THE JOURNAL OF THE RNLI

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Autumn 1978

/~^ — y. j. f^Y\ "f c* Notes of the Quarter, by Patrick Howarth 39

North Cornwall . . . visit of The Duke of Kent, president of the Institution, to five stations in North Cornwall 41

VolUme XLVI Lifeboat Services 42

Number 465 Dedication: Offshore—Inshore 49

Central Operations/Information Room, RNLI Headquarters, Poole 52 Chairman: MAJOR-GENERAL R. H. FARRANT, CB Coastguard . . . Lt-Cdr Tim Fetherston-Dilke, the new Chief Coastguard, talks of the re-organisation taking place within Director and Secretary: the servjce 53 CAPTAIN NIGEL DIXON, QBE, RN Annual General Meeting and Presentation of Awards 55

American Journey by Patrick Howarth 59 Managing Editor: PATRICK HOWARTH Shoreline 60

Edltor: Building a Rother Class Lifeboat: Part IX—Closed Circuits 61 JOAN DAVIES Here and There 62 Headquarters: Royal National Life-boat Institution, Some Ways of Raising Money 63 West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ (Telephone Poole 71133). Book Reviews 66

Letters 67 London Office: Royal National Life-boat Institution, offshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1978 69 21 Ebury Street, London SW1W OLD (Telephone 01-730 0031). . , , ... , . „ . .. , . .. , ,. .„_„ _„ K Inshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1978 70

COVER PICTURE Editorial: All material submitted for Advertisements: All advertising consideration with a view to publica- enquiries should be addressed to tion in the journal should be addressed Dyson Advertising Services, PO Box 9, British Petroleum and Bristow Helicopters to the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal Godalming, Surrey (Telephone are combining to provide an airborne search and rescue service based on BP Forties National Life-boat Institution, West Godalming (04868) 23675). Field but available to other oil companies Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ with North Sea operations and indeed to (Telephone Poole 71133). Photographs Subscription: A year's subscription of any ship in distress within 100 miles of intended for return should be accom- four issues costs £1.40, including post- Forties. Bristow's S-6IN aircraft, one of panied by a stamped and addressed age, but those who are entitled to which is seen here on exercise with envelope. receive THE LIFEBOAT free of charge Aberdeen's 54ft Arun class lifeboat BP will continue to do so. Overseas sub- Forties, make the Forties run daily. Now, in scriptions depend on the cost of post- an emergency, they can be diverted to either age to the country concerned. the Bravo or Delta platform where, within Next issue: the winter issue of THE 15 minutes, they can be fitted with a winch, LIFEBOAT will appear in January and refuelled and take on a BP rescue team. The news items should be sent by the end of The picture of the St Peter Port service to photograph was taken by James D. October. News items for the spring the oil rig Orion on our summer cover was Ferguson, a member of Aberdeen inshore issue should be sent in by the end of taken by Namemakers Ltd and we thank lifeboat crew. January. them for lending us this photograph.

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Weekend sailor or ocean-going mariner, would-be boat-owner or and inland waterways; the seashore; marine painting; mari- . armchair traveller, whatever your interest in ships and the water, time history and warfare: these are just some of the subjects the Maritime Book Society has a book for you. covered in a wealth of practical and information books. The Step-by step guides to the construction, maintenance and Maritime Book Society also tells the stories of great ships, sailors repair of boats of all types; sailing, power boating and water and explorers — from the Vikings to present-day adventurers like sports; weather forecasting, navigation and equipment; canals Robin Knox Johnston. As a member, you become entitled to take advantage of the hundreds of quality book bargains that Readers Union has on offer at any one time. Reference and reading books cover the Arts, Crafts, Gardening, the Countryside, history, travel and To: Maritime Bool^ocietetyy, PO Box 6, Newton Abbot, Devon biography. I would like to join the MARITIME BOOK SOCIETY 9 Publishers' Editions Please supply the 3 introductory books numbers I I I The Maritime Book Society offers publishers' own editions at a discount of up to 25% off the publisher's price and sometimes at the special introductory price of only 25p each (plus 75p total carriage) and I will pay upon receipt for any books I choose even more! (Allow up to 21 days for delivery) It I keep the introductory & Choose at Leisure books I will automatically become a member and agree to purchase at least 4 books (in addition to the introductory offer) You have time to choose the society newsletter comes to you during a year's membership and may resign thereafter. // / am FREE every two months. It is packed with the very best mari- not satisfied with the introductory books I may return them within 10 days and owe nothing. time books and all we ask is that you select four books during your first year of membership. We shall be surprised if you do Mr/Mrs/Miss not want to take more when you see the wide range offered in Address our bi monthly mailings and seasonal catalogues - all at big discounts. Maritime Book Society is run by Readers Union Signature (Signature of Parent or Guardian if under 18 part of the David & Charles Group •ND NO MONEY Maritime Book Society, Brunei House, Newton Abbot, Reg No 843946 generated colour animation film could On the occasion of the dinner given be produced to illustrate the system at by the Corporation of the City of Lon- the exhibition, a research programme don in the Guildhall to mark the 150th being undertaken by Harley Quilliam at anniversary of the foundation of the the University of Surrey, Guildford, RNLI, Richard Evans was asked to and planned to take a year was com- reply to the toast to the Institution. pressed into six weeks. Thus the film When he sat down the guests spon- used at the lifeboat exhibition was the taneously rose to their feet and first to be produced by a revolutionary applauded, a distinction accorded to new system. only two other speakers during the pre- The exhibition was opened by Jimmy ceding 30 years. They were Harold Savile, the television star and honorary Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home. lifeboatman, whose words when per- forming the opening ceremony made a International service deep impression on everyone presents: One of the international services 'People like us,' he said, 'find it easy provided by the RNLI which is not to stand on steps and say a few words generally known is the editing of an and open exhibitions like this, but it is an annual publication Lifeboat Interna- honour to do so, because of the tre- tional. This restricted circulation pub- mendous work done by lifeboat crews. We couldn't come up to the ankles, or lication came into being following the NOTES OF kneecaps, let alone stand shoulder to eleventh International Lifeboat Con- shoulder with the men that go out in ference held in New York in 1971, THE QUARTER these boats at any hour of the day or when it was agreed that there was a night to save people they don't know, no need to bridge the four-year gap bet- matter what creed, colour or race.' ween international lifeboat conferences through a journal which would record Lift-boatman Druid new technical developments. The by Patrick Howarth Richard Evans, the former Moelfre articles in Lifeboat International from coxswain and the most decorated living 1976 to 1978 will provide the basis for lifeboatman, acquired another distinc- the discussions at the next Inter- tion recently when he was admitted to national Conference to be held at The THE PROTOTYPE of a new lifeboat to the highest order of Druids. Richard Hague in April next year. bridge the gap between the smaller Evans was awarded the RNLI's gold Overseas visitors to the RNLI in offshore lifeboats and the Atlantic 21 medal twice. He received the Board of recent months have included Captain ILB is under construction. Among the Trade silver medal and the BEM. He D. W. Batchelor of the Canadian requirements for the new boat listed by also received an honorary fellowship of Coastguard, who has been entrusted the RNLI's Executive Committee were Manchester Polytechnic. with the task of setting up an Auxiliary that it should have a maximum length of 35 feet and an operating speed of at 'Right Way Up', the RNLI exhibition held at the Science Musuem, Ken- least 25 knots; that it should be fitted sington, this summer, was opened by with VHF/MF radio, radar and an echo Jimmy Savile, OBE. He is seen (right) sounder; and that it should be capable with Richard Oakley, MBE, (r.) of being launched by trolley from a designer of the first modern self- beach or, alternatively, lie afloat. Much righting lifeboat, the37ft Oakley, and of the original design work was William Sheader, BEM, first coxswain entrusted to the RNLI's inshore of the first 37ft Oakley, which was lifeboat base at Cowes. A model has stationed at Scarborough . . . been tank tested by the Wolfson Marine Craft Unit, Southampton Uni- photographs by courtesy versity, and W. A. Souters are building of Peter Hadfield the basic wooden hull. The project is being controlled by a working party led . . . and (below) Jimmy Savile at the by the RNLI's chairman, Major- helm of the Atlantic 21 on show with General Ralph Farrant. a 'crew' of Scouts.

