Royal William, Camber, in aid of Rye HarbourILB and Dungeness lifeboat stations. Although only 200 peo-ple live in Camber there was no shortage of helpers and in the24 hours 281 games were played, £400 being raised. The teamwere (back row I. to r.) Michael Aggis, Ronald Davies andJames Harkin; (front row) Ian Frazer, Harry Glover, land-lord and skipper, and Terry Owen.

Swindon's flag week collec-tions, lottery and souvenirsales raised £1,036.81. Dur-ing the week, in April, aMercantile Credit Co win-dow display featured a scalemodel lifeboat made by thelate Ken Hemmings, whohad been a branch commit-tee member. The model nowbelongs to his young son,Robert, seen here admiringhis father's handiwork.

photograph by courtesy ofWiltshire Newspapers

For the second year, Droitwichladies' guild held a coffee morning atOmbersley Court, home of the guildpresident, Lady Sandys, and her hus-band, Lord Sandys. A grand total of£203 was raised.

Colne ladies' guild successfullyreached its target for 1978, raising£1,150. Committee members and theirchildren taking part in their final eventof the year, Colne Carnival, found thatin their oilskins and sou'westers, theywere dressed for the occasion—it wasan inclement day!

During the past six years Hadleighand District branch has raised morethan £3,800, of which over £1,000 hascome from special events includingwine and cheese parties, at one ofwhich Olympic yachtsman Reg Whitewas guest of honour, a bridge drive, acoffee morning and a dance.

For Newport (Gwent) branch,1977/78 was its most successful year sofar, £3,588 being raised. Despite appal-ling weather a cocktail party on Feb-ruary 14, for which the Mayor andMayoress of Newport were hosts,raised more than £1,050.

D. E. Marchant of Beckenham was,until 4 o'clock one Friday afternoon,the proud owner of a beautiful 6inmoustache. Then, at a farewell party tocolleagues at work who were transfer-ring to another branch, the moustachewas threatened. 'Pay me', he said, 'a£1 each for my chosen charity and youcan do what you like with it'. Now MrMarchant has a smooth upper lip, andthe RNLI is the better off by £17.

A raft race, discos and a barbecueaccounted for the bulk of the £1,000raised by Wood Green Rotoract Clubfor the lifeboat service. The club'spresident, Jim Dinsey, presented thisgrand amount to Wood Green branchchairman, Stan Brigg, last May on anoutsize cheque.

A sponsored walk on Sunday April 1proved to be Hoi worthy and District's'best ever' result since the branch wasformed three years ago; £861.05 wasraised.

In recognition ofRamsgate Sea Cadet Carp'scontinued help and support, T. Brown,station honorary secretary, Ramsgate,last spring presented an RNLI pennantto the commanding officer of TS Bulldog,LtJ. Willis, RNR.

photograph by courtesy of 'East KentTimes'

More than £7,000 was raised on Bir-mingham flag day. Two collectors eachraised over £200 and Robert Morris col-lected £40.61 in coins only in one box.

Ashford and Staines branch, entirelyrun by men, has excellent support fromThe Three Crowns and its customers atStanwell. In the past year alone it hasraised nearly £200 for the RNLI; morethan £110 was collected in boxes at thebars and £86.50 came from a sponsoredtug-of-war between the public and

207

saloon bars across the Longford River,a canalised river running along thesouthern perimeter of Heathrow Air-port. Needless to say, one of the teamsended up getting very wet, with victorygoing to the public bar. As well asmany other stunts, every time a box isforwarded for emptying there is aguess-how-much competition, with allmonies going into the box.

Kidderminster ladies' guild held itsnearly new shop in May and raised amagnificent £2,257.51, a record for thisannual effort.

Customers at the Bedford Hotel,Leicester, raised £102 for the RNLIwith darts tournaments and raffles, butthe landlord, J. Powell, collected thelion's share of the money when, undersponsorship, he shaved off half hisbeard and moustache and stayed thatway for a week.

West Wight ladies' guild held a din-ner dance at the Savoy Country Club,Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, last Februaryand raised £240. The annual wine andcheese party at the Royal Solent YachtClub this year raised £183 and a sherry

morning held at the home of Mr andMrs Postma raised a further £132.

Palm Line ships collect regularly forthe RNLI. On a recent 'count' LobitoPalm had collected £148.55, KanoPalm £88, Ibadan Palm £10.04 and llo-rin Palm £34.

Black Watch, one of the ships in theFred Olsen fleet, regularly displays alarge RNLI collecting bottle in the bar.People cruising give generously andmore than £100 is collected on eachtrip.

ShorelineSection

SHORELINE IS GOING THROUGH One Ofthe most exciting periods of its life. Atthe end of August the new Shoreline37ft 6in Rother lifeboat will be settingout on her delivery trip to Blyth and Iam hoping to join her at Spurn Point forthe last stages of her passage to station.Her naming will be on SaturdayOctober 20, when the ceremony will beperformed by Sir Alec Rose, Shorelinemember No. 1. Reports of both eventswill appear in the winter issue of THELIFEBOAT.