Twenty years of self-righting The new 35 foot prototype is one of a wide range of new lifeboats which have been developed in the past two decades. An opportunity to examine lifeboat development during that period was provided by the Science Museum in South Kensington where the exhibi- tion 'Right Way Up', held from July 6 to September 3, told the story of self- righting lifeboats. Among those present at the opening ceremony were Richard Oakley, the designer of the first of the RNLI's modern self-righters, and Wil- liam Sheader, who was coxswain at Scarborough when, in 1958, J. Graves of Sheffield, the first 37ft Oakley lifeboat, went on station there. The 37ft Oakley depends on the transference of water for her self- righting capability. So that a computer 39 Coastguard Service on the west coast of Canada. The next social event to be staged by the American/British Lifeboat Appeal Committee will be a reception at the Fishmongers' Hall in the City of Lon- don on Monday November 13.

St Andrews' lifeboat Henry Longhurst, the famous writer and television commentator on golf who died in July of this year, was a distinguished raconteur. He had many golfing stories. One which, he assured me, was among his special favourites concerned a medal competition held at St Andrews in the days when St Andrews still had a pulling lifeboat. The competition was held in a gale and while it was taking place the St Andrews lifeboat was called out. One of the competitors, who had already played a few holes, on hearing the maroons fired, dashed off to take his place in the lifeboat. When the lifeboat service was completed he came back to finish his round, eventually winning with a score in the high eighties. St Peter Port lifeboat crew formed the guard of honour as Her Majesty The Queen embarked in her barge to rejoin HMY Britannia at the end of her visit to Guernsey on Wednesday June 28. Her Majesty spoke to every crew member, asking about the lifeboat, about recent services Birthday Honours and about what they each did for a living. photograph by courtesy of Brian Green QBE: Captain Nigel Dixon, RN (Retd), Calling all Mancunians: director and secretary of the RNLI. Manchester has a long and Captain Dixon joined the Institution as historic connection with personal assistant to the chief inspector the RNLI. The very first of lifeboats in 1967 and was appointed street collection was held secretary in 1970. in Manchester and Salford in October 1891, when MBE: John Mathers Drummond-Smith, £5,000 was collected, and member, Angus District Council. Jack over the years Manches- Smith has served on the Montrose sta- ter's citizens have funded tion branch of the RNLI for 40 years no less than 31 lifeboats. Recently the Lord Mayor and has been honorary secretary since of Manchester, Councillor 1955. He was awarded binoculars in Trevor Thomas, seen here 1966. with the Lady Mayoress visiting an RNLI exhibition Anniversary vellums in the new Arndale Shop- ping Precinct, launched A centenary vellum has been an appeal to fund a 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat to be called Manchester and District XXXII. awarded to Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat sta- Contributions from Mancunians 'in exile' in other parts of the country would be welcomed tion on the occasion of the 100th and should be sent to David Jones, district organising secretary (North West), RNLI, Princes anniversary of its establishment in Chambers, 26 Pall Mall, Manchester 2; cheques payable to Lord Mayor of Manchester's 1878, and vellums have been awarded Appeal. With the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress are (I. to r.) James Murray, ADOS (North to Ilfracombe, Holyhead, Barmouth West), David Jones, D. K. Redford, chairman of Manchester and District branch and and Peel lifeboat stations on the occa- Leonard Marshall, driver, Northern Depot. sion of the 150th anniversary of their establishment in 1828. Ramsey ladies' guild gave a special party in July for their president, Mrs Ann Ritchie, during Both Barmouth and Holyhead cele- which she was presented with the vellum to mark her election as an honorary life governor of brated their 150th anniversaries with the Institution. The presentation was made by Major Keith Groves, OBE, JP, a member of services of thanksgiving and re- Ramsey branch committee for nearly 40 years, chairman from 1958 and now president. dedication attended by many lifeboat people and conducted by the Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Gwilym Owen Williams, Barmouth on June 27 and Holyhead on August 22. New C of M members Two new members joined the Com- mittee of Management recently: Com- modore James G. Young, CBE DSC VRD DL RNR, who has been actively con- nected with the Institution's appeal to shipping, and Mr L. G. Booen, BSC FICE FI.struct.E, who has been a member of the Institution's Boat Committee since 1976.

40 North Cornwall . . . Five lifeboat stations in North Cornwall were visited on June 27 by our president, HRH The Duke of Kent. Such great interest did His Royal Highness take in all he was shown and in all the lifeboat people he met—crew members and their wives, station officials and fund raisers—that it proved a very happy and rewarding day. First call was at Port Isaac: (top, left) David Castle, honorary secretary, introduces (I. to r.) Jack Spry, deputy launching authority, and Crew Members Neville Andrews, Clive Martin, Richard Parsons and Harry Privitt (photograph by courtesy of Ray Bishop). The Duke also met the chairman of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Round Table, donors of Port Isaac's ILB, before watching a demonstration launch. Next Padstow: (top, right) Coxswain Antony Warnock presents (r. to I.) Second Coxswain Trevor England, Motor Mechanic Eddie Murt and Crew Members Chris Hughes, Peter Poole, Arthur May, Alf Prosser and Ricky Tummon. When inspecting the engine room of Padstow's lifeboat James and Catherine Macfarlane the Duke was offered cloths to protect his hands. 'They are quite unnecessary,' he told Eddie Murt, 'this place is so clean.' After lunch, the lobster for which was provided by Trevor England, who is a fisherman, on to Newquay (right). Newquay ILB had been called out just before the arrival of the Duke, who asked each of the crew for the service (I. to r.) Johnny Bennett, Barry Hyde and Paul Morris, what they had been doing when the call came; by the time the third man had answered, 'Waiting for you, sir,' everyone was laughing. The Duke also met the chairman of Newquay Round Table, donors of the boathouse. At St Agnes His Royal Highness presented vellums to Crew Members Barry Garland and Roger Radcliffe for the ILB service on July 17, 1977, for which Helmsman David Bliss was awarded the silver medal: unfortunately, due to illness, David Bliss could not be present; (below, right, I. to r.) The Duke with Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Instituion, Gerald Simmons, honorary secretary St Agnes, Dr H. Whitworth, branch chairman, and Lt-Cdr Roy Portchmouth, divisional inspector (SW) (photograph by courtesy of Robert Roskrow). The last visit was to St Ives. After inspecting a mobile training unit, meeting Geoffrey Kitchen, chairman ofSt Ives Lions Club, donors of the ILB, and taking tea with the ladies' guild, the Duke embarked in St Ives lifeboat, Frank Penfold Marshall (below, photograph by courtesy of S. Bennetts).

Duke of Edinburgh Award John Dew helped by Deputy Coxswain A silver plated replica of Chapman Light When HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Arthur Curnow and other crew mem- made by Morris Johnson was presented to visited Ivybridge last May he met bers. The final examination is given by Her Majesty The Queen in June by Convey members of Torbay crew who help to Captain Barry Anderson, station hon- Island branch; for 106 years the light teach young people working for his orary secretary. marked Chapman Sands, known as 'the last Award. In the first half of this year 30 hazard' to ships returning to the port of Torbay boys and girls won bronze and A kit of cod London. When Her Majesty drove past the RNLI stand at Essex County Show, her car silver awards and there are 60 more on Visiting the early morning wet fish was slowed down so that she could give a Torbay schools' waiting list for the auction at Hull in July, HRH Prince smile and a wave to members of Convey course. Instruction on water safety is Charles bought the first of 1,066 kits on Island branch who were manning it. The given in six two-hour sessions to small offer for £44. The kit of cod went to a stand was sponsored by Halcon group. groups of children by Second Cox- Sailors' Children's Society home; the photograph by courtesy of Jackson's Photo swain Keith Bower and Crew Member £44 was given to the RNLI. Service

41 inboard on to the crew who were at negotiated because of the strong spring times up to their waists in water, mak- ebb still running, which at that point ing work on deck difficult. While mak- swings out to sea well clear of Milford ing fast the tow, the lifeboat was Haven. Having passed through the thrown sideways by the confused seas race, MFV 7 once again suffered steer- on to the bow of MFV 7 and both boats ing gear failure and speed was reduced. were damaged. The lifeboat split her At 1528 the tow was transferred to rubber strake and crushed a small Grassmere, one mile south of amount of timber just below her anchor Skokholm Island. During the return to stowage. MFV 7 received damage to her station visibility reduced to half a mile bow. and the lifeboat arrived back at St Coxswain Morris, very aware of the David's at 1710. She was once again danger posed by Gribog, tried to tow ready for service at 1750. the casualty north but could not move A rescue helicopter from RAF her. The lifeboat was to the north of Brawdy was on scene during the MFV 7, bows north east, while the service. casualty's bow was north west; she For this service the bronze medal for Western Division could possibly have been on the edge of gallantry was awarded to Coxswain Gribog at this time. A calculated risk William T. Morris and medal service Drifting on rocks was taken and Coxswain Morris turned certificates were awarded to Acting about 300 degrees to port, pulling the Second Coxswain Idwal J. Chapman, ST ANN'S COASTGUARD informed the bow of MFV 7 round, hoping she would Acting Motor Mechanic Basil J. honorary secretary of St David's drift clear of Gribog, and headed south Davies, Acting Assistant Mechanic lifeboat station at 1138 on Saturday west out of the overfalls. Colin G. Mills and Crew Members Jack March 11 that MFV 7, on passage from A south-east course was then set for Phillips, William G. Davies and Fishguard to Pembroke, had engine St Brides Bay, keeping clear of the Terence K. Williams. failure west of St David's Head. heavy overfalls off Meini Duon. The Another vessel, St Aidan, was five steering on MFV 7 was broken with the miles west of the head and standing by. rudder appearing to be set to starboard. St David's lifeboat, the 47ft Watson This made towing difficult, and Cox- South Western Division Joseph Soar (Civil Service No. 34), was swain Morris kept down to half speed placed on alert. until MFV 7 had repaired her steering; Trawler listing At 1220 the honorary secretary, hear- speed was then increased to three- ing that MFV 7 had asked for immediate quarter throttle and Coxswain Morris THE DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTHORITY assistance as she was in danger of drift- headed south to meet the fleet tender of Plymouth lifeboat station was ing on to the rocks of Carreg-trai, Grassmere for transfer of tow. The tow advised by HM Coastguard at 1030 on authorised the maroons to be fired and was uneventful except during passage Wednesday February 15 that the fish- ten minutes later the lifeboat launched through Wild Goose Race off ing vessel Elly Gerda, ten miles south and set out at full speed. Skokholm Island. This race had to be west of Rame Head, had taken water in There was a gentle to moderate breeze, force 3 to 4, blowing from north The bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to Coxswain William Morris for the service on north east, a moderate sea and visibil- March 11 ofSt David's lifeboat, the 47ft Watson Joseph Soar (Civil Service No 34), to MFV 7. ity of three miles. It was l'/2 hours photograph by courtesy of RAF Brawdy before low water springs. Coxswain William Morris decided to go north of Ramsey Island. It meant driving against the 6 to 7 knot stream until clear of Trwyn Sion Owen, but he knew the casualty was being carried south on a strong spring ebb and that she stood little chance of clearing through the Bishops and Clerks, a group of islets and rocks, without being wrecked. When north of Trwyn Ogof Hen Head, he sighted MFV 7 drifting rapidly south and heading for Dauf- raich. An interception course was set and the lifeboat came up with the fish- ing vessel about half a mile north of Moelyn Rock, in heavy overfalls. The sea was now about ten feet, breaking and confused. The fishing vessel was lying beam to sea, bow east, and presenting to the coxswain the problem of Moelyn and Gribog rocks. Moelyn was showing but Gribog was still covered. Coxswain Morris decided to run down on the casualty and get a tow line across, keeping clear of Gribog. The drift rate and the nearness of rocks prevented the use of the line throwing gun. The first attempt to get a line across failed, but on the second run it was passed successfully. In the overfalls the sea was breaking