A first day cover to commemoratethe naming ceremony will be availablefrom Pilgrim Philatelies Ltd, 13 BestLane, Canterbury, Kent (Tel. 61859).

* * *Two new items have been introduced

into our range of insignia and both areavailable from the Shoreline office atPoole. The first is a green Shoreline tie,price £2.50, and the second is aShoreline sweat shirt, price £5.25 plus25p for postage.

* * *Portsmouth Shoreline Club has been

running for nearly a year now andenthusiasm is high. One evening lastJuly a group of more than 50 memberswent on an outing to Selsey lifeboatstation, where (see above) they were

welcomed by the honorary secretary,Des Cockayne, and Coxswain MikeGrant, recently awarded the Institu-tion's silver medal (see page 185).

Anyone living in the Portsmouth areawho would like to join this club, whichmeets on the fourth Wednesday of eachmonth at Tudor S.C., should write tothe honorary secretary, Ray Doram, 5The Close, Cosham, Portsmouth. Newmembers will be made very welcome.

We have heard that two similar clubsare being planned in other parts of thecountry and we shall be only toopleased to help anyone else interestedin forming such a club.

* * *Miss Ann Baldwin, a Shoreline

member from South Croydon, has beenraising funds with a delightful range ofhandmade lifeboat bears; some are 7

inches high and some, 14 inches, aredressed with great attention to detail aslifeboatmen. Miss Baldwin and herfamily often spend their holidays atBrixham, staying opposite to thelifeboat station, and she has muchappreciated the interest in her bearsand the help shown to her by Torbaycrew members. She makes coxswainbears (shown in the photograph below),mechanic bears and crew bears, and,with sales and a raffle, in two years hasraised £90.50.

Thank you again for your continuingsupport, and with best wishes fromeveryone in the Shorelineoffice.—PETER HOLNESS, membershipsecretary, RNLI, West Quay Road,Poole, Dorset, BH15 I HZ (Tel. Poole71133).

To: The Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ.I enclose subscription to join Shoreline as a:

Member £3.00 (minimum) DFamily Membership £5.00 (minimum) DMember and Governor £15.00 (minimum) DLife member and Governor £150.00 (minimum) DSend me details of how I can help with a Legacy. D

Name _

Address

Over 104,000 people would have been lost without the lifeboat service.

208

REVIEWS• Sir William Hillary, founder of theRNLI, was a man of considerable vis-ion who always pursued his ideasrelentlessly, though some of hisschemes were not realised until afterhis death. He_ proposed the formationof an international association forshipwreck (the International Life-boatConference was founded in 1924) andthe use of steam lifeboats (the first wasbuilt in 1888) but the finest memorial tohis work is the RNLI itself.

The story of his life, with its greatpublic achievements and constant per-sonal difficulties, is related withinterest and sympathy by Robert Kellyin For Those In Peril (ShearwaterPress, Church Road, Onchan, Isle ofMan, £4.75). By careful research MrKelly has produced a fascinating bio-graphy. His tendency to dramatise thesea stories is justified in the way that hebrings them alive.

Hillary became involved in searescue in 1822 when a severe gale bat-tered ships in Douglas Bay. He was oneof the volunteers who put out in rowingboats to the aid of the naval cutter Vig-ilant and when other vessels got intodifficulties he encouraged more men tohelp. Over 200 sailors were saved. Justten days later three boatmen fromCastletown were drowned while rescu-ing men from a Royal Navy brig. It wasHillary who persuaded the Admiraltyto grant pensions to their widows buthe was not satisfied with thesehaphazard rescue arrangements wheremen put out in their own boats with noreward and no security for their depen-dents. Hillary prepared his famousAppeal to the British Nation on theHumanity and Policy of forming aNational Institution for the Preserva-tion of Lives and Property from Ship-wreck and printed 700 copies at his ownexpense. The Admiralty sympathisedwith his aims but refused to give anypractical support. Then a meeting withan MP led to a number of influentialmen being called together to plan thenew body. They arranged a meeting inthe City of London Tavern, attendedby leading politicians, churchmen andphilanthropists, and the Institution wasfounded.

Hillary's whole career was doggedby financial troubles, which began atthe height of the Napoleonic wars wheninvasion seemed imminent. He raisedthe largest private army in the country,

the 'Essex Legion', which earned him abaronetcy but cost him his marriage,for he ran up huge debts using hiswife's property as security. He movedto the Isle of Man and, having foundedthe new Life-boat Institution, con-tinued to put to sea on rescues until hewas 63, though he could not swim. Theaccounts of these rescues show Hill-ary's personal bravery for which hereceived three gold medals. He died asad, lonely figure, still much respectedbut virtually bankrupt after his finan-cial affairs became hopelessly entang-led with a fraudulent bank.

Following one of his most famousrescues, when he was swept out of thelifeboat and broke six ribs, LordExmouth wrote to him:

'You, my dear friend, acted up fully toyour professed principles . . . How trulygratifying it must be to have set yourfriends in the world so noble an example.It is and will be admired by generationsyet unborn . . .'