42 deteriorating weather and reported reference point to keep herself clear of The skipper then came up on VHP say- herself as in a desperate situation. The the Rennies, rocks which extend south ing he was still on board and that he frigate HMS Sirius was standing by and east from the island. He and Motor intended to remain there as he thought the lifeboat was requested to launch. Mechanic Alcock then took turn about he would wash clear of the rocks. After Maroons were fired and, at 1050, on the wheel. The wind was now force a few minutes he did wash clear and Plymouth's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat 10 to 11 with heavy snow and it was steamed eastwards, towing his anchor. Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse II very cold on the upper deck. It was just after 2000 and he said he left Millbay Docks with Acting At about 1945 the skipper of the would steam around and try to recover Coxswain Patrick Marshall in com- trawler told the lifeboat that his anchor his anchor before attempting to cross mand. The wind was east south east was dragging and that he intended to the bar at about 2200. The seas were force 6, visibility was fair and it was steam south east and anchor again. The very steep and at times the trawler was high water on a neap tide. tide was about half flood and Acting lost to view, but she was successfully The Coastguard suggested a course Coxswain Marshall warned the trawler guided clear of the rocks by radioed of 238°M to steer from Penlee Point and that she should not go too far south east instructions from the lifeboat. Her after about five miles on this course because of the Rennies. The message skipper then went on deck and hauled HMS Sirius was sighted on the star- was acknowledged, but the trawler on the wire and eventually succeeded board bow. Course was altered to stood on. The acting coxswain told her in recovering his anchor. intercept and the lifeboat passed under she should stop her engines and then The lifeboat pumped oil over the bar the frigate's stern at about 1145 taking steamed to take station on her port before the trawler started in and then station close on the port quarter of the quarter as the trawler seemed to alter took up station on her starboard quar- casualty. Elly, Gerda had a 10 to 15 south west and still steamed ahead. ter. As soon as the trawler was safely degree list to port and was awash amid- The lifeboat entered foam and broken over the bar the lifeboat followed under ships. Hearing by VHP that her skipper water coming over the reef as the three-quarter throttle. Two fishermen was making for Looe the lifeboat trawler ran aground on the Rennies and boarded the trawler to pilot her up har- replied that the forecast was for worse- called for the lifeboat to come in and bour and the lifeboat then secured ning conditions from the south east and take off her crew. alongside her to transfer her crew on because the holding ground in Looe Seas breaking over the reef were fal- board. It was 2200. Roads was poor and the trawler would ling on the casualty's foredeck and After an hour ashore for much be obliged to wait until 2230 before washing in over her port side. All her needed refreshment, the lifeboat entering the exposed harbour over a deck lights were on but her anchor wire departed from Looe at 2315. The south dangerous bar, it would be wiser to set was trailing out on her starboard quar- east whole gale was still blowing and course for Fowey. Elly Gerda, how- ter so that the lifeboat was obliged to the lifeboat encountered very heavy ever, continued towards Looe at 2 to 3 approach on her weather side. seas, especially on the bar and round- knots. HMS Walkerton now relieved Motor Mechanic Alcock and Crew ing Rame Head. She entered Millbay HMS Sirius as 'on scene commander'. Member M. Foster positioned them- Docks at 0020 and, after refuelling, By the time of arrival off Looe selves on the starboard foredeck but returned to her moorings and was Island, at about 1315, the wind had could not get anyone off on the first ready for service at 0120. reached gale force 8 and, with a depth approach. On the second approach the For this service the bronze medal for of water of about 30 feet, the seas were bows of the lifeboat struck the trawling gallantry was awarded to Acting Cox- steep. The lifeboat stood by while the gallows as a sea set her on the casual- swain Patrick J. Marshall and Motor trawler made her anchor ready for let- ty's quarter. The lifeboat rose above Mechanic Cyril Alcock. Medal service ting go and HMS Walkerton departed. Elly Gerda's stern and then the flare of certificates were presented to Crew When Elly Gerda had anchored at her bow fell on to her bulwarks. Acting Members Michael Foster and Ivor about 1440, using 90 fathoms of trawl- Coxswain Marshall kept his port engine Lovering. ing warp, the lifeboat also tried to half ahead, starboard slow astern, with anchor; but, with half her cable veered, starboard wheel on, to keep from being the anchor failed to hold and so Acting set round the casualty's stern on to her Coxswain Marshall decided to change anchor wire. He could not move his his position. The lifeboat was in 16 feet bows further along the trawler's side North Eastern Division of water and Motor Mechanic Cyril for fear of hitting the rocks himself and Alcock, who was working the wind- of striking his wheelhouse on the gal- Washed off pier lass, was constantly covered by water lows, so he kept his bows into the gal- coming over the bow. The wind was lows. He could see nothing of the stern A MEMBER of Amble ILB crew, Keith now bordering on strong gale force 9, of the trawler because he was dazzled Stuart, was on his way home at about with driving rain. by her afterdeck light and the spray on 1715 on Friday August 19, 1977, when As soon as the anchor was recovered the wheelhouse windows. he heard a helicopter working in the and stowed the lifeboat asked the Motor Mechanic Alcock, holding on area off the south pier. Bystanders Coastguard whether a mooring buoy with one arm, hauled one of the casual- were shouting that a boy was in the between the trawler and Looe Island ty's crew aboard, then as a large sea water. He ran to the harbour and would take the weight of the lifeboat struck the lifeboat's port side and learned that the boy had been washed and, on being told it would, secured to threw the bow against the gallows, he off the pier and was missing. The hon- it. The acting coxswain set anchor grabbed a second survivor and hauled orary secretary was informed and, watch while his crew sheltered below. him aboard. The lifeboat's bows had together with Jeffrey Matthews, Keith He was relieved an hour later, at about been extensively and deeply dented but Stuart launched the ILB. 1600, by Motor Mechanic Alcock and, their watertight integrity had not been The wind was north, fresh force 5, after another hour, with the wind gust- breached. and, although at the launching site ing to storm force 10, a very heavy sea Acting Coxswain Marshall took the inside the harbour the sea was smooth, was running and the mooring began to boat astern again to make a third the harbour bar was at times breaking drag. The lifeboat therefore slipped and approach. As Crew Member Foster right across. Visibility was good and it steamed dead slow into the weather. brought the second man aft, however, was four hours after low water. Visibility now became very poor in he said that his skipper had gone over- The ILB set out at 1720 with Keith heavy snow and and it was almost board. Acting Coxswain Marshall Stuart at the helm. By carefully watch- dark. The acting coxswain asked the immediately order parachute flares ing the runs of the sea on the bar he Coastguard to arrange for a cottage on to be fired. These revealed no one in safely cleared the harbour and rounded Looe Island to keep a light on all night the water but showed that the trawler's the south pier to the area into which the so that the lifeboat could use it as a bows were against a vertical rock face. boy was reported to have gone. The

43 helicopter from RAF Boulmer was South Eastern Division doctor on his way to a sabbatical year already searching and the ILB made a at the Department of Surgery, Univer- thorough search close in along the pier. Engine room fire sity of South Manchester, reported to The area to the south of Amble Har- the master. As it was thought too bour is very shoal and rocky and a THE TRAWLER St Patrick reported to hazardous for the injured seaman to be dangerous and confused sea had built the Coastguard Channel Navigation transferred from the trawler to the fer- up made worse by backwash off the Service on channel 10 VHP at 1805 on ry, Dr Mantoudis agreed to be put pier. Careful and able handling of the Wednesday December 7, 1977, that she aboard St Patrick by the lifeboat. ILB was essential. was hove to with smoke coming from Wearing a lifejacket and secured to a At 1750 Amble honorary secretary the engine room five miles south east of lifeline, Dr Mantoudis descended a decided to launch the offshore lifeboat Dover Harbour and might need help. boarding ladder rigged over the ship's to help and stand by. With Coxswain Two minutes later her skipper reported side in the continuing gale force winds John Connell in command, the 37ft 6in that the engine room was afire, the and driving rain. In this very rough Rother Harold Salvesen made for the chief engineer was suffering from burns weather it took three attempts to man- area but, because of her draught, had to and immediate assistance was oeuvre the lifeboat into the exact posi- remain offshore clear of the shallow required. tion from which it was possible to grab waters of the main search area. A quar- At 1812 HM Coastguard telephoned Dr Mantoudis from the pilot ladder on ter of an hour later the ILB reported the honorary secretary of Dover to the pitching foredeck of the lifeboat that she was returning to harbour and lifeboat station requesting an and with perfect timing the lifeline from requested that an additional crew immediate launch and three minutes the ferry weather deck let go. Faithful member be available; Helmsman Stuart later the assembly signal of electroni- Forester remained in position while considered that extra weight would cally fired maroons was made by Dover additional first aid equipment and help to keep the bow down when Port Control. At 1827 Dover lifeboat, oxygen were lowered from the ferry negotiating the surf in the very rough the 44ft Waveney Faithful Forester, before steaming back to the casualty. seas. Having picked up Crew Member slipped her moorings in the submarine At this time a helicopter from RAF Norman Rowell, the ILB returned at pens and was on her way. Mansion carrying a doctor arrived on 1817 and continued searching inside the A strong, force 6, breeze was blow- scene, but she returned to base when it surf line to the south of the harbour, ing from the south south east producing was clear that it would not be feasible extending the search further south. a moderate to rough sea and swell. to transfer the doctor by winch to the At about 1905 the connector on the Visibility was only fair due to rain. It heavily pitching and rolling trawler in fuel line in use parted, so, as a prudent was two hours before high water the dark with visibility seriously ham- precaution, Helmsman Stuart returned Dover. pered by blinding rain. to harbour to repair the break, thus Faithful Forester under the com- As it was, it took two attempts ensuring that both tanks were avail- mand of Coxswain/Mechanic Arthur before Dr Mantoudis and the medical able. It was also discovered at this time Liddon cleared the harbour entrance supplies could be transferred to the that Norman Rowell was in fact recov- and set course at full speed for the posi- trawler. Once aboard, at 1945, the doc- ering from an injured knee, and so he tion given: bearing 165°M five miles dis- tor immediately examined the injured was Jeft ashore to prevent further tant from Dover Harbour. By 1835 she chief engineer and decided that it was aggravation of the trouble. had arrived at the casualty where she safer that he should remain aboard. The repair made to her fuel line with found the ferry Earl Leofric standing Second Coxswain Hawkins helped Dr the help of an RAF launch alongside, by and acting as 'on scene com- Mantoudis and then examined the the ILB returned once again to search mander'. Once alongside St Patrick areas adjacent to the engine room again close to the pier and further south. She Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic and reported by VHP that the fire was was then informed by Amble lifeboat Anthony Hawkins was manhandled now contained; so it was decided by that a body had been sighted to the aboard and the first of the trawler's the Coastguard that St Patrick should south, close under the sea wall below crew snatched on to the foredeck of the be towed into Dover Harbour by the Cliff House. The ILB went straight to lifeboat from a pilot ladder. local tug Dominant. the area, where the very confused seas On board St Patrick Second Cox- Faithful Forester meanwhile took were aggravated by backwash. swain Hawkins found the chief the six crew members to Dover and Helmsman Stuart took the ILB in engineer suffering from burns and landed them, returning to resume sta- through the surf but, caught by a large shock and having breathing difficulty tion close to the stricken trawler. sea, the boat was picked up and thrown as a result of inhaling burning glass At 2055 St Patrick passed between bodily against the sea wall. Keeping a fibre fumes. Using the trawler's VHP, Dover Harbour breakwater towed by very cool head and with expert hand- he asked the lifeboat to provide a doc- Dominant and at 2105 in the sheltered ling, Keith Stuart succeeded in keeping tor and oxygen. waters of the harbour the injured sea- the ILB under control in the adverse While Second Coxswain Hawkins man was transferred by Neil Robertson conditions and in turning her back head was attending to first aid and fire fight- stretcher to the lifeboat and landed to to sea. The boat was almost alongside ing on board the trawler, Coxswain be taken to hospital. Two lifeboat crew the body and the crew managed to drag Liddon manoeuvred Faithful Forester members were put aboard the trawler it inboard before heading back out clear alongside on seven separate occasions, to help Second Coxswain Hawkins of the break. The body was transferred on five of which one crew member was secure St Patrick alongside. to Amble offshore lifeboat and at about grabbed from the pilot ladder and For this service the thanks of the 2030 both boats returned to harbour brought safely aboard the lifeboat. Dur- Institution inscribed on vellum were where an ambulance was waiting. ing one attempt the severe rolling of accorded to Coxswain/Mechanic Arthur For this service the thanks of the both lifeboat and fishing vessel in the Liddon and Second Coxswain/ Institution inscribed on velium were rough seas and winds, which had now Assistant Mechanic Anthony G. accorded to Helmsman Matthew J. risen to gale force 8, resulted in the Hawkins; vellum service certificates Keith Stuart and Crew Member Ian wheelhouse top, the guardrail stan- were presented to Second Assistant Jeffrey Matthews. A vellum service chions and the belting in way of the Mechanic John J. Smith and Crew certificate was presented to Crew well on the starboard side striking the Members Mark Smith, Roy W. Member Norman A. Rowell and a port quarter of the fishing boat, causing Couzens and Robert J. Bruce. A spe- framed letter of thanks signed by damage. cial doctor's vellum was awarded to Dr Major-General Ralph Farrant, At 1900 a request was put out over Sotiris Mantoudis who has also been chairman of the Institution, was sent to Earl Leofric's public address system awarded a piece of plate for outstand- Coxswain John Connell of Amble for any doctor on board to come to the ing bravery at sea by the British Sec- offshore lifeboat and his crew. bridge. Dr Sotiris Mantoudis, a Greek retary of State for Trade.

44 Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Atlantic 21 was launched on May 16 to bring back a diver with a badly cut head who had been injured while working on the wrecked oil tanker Eleni V. While Helmsman Michael Mitchell set course for the ILB station, first aid was administered to the injured man by Crew Members Richard Bell and Kim Edwards. photograph by courtesy of H. E. Appleton

The 52ft Barnett relief lifeboat Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse, while at Ramsey during a passage from Holyhead to Arranmore, launched on the morning of January 23 to take over from HMS Soberton the tow of Dutch, a converted ship's lifeboat with a crew of three, and bring her in to harbour. Dutch, whose propeller had become fouled in deteriorating weather, had first been taken in tow by the Shaw Savill ship Cairnleader. The lifeboat's passage crew was augmented by Ramsey crew members. photograph by courtesy of Stanley Basnett

South Eastern Division Beam trawler

ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1977, at 2132, the 23-ton beam trawler Jenny reported on Channel 16 VHP that she was in difficulty and unable to man- oeuvre in heavy weather some eight miles south south east of Nab Tower. Following the sighting of red flares, a revised position was calculated at 2145, putting the fishing vessel about five miles east of the Nab, so at 220 HM Coastguard telephoned the honorary secretary of Selsey station and requested that the lifeboat be launched. The assembly signal was made, the crew mustered at the boathouse and made ready for launching, but some difficulty was experienced in opening as navigator fixed the lifeboat's posi- ing only one man capable of heaving the boathouse doors because of the tion by radar and course was set for the away. Acting Coxswain Grant there- heavy seas breaking against them. stricken fishing vessel. fore took the lifeboat, with the line Nevertheless, at 2214 Selsey At 2250 Selsey lifeboat reported attached and a further one bent on, lifeboat, the 48ft 6in Oakley Charles being one mile from Jenny, the deck some 60 feet ahead of the casualty so Henry, launched down the slipway into lights of which were only occasionally that wind and tide would help rather a south-south-westerly gale, force 8, visible as she was broached to and rol- than impede the hauling in of the tow with rough seas and poor visibility in ling violently. On closing the trawler, line. This manoeuvre worked well and driving rain. It was one hour before Acting Coxswain Grant noted that both with the lifeboat engines slow astern it high water. Second Coxswain Michael beams were down—in fact, without the was only a further ten minutes before, Grant was in command. added stability they gave in the lowered at 2340, the fishing vessel crew had Having set the throttles for maxi- position the boat might well have made fast the tow rope, helped by mum speed to clear the slipway, the capsized. illumination from the lifeboat. lifeboat was hove to while radar and Over the previous hour, the weather Acting Coxswain Grant then turned aerials were rigged, and then Acting had slowly worsened to give a south by the lifeboat and tow 180° to port and Coxswain Grant set out at about 8 west strong gale, force 9, with very headed for Portsmouth as Selsey could knots, the best speed possible in the rough sea and swell; almost horizontal offer no protection for the casualty and prevailing weather. The lifeboat was driving rain was further reducing visi- recovery on the slipway was clearly shipping seas overall, making the bility. In view of the risk in those seas impossible. The trawler was towed already poor visibility even worse. of damaging or fouling the lifeboat in steadily through the heavy seas, but A course of 170°M was shaped to the beams and ancillary gear hanging with difficulty because her steering pass The Mixon Beacon, which was around the fishing vessel, Acting Cox- gear was jammed hard to starboard, cleared by dead reckoning; sea condi- swain Grant manoeuvred the lifeboat until a position off Horse Sand Fort tions were such that the unlit mark was up wind of Jenny and ordered a rocket was reached. It was then found that the neither sighted visually nor by radar. line to be fired in an attempt to take her spring ebb from Portsmouth Harbour Course was then set 259°M to pass in tow. Acting Second Coxswain had reduced the speed over the ground through the Looe Channel. Neither George Woodland, on deck with two to one knot and Acting Coxswain channel buoy was sighted in the rough, men holding him, managed to achieve a Grant, although concerned lest the tow near beam sea which caused the direct hit with the first rocket and two line parted, had to increase speed to lifeboat to roll violently. of the trawler crew hauled in the rocket make headway. Shortly after clearing the Looe line to which was attached the tow line. Selsey lifeboat entered Portsmouth Channel, Acting Coxswain Grant asked It was soon realised that the tow line Harbour at 0225 and by 0310 the Jenny to fire a red flare as no target in was 'bellying' badly due to tide and trawler was secured in the Camber. the datum area was showing on radar. wind and that the trawler crew were The lifeboat remained at Portsmouth At 2240 a red flare was sighted several having great difficulty in getting it Harbour overnight, returning to station miles west of the given position, so inboard; it was later learned that one of at 1605 the following day. Acting Motor Mechanic Terence Wood the men had an injured hand thus leav- For this service the thanks of the