This, then, is the story of a man ofcourage and conviction, a piece ofsocial history and a valuable addition toany library of lifeboat books.—R.K.

• Published after his death, FightingSail (Cassell, £9.95) is the last work ofthe distinguished naval historian,Oliver Warner, who was also theauthor of the official history of theRNLI, The Lifeboat Service, written aspart of the Institution's 150th anniver-sary celebrations in 1974. This finelyproduced new book, liberally illus-trated with pictures of both the shipsand the famous seamen who sailed inthem, was completed after MrWarner's death by Victoria Howard-Vyse. Mrs Howard-Vyse had helpedhim as his researcher for some yearsand she is herself a great-great-greatniece of Vice-Admiral Lord Colling-wood, Nelson's second-in-command atthe battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

An introductory chapter brings thestory of warfare at sea from the oar-propelled galley up to the preparationsfor the Spanish Armada in the late six-teenth century. The book, then gettingunder way, follows the story in greaterdetail until the coming of steam threecenturies later. The first steam-propelled ship to take part in an actionwas, in fact, HMS Diana; the date was1824, the year in which the RNLI wasfounded.

Going back to the mid seventeenthcentury, Mr Warner pays tribute toSamuel Pepys' exceptional mastery ofnaval business while he was Secretaryto the Admiralty:

'He established the officer structure;the ratings of ships; the contractual sideof provisioning; the surveying of homewaters, during the course of which Cap-tain Grenville Collins's charts set a highstandard of accuracy. He was no mereoffice man, for he went on voyages, onceto Tangiers. He took pains to understandthe entire business of shipbuilding . . . "

Pepys later became Master of TrinityHouse, a Baron of the Cinque Portsand President of the Royal Society.

Warfare at sea is far removed fromthe work of the lifeboat service, but MrWarner records one or two instances ofwhat must in fact have been a frequentoccurrence: the efforts made by thefighting men, even at the risk of theirown lives, to rescue their fellows andtheir enemies from the water. It is wellto remember, too, the debt all seafarersowe to those early naval officers whoso meticulously charted the seas.—J.D.

• Maritime Wales is now well estab-lished as an authoritative publicationeagerly awaited by all those interestedin the history of commercial shippingand fishing around our coasts. VolumeNo 4 has just been published andamong the varied and interesting con-tents are an article on herring fishing inWales by J. Geraint Jenkins, curator ofthe Welsh Industrial and MaritimeMuseum, Cardiff, and an article, 'Dis-charging the Vessel', in which BasilGreenhill, CMG, director of theNational Maritime Museum, considersthe crafts and skills involved in gettingthe cargo out of Ade, a pretty ketch of79 tons gross, and into a shed onAppledore Quay one early summer dayin the late 1920s.

Well worth its cost of £2, MaritimeWales No 4, edited by Aled Eames,Lewis Lloyd, Bryn Parry and JohnStubbs, is published by the ArchivesService of Gwynedd County Council,Caernarfon, LL55 1SH.—J.D.

• With the use of good similies TheYachtsman's Weather Guide by IngridHolford (Ward Lock, £1.95) employstechnical language to deal with a verytechnical subject as simply as possible.It explains the working of the weathermachine and gives practical advice toyachtsmen.

To the non-meteorologist (usuallyyachtsmen) this subject often presentsincomprehensible problems and thissmall book suitable for the saloon orchart table book compartment could bevery useful in bridging the gap andhelping yachtsmen and dinghy sailorsto get more practical help from the var-ious forecasts and visual signs.—E.J.

When you have read your copy ofTHE LIFEBOAT

PLEASE PASS IT ON

209

Letters...Welcome home

Your autumn issue of the journalwill, I am sure, give full coverage of theAGM in May and subsequent medaland award presentations, and 1 shouldlike to follow that up by telling you ofthe wonderful night we all had on thehomecoming from London of Cox-swain Brian Bevan and the crew ofHumber lifeboat.

Humber, at the tip of Spurn Point,must be one of the most isolated oflifeboat stations and we. the local peo-ple of Easington (some seven milesaway) and the surrounding district, donot get the chance to meet thelifeboatmen and their wives in afriendly or social way as often as weshould like. When, therefore, thewhole crew was 'off station', a situa-tion which again practically never hap-pens, we set to, determined to graspthe opportunity to show our localappreciation, in the best possible man-ner, for the proud honours brought tothe area.

So a committee was formed and adance organised for May 23, the dayafter the AGM, all the proceeds ofwhich would go to Humber lifeboatcrew amenities fund. Dr J. D. Busfield,the honorary medical adviser, wasinvited and transport was arranged tobring everyone from Spurn.

A champagne reception greetedthem; the medals—gold, silver andbronze—were put on display; and fromthen on the night was theirs to enjoyand unwind from all the formalities.'Santana County', a group from With-ernsea. supplied the music, togetherwith a disco, and for the raffle numer-ous fine prizes had been given by localpubs, clubs and shops, by BP Pet-roleum Development, Amoco, Humberand Grimsby Pilots, Humber Coast-guard and many indiv idua l people.

A cheque for £412.64 was presentedto Brian and his crew, which we hopewill make their life down at the point al i t t le easier. Also during the eveningHumber Pilots presented the crew witha plaque for their recreation room inrecognition of the gold medal service toRevi, and, to go to RNLI funds, MrsMary Hart of Hul l presented a chequefor £65, the result of a sponsored walk.

To sum it all up, from the fantasticresponse and turn out to the dance 1hope all the crew feel that they are apart of the community and know howproud we all are of them. In the wordsof the banner above the stage thatnight: 'Well done lads!'—MICHAEL A.WELTON, Sun House, Main Street.Easington, Nr Hull, East Yorkshire,Humberside.

A memorable day1 would very much like to thank all

those people who made my day at theRoyal Festival Hall on May 22 such amemorable one; one that I shall neverforget. I felt very proud and honouredto meet HRH The Duke of Kent and alsoCoxswain Brian Bevan. What bravemen he and his crew are; indeed 1 feltquite small standing near him waiting toreceive my gold badge, which I willtreasure all my life.

My one regret was that my dear hus-band was not there with me, although Ifelt his presence. He died not knowingthat I had been awarded such anhonour.

1 miss our former lifeboat, Mable E.Holland, very much but I am sure AliceUpjohn will do her duty. Once again,many thanks.—JOAN BATES, Mrs,Spion Hop, Dnngeness, RomneyMarsh, Kent.

The lute George L. 'Mick' Bates was sta-tion honorary secretary at Dungenessfrom 1965 to 1978.—EDITOR.

Understatement of great magnitudeAs a Shoreline member 1 read your

journal with great interest and appreci-

A beautifully written letter fromSusan Crook brought the newsthat the children oj Beach RoadCountry Primary School,Litherland, Liverpool, seen herewith Brian Stevenson,ADOS(NW). had beaten thetarget they had set themselvesto reach by July: £100. In factthe magnificent total was£106.24. £11 came as the resultof a treasure hunt.

Abersoch breakwater was'opened' in 1927 by the thenLord Howe who arrived for theceremony by lifeboat.

ation of the various mission reports. Tomy mind these latter are examples ofunderstatement of great magnitude.The simple, unvarnished descriptionsof the most hair raising feats of sea-manship cannot be beaten by any pro-fessional drama writer.

Having read each issue I pass it on toa friend in Texas, USA, whom I metduring the 1939-45 war in South EastAsia when we were both prisoners ofwar under the Japanese. His youngerson, despite a polio lameness, hasbecome an offshore small craft skipperoperating in the Gulf area. I have justreceived a letter from my friend. Lt-ColI. B. Hard (Rtd.) , and believe you willbe interested in an extract:

'. . . The RNLI journal is thoroughlyenjoyed here. 1 read it from cover tocover before forwarding it on to Jim! It ist ruly exhilarating to read of a group sodedicated to their task.'

L. J. ROBERTSON,23 Glen Court, River-side Road. Staines, TWI8 2LG.

Lleyn PeninsulaYour feature article on the Lleyn

Peninsula in the spring 1979 issue of theLIFEBOAT prompts me to write, particu-larly in connection with Abersoch, as Ifeel that my grandfather v i r tua l ly dis-covered the place as a holiday resort,having first taken his family there,including my father, for summer holi-day from Birmingham in 1885.

My grandfather died in 1912 but my

210

father visited every summer for amonth, as well as some Easters, Whit-sun holidays and at Christmas until1939 when he died, a total of 54 years.At his fiftieth visit the local people gavehim an illuminated address.

However, the purpose of this letter isto send you some photographs taken atthe time of the 'opening' of thebreakwater which was built through acommittee, of which I believe myfather was chairman, to protect smallcraft in the harbour, as opposed to theSt Tudwal's Roads. The ceremony wasperformed by the then Lord Howe,who was a member, and later chair-man, of the RNLI Committee of Man-agement and who arrived in Abersochlifeboat to perform his task. He wasalso a racing driver of considerablerepute and reckoned a fair time for theseven miles from Pwllheli to Abersochwas 9.5 minutes.

I believe the year was 1927, when ofcourse the place was totally different.The lifeboat house was on the westernarm of Abersoch Bay, a fair distancefrom the village and no made road toserve it. After the lifeboat station wasclosed the slipway became a very popu-lar spot from which to fish, but I havenot seen it since 1938 and it may noteven exist now.

As a matter of interest, there was, forvery many years, an annual regatta atAbersoch, long before South Caernar-fonshire Yacht Club was formed or itsclubhouse built. My father was com-modore of that regatta, which was runfrom a boat moored in the bay. Theboat formed one end of the starting lineand the course was round marker boats

anchored in the bay. The creation ofthe SCYC of course made a tremend-ous difference to the yachting facilitiesat Abersoch.—DONALD M. LEA, MeresFarm, Heronfield, Nr Knowle, WestMidlands.