45 Institution inscribed on vellum have breeches buoy were made ready but between the divers' position and the been accorded to Acting Coxswain Coxswain Woodworth decided not to lifeboat. Holding on to the breeches Michael J. Grant. Vellum service cer- use a tail block since it would be dif- buoy, one of the men lowered himself tificates have been presented to Acting ficult to secure it ashore. The gun line some six to eight feet into the water and Motor Mechanic Terence A. P. Wood, was fired and the breeches buoy hauled disappeared from view. Two minutes Acting Second Coxswain George E. ashore and set up, the endless whip later he was sighted on the crest of a Woodland, Acting Assistant Mechanic being held and passed hand-over-hand swell lying across the buoy, but disap- John D. Cross and Crew Members by those ashore. The first person, a peared again behind the rocks. After a Denis W. Warwick, David F. Munday, young woman, was hauled to the while he managed to manoeuvre him- Gordon Kite, David Crossley and Glyn lifeboat and was safely aboard at 1733. self sideways and could be seen bet- N. Amis. The people ashore indicated that ween two rocks. From there the they wished to try to transfer the boat lifeboat crew managed to pull him clear and diving gear to the lifeboat using the as he was lifted by a heavy swell. Once North Western Division breeches buoy rig. By this time the tide on board the lifeboat he was found to had fallen leaving the diving boat about be exhausted. Skin divers trapped 15 feet above the water. After much The breeches buoy was passed back effort it became apparent that the boat to the last man, who secured the veer- AN INFLATABLE DINGHY with four was too big and heavy to be man- ing line outhaul around his chest and, people on board, sighted drifting close handled into the water with safety. holding on to the buoy, slid off the inshore north of Fleshwick Bay, was Meanwhile the weather had deterior- rocks into the water and out of sight of reported to Port Erin deputy launching ated and the wind had freshened to the boat. He very quickly moved to the authority by Ramsey Coastguard, Isle force 6. Seas were beginning to break gap between the rocks and was pulled of Man, at 1614 on Tuesday March 28. and a heaving swell was building up. To clear in the same way as the man before It was thought that the engine had maintain his position the coxswain was him. This last man was recovered at failed and the boat was in danger of continuously manoeuvring Osman 1933, and once aboard all the survivors being blown ashore on to rocks. The Gabriel's engines. At times the boat were given food and a tot of brandy. crew was assembled and Port Erin's was veering dangerously close to During the latter part of the rescue the 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat Osman submerged rocks. lifeboat was at times about six to eight Gabriel slipped at 1631. The two divers were advised by loud feet off the submerged rocks and was A fresh south-south-westerly breeze, hailer to abandon their attempts to sal- only prevented from striking by force 5, was blowing and the sea was vage the equipment and make ready to the skilful handling of Coxswain rough. The sky was partly clouded and be pulled off. They apparently failed to Woodworth. visibility was good. It was two hours understand the gravity of the situation, The anchor was recovered at 1949 after high water and the tidal stream however, and continued to transfer and the lifeboat headed back to Port was setting northwards. their equipment to a position above the Erin keeping a quarter of a mile off the Coxswain Peter Woodworth kept the high water mark while the wind was coast. During the return passage the lifeboat about a quarter of a mile freshening to force 6 to 7, strong breeze boat was heading into very rough offshore as he headed north east to near gale. The sky had become over- breaking seas, and once outside the towards Fleshwick Bay. At about 1705, cast and the light was beginning to fail. shelter of Bradda Head the wind was when one mile north of the bay, some- Coxswain Woodworth was becoming found to be blowing a near gale, force one was sighted waving from rocks at very concerned about the safety of the 7, still from the south south west. The the base of a 700ft cliff. The lifeboat divers on the rocks, and the deteriorat- lifeboat arrived back at Port Erin at altered course to starboard to close the ing weather was making it more and 2030 and was rehoused and made ready land. more difficult to keep the lifeboat clear for service by 2105. When about 100 yards off, two of the rocks just below the water. The survivors were re-united with people were sighted standing on Eventually he managed to make the the fourth diver, a very experienced boulders clear of the water. A small dtvers understand, and they prepared climber, who had succeeded in climb- boat could be seen high and dry near- to be rescued. ing the cliff and had been found by the by. The lifeboat was manoeuvred to It was about 1915, an hour to low Coastguard at 1915. The four people within 50 yards of the rocks and, using water, and there were drying rocks had set out from Fleshwick Bay at the loud hailer, the coxswain was able to communicate with those ashore. He On the night of Sunday May 28 Bridlington ILB launched to go to the yacht Pinkers ablaze in learned that they were a party of four North Bay. The yacht's crew of nine had taken to their dinghy but could not propel her and skin divers and that one man had set off both boats were drifting together with wind and tide. Despite heat, smoke and fumes, the ILB up the cliff to get help. got a rope aboard the dinghy and towed her clear. Seven people were taken aboard the ILB, The wind was still blowing from the the remaining two being towed in the dinghy until all could be transferred to a motor cruiser, south-south-west but close inshore the Southwold, and put ashore. photograph by courtesy of Arthur Dick sea was moderate because of the shel- tering effect of Bradda Head. A moder- ate swell was running into and breaking over the lower rocks and boulders. Although the tide was ebbing and the divers were not in danger of being drowned, Coxswain Woodworth con- sidered they would be unable to scale the steep cliff and decided to attempt a rescue using a breeches buoy. This information was passed ashore over the loud hailer and acknowledged. A situa- tion report was passed to Peel Coast- guard mobile, on high ground to the north near The Niarbyl. At 1715 the lifeboat was anchored 25 to 30 yards off the rocks with bows south south west, stemming tide and sea and rolling heavily. Gun line and

46 about 1520 to go diving but ran into rough seas when only half a mile north of the bay. An attempt had been made to anchor the boat but the anchor would not hold and the engine failed. They managed to swim to the rocks dragging the dinghy behind them. For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain Peter Wood- worth. Vellum service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Edward N. Sansbury, Acting Motor Mechanic Alfred P. Maddrell, Acting Assistant Mechanic Raymond A. T. Buchan and Crew Members John W. Watterson and David T. Woodworth.