First meetingWe, the joint owners of a small 15ft

GRP motor vessel named Content, wereenjoying a day's fishing last June whenthe propeller shaft sheared and wewere left in a somewhat helpless situa-tion. A radio call from another vesselwas answered by one of your lifeboatsout of Brixham being delivered to Fal-mouth; we were on her bearing and justfour miles ahead.

I must admit, on seeing a lifeboatbearing down on us and anticipating theleg-pulling we would surely have toendure from other boatmen I was wish-ing it was anyone else but me in theboat at the time, and true to form a ballwas had at our expense!

The reason for this letter, other thanto say a big thank you, is also to sayhow impressed I was by the characterof the crew of your lifeboat. While Ihave always held this breed of men inthe highest regard, this was my firsttime of actually meeting them; and itmade a lasting impression seeing menenjoying so much their work and alsoenjoying each other's company while atthe same time showing efficiency andprofessionalism.

No doubt to these men it was just ajob, taking in tow two fellows in a spotof bother, but their lighthearted matterof fact attitude and genuine concern wewill always remember and respect.—

L. R. MAY and N. SPRY, 27 CromerWalk, Southway, Plymouth.

Coxswain Arthur Curnow and CrewMembers B. Counter and J. Ashfordwere taking the relief 52ft Barnettlifeboat Euphrosyne Kendal/rom Brix-ham to Falmouth when, off Plymouth,Content got into difficulties. The lifeboattowed her into Cawsand (Plymouth).This letter, addressed to Captain B. J.Anderson, Torbay honorary secretary,accompanied a donation to stationfunds.—EDITOR.

Thank you, SheringhamAs a member of Shoreline and a

member of the crew of the steam lighterVIC 32, a converted Admiralty supplyvessel, I should like to thank the crewof Sheringham lifeboat for standing byus when, bound for Grimsby in July1978, we ran into very heavy weather.

It was fine when we started off fromGreat Yarmouth. The sea was calm andremained so until we reached Cromer.As we changed course to cross over theLincolnshire coast the sky darkenedand the wind increased its force, even-tually rising to force 7 gusting 8. Wewere on a lee shore; we were makingno headway against the sea; and wewere advised that we could not takeshelter at either Wells or Cromer.

After trying to 'stick it out' wedecided to put back and Sheringhamlifeboat came out to escort us intocalmer waters. The crew went to greattrouble on our behalf and, after we gotin to Great Yarmouth, we entertainedthem on board VIC 32, our skipper'swife making hot stew and tea.—R.ADAMS, 2 Milton Court, Coles Road,Milton, Cambridge.

Sixth national lotteryMELVYN HAYES and Val Meredoc, whowere appearing in 'It Ain't Half Hot,Mum' at the Pier Theatre, Bourne-mouth, came over to RNLI headquar-ters at Poole on July 31 to draw thesixth national lottery (right). Supervis-ing the draw were Vice-Admiral SirPeter Compston, chairman of the FundRaising Committee, and Cdr E. F.Pritchard, appeals secretary. The win-ners were:£1,000: D. Lusher, Rosyth, Fife.

£500: M. Girvan, Corby, Northants.£250: E. M. Parson, Newport, Gwent.

£25: D. G. Thomas-Noworthy, Hatfield,Herts; Mrs S. Heywood, Roxwell,Chelmsford; Miss E. B. Marshall, Grays,Essex; E. Savage, Dorchester, Dorset; MrPowys, Benbecula, Outer Hebrides; AgnesBrownlie, Carluke, Lanarkshire; V. C.Sainty, Bracknell, Berks; F. Morrison, Portof Ness, Isle of Lewis; Mrs P. M. E. Orr,East Grinstead, Sussex; MrsT. Hunt-Duke,Folkestone, Kent.

RNLI Funds have so far benefited byabout £150,000 as a result of the lot-teries, nearly £21,000 being raised bythe sixth lottery. The seventh nationallottery will be drawn on January 31,1980.

A commemorative cover celebratingRamsey lifeboat station's 150thanniversary is available price £1 pluslOp p. and p. from Inspector A. R.Quirk, 33 Queens Drive West, Ramsey,Isle of Man.

* * *In the second part of the article

'Lifeboats of the World', published inthe summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT, aphotograph was shown of Valparaisolifeboat, Chile. This lifeboat waswrongly described as an ex-RNLI 14mWatson. She is in fact an ex-RNLI 48ft6in (14.8m) Ramsgate type lifeboat.She was originally stationed at Waltonand Frinton and was named EMED.

'SUNSET OVER SAMSON': The Isles ofScilly ladies' guild has produced a longplaying record to be sold in aid of the RNLIand the first record was presented to Cox-swain Matthew Lethbridge and his wife Patby the guild's souvenir secretary, Mrs ClareJenkins; also in the picture below are Bow-man Richard Lethbridge, his wife June andSusan Howells who organised the project.'Sunset over Samson' is made entirely bythe people of the 'Friendly Islands': StMary's Male Voice Choir and MusicSociety, the Island Sextet, the Ladies Choir,the Scillonian Entertainers and the Isles ofScilly School of Flute Ensemble all tookpart. The record is available from Mrs R.Lethbridge, Maypole, St Mary's, Isles ofScilly, Cornwall, price £3.25 plus 40p p. andp.; cheques payable to Lethbridge andHowells RNLI record.

211

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212

Lifeboat Servicesfrom page 189

the west, the sea was slight and visibil-ity was excellent but the tide, whichhad been flooding for 3'/2 hours, wasstill rising.

The water had already risen abovethe girls' chests and was lappingaround their throats when the ILBarrived, and they were unable to move.Two men, a policeman and a passer by,had tried to walk the sewer pipe to thegirls but they, too, were almost up totheir necks in water. Crew MembersStoddart and Latcham jumped into thewater and swam with the girls to theILB as she was manoeuvring into posi-tion. The boat then took on board thetwo men who had been trying to helpand returned to station where, in theboathouse, the girls were treated by the

crews' wives for exposure and shockwhile they awaited the ambulancewhich had been called.

The ILB was rehoused and ready forservice at 1515.

North Western Division

Broken steeringON SATURDAY April 28, at 0700, HMCoastguard informed the honorary sec-retary of Port St Mary lifeboat stationthat a fishing vessel, Anjonika, wasdisabled 13 miles to the south east. Shehad been on passage, in ballast, fromBrixham to the Clyde via Holyheadwhen her steering gear had broken. Shewas lying broadside on to rough seasand snipping water.

The morning was clear with good vis-ibility, but a near gale, force 7, wasblowing from the north west. It waslow water.

Port St Mary's 54ft Arun lifeboat The

Gough Ritchie slipped her mooringsand had reached Anjonika by 0805.Going down the fishing boat's lee side,a tow rope was passed and, with hercrew of two, she was brought safelyback to the Port St Mary for repairs.

The lifeboat was back on her moor-ings and ready for service at 1210.

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY awards havebeen made to three Weston-super-MareILB crew members for their part in therescue of three boys trapped in a caveon the south side of Brean Down onNovember 12, 1978; it was a service forwhich RNLI awards were made andwhich was reported in the spring 1979issue of THE LIFEBOAT. Royal HumaneSociety testimonials on parchmentwere awarded to Crew MembersRichard A. Spindler and Anthony C.Blizzard and a certificate of commen-dation was awarded to HelmsmanNicholas J. White.

Services by OffshoreLifeboats, March, Apriland May, 1979Aldeburgh, SuffolkMarch 27 and May 26Amble, NorthumberlandMarch 29Angle, DyfedApril 30 and May 15Arranmore, Co. DonegalMarch 9, Hand 18Barmouth, GwyneddMay 19Barra Island, Inverness-shireMarch 24Barry Dock, South GlamorganApril 24, 28 and May 31Bembridge, Isle of WightApril 23Bridlington, HumbersideMarch 6, 12, 15, April 8 and May 28Broughty Ferry, AngusApril 24Calshot, HampshireMarch 28, April 9, 16 and May 2Campbeltown, ArgyllshireMarch 18Clacton-on-Sea, EssexApril 29Clovelly, North DevonApril 2 and May 15Cromer, NorfolkMarch 6 and May 22Donaghadee, Co. DownApril 10Douglas, Isle of ManMay 13Dover, KentMarch 3, 28, April 8, 15, May 12, 26 and 30Dungeness, KentMarch 8Dun Laoghaire, Co. DublinMay 16 and 25Dunmore East, Co. WaterfordMarch 18Eastbourne, East SussexMay 12Eyemouth, BerwickshireMarch 28Falmouth, CornwallMarch 8, April 9 and 28

Filey, North YorkshireMarch 12 and 28Fishguard, DyfedApril 27Flamborough, HumbersideMarch 12 and May 29Fleetwood, LancashireApril 16, 23, 25, May 13 and 14Fowey, CornwallApril 24Galway Bay, Co. GalwayMarch 29Girvan, AyrshireApril 22Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, NorfolkMarch 18, April 6, 13 and 18Hartlepool, ClevelandMarch 6, April 13 and May 15Harwich, EssexMarch 10, May 5 and 26Hastings, East SussexApril 17 and May 12Holyhead, GwyneddApril 20 and May 22Howth, Co. DublinMarch 1 and April 24Humber, HumbersideMarch 3, 6, 20, April 1, 4, 13, 15, 28, May13, 21,23, 27, 28 and 31Kirkcudbright, KirkcudbrightshireApril 18 and May 31Lerwick, ShetlandMarch 27 and May 13The Lizard-Cadgwith, CornwallMay 27Lowestoft, SuffolkMarch 4 and May 26Lytham-St Anne's, LancashireMarch 21Mallaig, Inverness-shireMarch 20, 22, May 15 and 26Margate, KentMay 26Montrose, AngusApril 7Newbiggin, NorthumberlandMarch 18 and April 19Newhaven, East SussexMarch 22, April 22 (twice), 27 (twice), 28,May 3, 6, 13, 15, 16 (twice) and 19Padstow, CornwallMay 15Penlee, CornwallApril 29, May 10 and 28Poole, Dorset