Eastern Division Aground on Goodwins On March 20 in a strong west-south-westerly breeze, Newhaven's 44ft Waveney lifeboat REPORTS OF SHIP'S LIGHTS in the vicin- Louis Marches! of Round Table went to the help of the barge Dunord which, on passage from ity of East Goodwin Buoy were passed Lowestoft to Poole, was aground one mile west ofBeachy Head with engine failure. On April to the honorary secretary of Walmer 16 the lifeboat was again called out to Dunord, once more with engine failure; she had broken lifeboat station by Dover Straits Coast- down two miles south west of Newhaven. On each occasion the lifeboat towed the barge guard at 2130 on Saturday December into Newhaven Harbour. photograph by courtesy of 'Brighton Evening Argus' 10, 1977. The East Goodwin Light- vessel crew had given the best infor- west side of the vessel, thence east and swain Williams on the ship's equipment mation available but no radio or north to come up under her stern to and the Coastguard and lifeboat were accurate visual contact had been estab- assess the situation. After the lifeboat advised that the 4,847 gross ton Greek lished. After further discussion it was had flashed her searchlight and fired a cargo ship Elmela was laden, bound for agreed that the lifeboat should launch parachute flare crew members came to Angola from Rotterdam, with a crew of to investigate before the weather the rail of the casualty but no radio con- 25. The master declined offers to order deteriorated further and while the state tact could be established. tugs or evacuate the crew; he said that of the tide allowed her passage over The casualty had a list to starboard the ship's main generator fault would shoal areas. Maroons were fired at and was anchored. Heavy seas were be repaired shortly. 2248. breaking over her well decks from the Since the tide was now ebbing below The wind was south south east, weather side and running in on the lee the level of the surrounding banks, sea strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, side from both bow and stern, making conditions eased a little, although the increasing, with steep, high seas and the lee side an area of heavy broken wind was still gusting 60 knots. Cox- heavy rain. Visibility was poor. Pre- water with waves building on top of swain Brown was having to stem the dicted high water Dover was 2237. each other in an unpredictable pattern. seas in the gut as he did not wish to go At 2258 Walmer's 37ft 6in Rother A pilot ladder was lowered from the far from the casualty until the situation lifeboat The Hampshire Rose launched starboard well deck forward and Cox- was clarified. on service. She immediately had to swain Brown indicated that he would About 0330 it was agreed with the reduce speed in the heavy seas. Course try to put a man aboard. Coastguard and the honorary secretary was laid for Deal Bank Buoy and A first approach was made to check of Ramsgate lifeboat station that Rams- East Goodwin Lightvessel until Cox- the relative heights of the vessels and gate lifeboat should launch to stand by swain/Mechanic Bruce Brown could the water movement alongside, after so that Walmer lifeboat could return to use his radar and echo sounder to navi- which the boat was taken astern before station to refuel. Accordingly at 0405 gate Kellet Gut. Within 15 minutes, closing for a boarding attempt. Cox- Ramsgate's 44ft Waveney lifeboat however, the radar developed an swain Brown found that by keeping one Ralph and Joy Swann launched on ser- intermittent fault and Dover Straits crew member as stern lookout he could vice. She arrived on the scene at 0459 Coastguard was asked for radar plot hope to lie reasonably in between seas and after agreeing that Elmela was information. Visibility was reduced to for a few seconds, and although this firmly settled until the next rising tide, about quarter of a mile in horizontal attempt failed because the lifeboat was Walmer lifeboat left for station at 0505. driving rain and, as the lifeboat entered too far from the ladder he again went Coxswain/Mechanic Ronald Cannon of the gut at 2320, heavy confused seas astern and made a third approach. Ramsgate took soundings around the were breaking over the boat making Anxious lest the lifeboat be driven stern of Elmela—the forward area was both navigation and handling extremely against the ship's side, Coxswain now drying sand—to confirm his avail- difficult. Brown approached on the back of a sea able sea room if needed, and then put Regular radar positions were passed which was met by another from ahead, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic by the Coastguard as Coxswain Brown stopping the boat and allowing Second Derek Pegden and Crew Member worked north east along the southern Coxswain Cyril Williams time to grab Anthony Read aboard to help Second shoal edge of Kellet Gut. With the echo the ladder and be helped aboard. Cyril Coxswain Williams. Ramsgate lifeboat sounder recording erratically in the vio- Williams and three ship's crew were then lay in Kellet Gut in rapidly mod- lent movement of the boat, he found immediately caught on deck by a heavy erating conditions. that he had to use at least two-thirds sea and washed into the port bulwark At 0610 Second Coxswain Williams throttle to gain safe steerage way, but before gaining the safety of the bridge reported that there was up to three feet in only eight feet of water he took the structure. Coxswain Brown drove the of water in Elmela's No. 2 hold, with boat south of the two wrecks until he lifeboat ahead and circled the ship to lie the ship's pumps just holding the flow, sighted a large cargo vessel which astern. but half an hour later he asked for appeared fast on the sands, head south. Communication on VHP channel 16 immediate close attendance of lifeboats Coxswain Brown steered along the was now established by Second Cox- following ominous sounds of the vessel

47 breaking up. The Coastguard scram- duty at Skegness, was launched at 1640 mud banks immediately south of Oar bled the RAF helicopter from Mansion. into very rough seas. The northerly Rythe and some quarter of a mile from Walmer lifeboat turned back from a wind was storm force 10 and visibility the Thorney Island shore. Using a spot- position near Deal Bank Buoy, but at was poor. The tide was half flood. light it was quickly realised that the 0700 she resumed her course to station After she had driven six miles to sea, light seen was that of the 24ft cabin after the master had assured Second Calouste Gidbenkian was recalled as cruiser Tomey Too. Coxswain Williams that the noise was Gloriosa was successfully making The casualty, hard and fast aground, only cracking steam pipes. He reiter- Kings Lynn under her own power. So was reached at 0410 without difficulty ated his intention of keeping all crew severe were conditions ashore, how- and the young boy aboard transferred aboard. Walmer lifeboat beached at ever, with flooding right over the to the ILB and wrapped up. After a 0715 and was refuelled, re-launching at promenade, that the lifeboat had to determined effort to tow the cabin 0845; only one crew change was made. stand off for four hours before, at 2240, cruiser clear it was decided that she The Hampshire Rose was back on the with the tide on the ebb, she could be would have to be abandoned because scene by 0911. safely beached. She was rehoused and the tide was falling and the weather In rapidly moderating wind, now ready for service at 0030. deteriorating. Tomey Too was there- south force 4 to 5, and easing seas, the For this service a letter of thanks to fore anchored amid the mudbanks and situation aboard the casualty was being the crew and shore helpers, signed by her owner transferred to the Atlantic organised by the three lifeboatmen, Commander Bruce Cairns, chief of 21. By now a full force 8 gale was blow- Crew Member Read, a Trinity House operations, was sent to F. N. Ball, sta- ing from the west. pilot launch coxswain, taking com- tion honorary secretary, Skegness. The main Emsworth Channel was mand of the bridge. A line was run from eventually reached after several the ship's bow to Ramsgate lifeboat, groundings but by 0545 the ILB had lying off to the north east. At 0915 the South Eastern Division returned to station and father and son vessel began to move on the rising tide had been landed; they were given hot and the delicate operation was started Overdue showers, warm drinks, dry clothing of turning her without allowing her to and transport by the honorary treasurer drop back astern on to the northern HAYLING ISLAND POLICE received a back to the marina where their own car edge of Kellet Gut. The windlass was telephone call from a lady in Berkshire was parked. operating at single speed only and the at 0330 on Tuesday January 3 to say For this service framed letters of anchor was got in slowly as the main that her husband and son had not thanks signed by Major-General Ralph engines were put slow ahead and returned from a fishing trip. They had Farrant, chairman of the Institution, Ramsgate lifeboat steamed to the north set out from Northney Marina at 1030 were sent to Helmsman Patrick Lam- east. and had been due back at Hayling perd, Dr Richard J. Newman, honorary By 0945 the casualty was clear of the Island by dusk. This information was medical adviser, and Crew Members shoal area and tanks were sounded. passed to Hayling Island Coastguard Frank S. Dunsterand Brian Quinton. A Then, escorted by Ramsgate lifeboat who, at 0334, alerted the acting honor- letter of thanks signed by Captain Nigel she made her way to Margate Roads, ary secretary of Hayling Island inshore Dixon, director, was sent to the anchoring there at 1121 for a surveyor's lifeboat station and requested that the launchers. inspection. Ramsgate lifeboat returned ILB be launched to search the area. to station at 1215 and was refuelled and Crew and shore helpers were ready for service at 1241. immediately assembled. When they South Western Division Walmer lifeboat had taken Second reached the boathouse it was found Coxswain Williams aboard again by that a combination of tide and severe Storm search 1000. She also returned to station, weather had created shingle banks of a being refuelled and ready for service at size and gradient never before encoun- IN REPORTING the service of the Pads- 1230. tered by Hayling Island and it took tow, St Ives and Clovelly lifeboats to For this service framed letters of eight people, including the honorary the Danish coaster Lady Kamilla on thanks signed by Major-General Far- secretary, deputy launching authority December 24, 1977, in the summer rant, chairman of the Institution, were and honorary treasurer, to launch the issue of the journal, it was wrongly sent to Coxswain/Mechanic Bruce boat after three attempts. Despite the stated that Coxswain Antony Warnock Brown and Second Coxswain/Assistant difficulties, the Atlantic 21 was was in command of Padstow lifeboat. Mechanic Cyril Williams of Walmer launched within 20 minutes of the first In fact Coxswain Warnock was on lifeboat. Letters of thanks signed by intimation of the casualty from the leave that day and the lifeboat was Captain Nigel Dixon, director, were Coastguard. under the command of Second Cox- sent to Second Coxswain/Assistant Because of the extreme cold, swain Trevor England. Mechanic Derek Pegden and Crew Helmsman Patrick Lamperd decided Member Anthony Read of Ramsgate. that the long overdue anglers might well be suffering from hypothermia and Scotland North Division so he embarked the honorary medical Eastern Division adviser, Dr Richard Newman, as fourth crew member. It had been agreed Engine broken down Storm launch between the Coastguard, honorary secretary and helmsman that it would RED FLARES fired by a vessel about a A CARGO VESSEL, Gloriosci, making for be prudent to search the approaches to mile south of Boddin Point, four miles Kings Lynn was reported to the honor- Chichester Harbour first, so course south of the lifeboat station, were ary secretary of Skegness lifeboat sta- was set for Emsworth Channel. reported to the honorary secretary of tion by HM Coastguard at 1610 on It was one hour before high water Montrose by HM Coastguard at 1310 on Wednesday January 11, a day of excep- and the wind was westerly near gale, Tuesday March 28. tionally high tides and winds on the force 7, with good visibility. There was There was a flooding tide, fair visi- east coast of England. Gloriosa was in a short sea in the harbour and it was bility and a strong breeze to near gale, position 110° 1.5 miles from Roaring extremely cold. The proposal to search force 6 to 7, blowing from the south Middle Buoy making considerable lee- the harbour approach in general and east when at 1320 Montrose's 48ft 6in way and her crew had asked to be Emsworth Channel in particular Solent lifeboat Lady MacRobert slip- taken off. proved sound as it was only some 11 ped her moorings and headed at full The 37ft Oakley relief lifeboat minutes after leaving the station that a Calouste Giilbenkian, on temporary small white light was sighted on the continued on page 69