March 11 and April 17Port Erin, Isle of ManMarch 1Porthdinllaen, GwyneddMay 29Portrush, Co. AntrimApril 16Port St Mary, Isle of ManApril 4, 7, 28 and May 28Pwllheli, GwyneddApril 5Ramsgate, KentMarch 3, 22, April 2, May 7 and 28Redcar, ClevelandMarch 3Rosslare Harbour, Co. WexfordMay 28St David's, DyfedApril 19St Helier, JerseyApril 4 and May 26St Ives, CornwallMarch 3 and April 19St Mary's, Scilly IslandsApril 7, 8, 19, May 20 and 22St Peter Port, GuernseyMarch 30, April 20, 22, May 6, 17 and 26Salcombe, South DevonApril 15, 22, May 4, 11 and 28Scarborough, North YorkshireMarch 14 and 25Selsey, West SussexApril 27 and May 14Sennen Cove, CornwallApril 17 and 26Sheringham, NorfolkApril 5 and 16 (twice)Shoreham Harbour, West SussexMarch 11, 22, 31, May 12 and 15Skegness, LincolnshireMarch 1 and April 15Sunderland, Tyne and WearMarch 27Swanage, DorsetAprils, 13, 14, 16, May 11, 14, 19 and 28Teesmouth, ClevelandMarch 4Tenby, DyfedApril 2, May 1 and 26Torbay, South DevonApril 22, May 14 and 28Troon, AyrshireApril 15, 17, 21 and May 24Tynemouth, Tyne and WearMarch 18

213

Valentia, Co. KerryMay 10Walmer, KentMay 8Wells, NorfolkMarch 1 and April 16 (twice)Weymouth, DorsetMarch 16, April 15, May 7 and 23Whitby, North YorkshireMarch 26, April 15 and May 1Wick, CaithnessApril 10Wicklow, Co. WicklowApril 14 and 16 (three times)Yarmouth, Isle of WightApril 14, 23, 30, May 20, 23 and 28Youghal, Co. CorkMay 23Lifeboat ON 1058 on passageMay 30

Services by InshoreLifeboats, March, Apriland May, 1979Aberdovey, GwyneddMarch 7, 17, April 17 (twice) and May 28Abersoch, GwyneddMarch 24, April 5, 19 and 28Atlantic College, South GlamorganApril 15 (twice), 22 (twice), May 5, 6 and 29Bangor, Co. DownApril 27, May 14 and 20Barmouth, GwyneddApril 15 (twice)Beaumaris, GwyneddMay 6 (twice)Berwick-upon-Tweed, NorthumberlandApril 1 (twice), 22, May 12 and 22Blackpool, LancashireMarch 5, 21, April 22, May 18 and 27Borth, DyfedMay 31Bridlington, HumbersideApril 29, May 13 and 19Brighton, East SussexApril 13, May 15, 16, 25 and 26Broughty Ferry, AngusMarch 2Bude, CornwallMay 22 and 27Burry Port, DyfedMay 27Cardigan, DyfedApril 17Clacton-on-Sea, EssexApril 12 and May 7Criccieth, GwyneddMay 28 and 30Cromer, NorfolkMay 28Cullercoats, Tyne and WearApril 1,14, 20, 22, 23, 29, May 13 (twice)and 21Eastbourne, East SussexMay 12 and 16File), North Yorkshire

April 14Fleetwood, LancashireApril 22, 25 and 28Flint, ClwydMay 13Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, NorfolkApril 7, 13, 21, 25, May 8, 14, 16, 20 and 30Happisburgh, NorfolkMay 13Harwich, EssexApril 23, May 6 and 29Hartlepool, ClevelandMarch 11, April 30 and May 27Hastings, East SussexApril 17, May 16 and 19Hayling Island, HampshireMarch 3, April 22 and May 27Helensburgh, DunbartonshireMarch 11 and April 29Holyhead, GwyneddApril 20 and May 26Horton and Port Eynon, West GlamorganApril 17Howth, Co. DublinApril 23, 24, 29, May 11 and 28St Catherines, JerseyMay 26Kinghorn, FifeMay 13Kippford, KirkcudbrightshireMay 2 and 22Largs, AyrshireApril 7 (twice), 12, 15, 20, 29 (twice), May5, 13 and 28Littlehampton, West SussexMarch 13, 31, April 13, 25, May 7, 12, 13,16, 22 and 30Littlestone-on-Sea, KentMarch 5, April 8 and May 14Llandudno, GwyneddMay 6, 13, 20 and 28 (twice)Lyme Regis, DorsetApril 12, May 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30Lymington, HampshireMay 3Lytham-St Anne's, LancashireMay 12 and 17Mablethorpe, LincolnshireMay 13 and 29Margate, KentMarch 2, April 16, 20, May 5 and 30Moelfre, GwyneddMay 12Morecambe, LancashireApril 25 and 28Mudeford, DorsetApril 13 (twice) and May 6New Brighton, MerseysideApril 16 and May 29Newquay, CornwallMay 27 (three times) and 28Oban, ArgyllshireMay 4Peel, Isle of ManMarch 1Plymouth, South DevonApril 28 and May 6Poole, DorsetMarch 8, 11, 30, 31, April 20, 21, 28 and 29(twice)

Port Isaac, CornwallApril 1, 15, 16, 17, 18 and May 9Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour),HampshireMarch 12, May 7 (twice), 13, 14, 26 and 27Port Talbot, West GlamorganMarch 19 and May 30Queensferry, West LothianMarch 2, 20, April 29, May 13 and 28Ramsgate, KentMay 13, 27 and 29Red Bay, Co. AntrimMay 6Redcar, ClevelandMay 17Rhyl, ClwydApril 15, May 13 and 29Rye Harbour, East SussexApril 14, 16 and May 14St Abbs, BerwickshireMay 31St Ives, CornwallApril 14Scarborough, North YorkshireMay 30 and 31Selsey, West SussexMay 7Shoreham Harbour, West SussexMay 7, 26 (twice) and 31Silloth, CumbriaMay 2Skegness, LincolnshireApril 23, May 25, 27, 29 and June 1Southend-on-Sea, EssexMarch 12, 18 (twice), 31, May 17, 19 and 20(twice)Southwold, SuffolkMarch 1 and May 17Staithes and Runswkk, ClevelandMarch 19Stranraer, WigtownshireMay 17Sunderland, Tyne and WearMay 4Tenby, DyfedApril 17, 21, May 7, 26, 28 and 31Tignabruaich, ArgyllshireMarch 30 and April 24Torbay, South DevonMay 26 and 27 (twice)Trearddur Bay, GwyneddApril 14, May 25 and 30Tynemouth, Tyne and WearMarch 25, April 14, May 21 and 24Walmer, KentApril 14, 20, 29 and May 7Wells, NorfolkApril 18 and 22West Kirby, MerseysideMay 13West Mersea, EssexMarch 25, 29 and May 26Weston-super-Mare, AvonMay 13Whitby, North YorkshireApril 14Whitstable, KentMarch 17, April 22, 29, May 13 and 17Withernsea, HumbersideApril 3, 15,29, May 14 and 15

SERVICES AND LIVES SAVED BY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE LIFEBOATSJanuary 1, 1979, to July 31, 1979: Services: 1,173; lives saved 512

THE STATION FLEET(as at 31/7/79)

132 offshore lifeboats 127 inshore lifeboats operating in the summer50 inshore lifeboats operating in the winter

LIVES RESCUED 104,736from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to July 31, 1979

214

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Free IllustratedCatalogue from

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Classified AdvertisementsPROPERTY

CORNWALL. For sale or purchase ofwaterside and country property aroundFalmouth, Carrick Roads and HelfordRiver, contact R.E. PRIOR & Co, Char-tered Surveyors, 3 Market Street, Falmouth(Tel: 313636). Offices also at Penryn, Truroand Tregony.

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BRITISH WARSHIPS AND AUX-ILIARIES 1980. The complete 112 pageguide to ships of the Fleet. AvailableNovember. An ideal Christmas gift for useashore and afloat—packed with photo-graphs and information. Only £1.50 post freefrom Maritime Books (LB), Duloe, Lis-keard, Cornwall PL 14 4PE.

"ON SERVICE—Story of Lowestoft Life-boats". Copies available, 60p. R. W.Moore, 36a Gorton Road, Lowestoft NR324PL.

MISCELLANEOUSFISHERMAN'S SMOCKS, navy drill. Allsizes £5.95 delivered. Rockall Wear, 138Narrow Lane, Halesowen B62 9NX.

LIFEBOATS, SAILING BARGES ANDYACHTS IN MINIATURE

Retirements, Presentations and Trophies.Fully detailed replicas of individual boats,with crews, mounted on realistic sea basesin perspex showcase. Each a tiny gem pro-viding a truly 'live' unique miniature.Details: Brian H. Williams, Marine ModelArtist, 'West Rock', The Cleve, Kingsand,Nr Torpoint, Cornwall PL10 INF (0752)822638.

MEDITERRANEAN VIA CANALSAdvice, information or delivery. Write Cap-tain Ward, 4 Graydon Avenue, Chichester.Tel: 0243 784700.

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HOW YOU CAN HELPTHE LIFEBOATMEN

J O I N your local branch or guild

JOIN Shoreline, the membershipscheme

H E L P on flag days

BUY RNLI gifts and souvenirsSELL lottery tickets

G I V E a coffee morningC O L L E C T used stamps or foreign

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For further information write to:APPEALS SECRETARY,ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION,WEST QUAY ROAD,POOLE, DORSET, BH15 1HZ

When you have read your copy of THE LIFEBOAT, pleasepass it on

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The Captaintakes his hat off

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