48 Moelfre: H. L. C. Greig, chairman of H. Clarkson (Holdings) Ltd, strikes out the pin ; to launch the 37ft 6in Rather Horace Clarkson.

Pupils of Moelfre Community School played a delightful part, singing to the accompani- Dedication ment of their own recorders.

OFFSHORE—INSHORE

MOELFRE, JUNE 17 The dedication of Horace Clarkson by His Grace The and Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Gwilym BROUGHTY FERRY, Owen Williams. With him were Coxswain William JULY 17 Roberts (r.) and Motor BRILLIANT SUNSHINE and a fresh Mechanic Evan Jones. photographs by courtesy northerly wind building up white of 'North Wales horses out at sea gave a sparkling day Chronicle' for the handing over ceremony and dedication of Moelfre's new 37ft 6in by H. L. C. Greig, cvo, chairman of H. son had invited his friend Leon Rother lifeboat, Horace Clarkson, on Clarkson (Holdings) Ltd. Donated by Benham to become his partner. Saturday, June 17. Guests met on the this shipping and insurance company to Benham, described as 'shrewd but cliff top behind the boathouse, with commemorate its 125th anniversary, impecunious', was then living in Car- many more wellwishers surrounding Horace Clarkson had been named by diff. Undaunted by the fact that he had the little field. Mrs Renske Kemp at a ceremony at no money to make the journey by rail Proceedings were opened by Sir Littlehampton on June 18, 1977. The or coach, he set out there and then on Richard Williams-Bulkeley, Bt, HM lifeboat is named after the founder of foot and walked to London. Lord Lieutenant for Gwynedd and the company and now Mr Greig recal- The lifeboat was accepted by president of Anglesey branch, and the led how, when the firm first came into Raymond Cory, a vice-president of the lifeboat was handed over to the RNL1 being in 1852, the young Horace Clark- Institution, who then gave her into the Droughty Ferry (Dundee): Before the naming ceremony began a souvenir programme was presented to the Duke of Kent by Catherine Piggot (right), daughter of Crew Member Alastair Piggot. After the ceremony Coxswain John Jack and his crew took the Duke out in the 52ft Arun Spirit of Tayside. photographs by courtesy of 'The Dundee Courier and Advertiser'

R(

49 (Above) Staithes lifeboat station, renamed Staithes and Runswick, was re-opened when an Atlantic 21 ILB named Lord Brotherton after a former Lord Mayor of Leeds was dedicated by the Reverend R. W. Barnacle on June 17. The cost of the ILB together with her boathouse and launching equipment has been met from three sources: from the legacy of Mrs D. U. McGrigor Phillips, Lady Mayoress of the City of Leeds in 1913 in memory of Lord Brotherton, who was Lord Mayor in that year; the legacy of R. K. Talbot in memory of his wife Ida; and from the people of Leeds in their generous support of the Leeds lifeboat appeal which ran from 1975 to 1977. Staithes Fishermen's Choir took part in the service.

(Left) Whitby: At a ceremony of dedication on May 3, Miss Gwynaeth Milburn watches as Alan Marshall, branch chairman, pours cham- pagne on a new D class ILB, the second lifeboat she has given to the station; Miss Milburn is also the donor of the offshore 44ft Waveney, The White Rose of Yorkshire. It is by the special wish of the crew that the ILB has bee,n named Gwynaeth. photograph by courtesy of Tindale's care of Moelfre branch, on whose behalf she was accepted by Thomas Owens, station honorary secretary. During the service which followed, the Archbishop of Wales was escorted down to the boathouse by Coxswain William Roberts and Motor Mechanic Evan Jones, for the dedication of Horace Clarkson. She was launched by Mr Greig and, while afloat, an amp- lified radio link enabled the crowd to listen in to messages between the lifeboat and the helicopter with which she was exercising. A final message of

Harwich's new Atlantic 21, dedicated on Saturday May 27 by the Reverend J. Chel- ton, the branch padre, was provided by Dudley Hunt; Mr and Mrs R. Aitken, members of the family, were present. Also present were members of Harwich and Dovercourt Rotary club, which gave £1,450 towards the cost of the new boathouse, and Lady Norton, MBE, a member of the Com- mittee of Management. photograph by courtesy of Alfred H. Smith

50 Eastbourne: A new D class ILB has been donated by Downland Eastbourne Round Table and about 250 people, including the Mayor and Member of Parliament, were present at the handing over cere- mony on Saturday July I. Dick Barnhoorn fc.j, immediate past chair- man of Downland Eastbourne Round Table, presented a cheque for £2,100 to Leslie Lelliot, honorary treasurer of Eastbourne branch, while Cecil F. Baker, station honorary secretary, looked on. The first £600 was raised by a raft race down the River Ouse from Lewes to Newhaven and the rest by sheer hard work! photograph by courtesy of Jack Nielsen

Lymington: Wing Cdr Alan Roxburgh (r.), station honorary sec- retary, and Herbert Rand (I.), branch vice-chairman, with Clare Francis who opened the station's new ILB boathouse on June 2, unveiling a plaque commemorating a gift from Saab (Great Britain) Ltd, which gave the RNL1 a 99 Combi Coupe car for the second year running for a summer-long Southern District competition, and other donations; the overall cost of the boathouse was £12,000. Miss Francis, invited to become an honorary member of Lymington crew, was presented with an RNLI jersey. Framed pictures of Lyming- ton's Atlantic 21 were presented to Charles Granger, representing Saab, and to representatives of the Surrey Foresters who donated Lymington ILB in 1974. thanks and farewell from Coxswain Congratulating the branch, the Duke ladies' guild, then cut the tape to open Roberts sent everyone happily on their went on to say that, while many the new boathouse, for the building of way to Moelfre Community School, for branches contributed towards their which there had been considerable tea with the ladies' guild. own boat, few successfully met almost local help both in gifts of money and With music by Beaumaris Town the entire cost, as Broughty Ferry had material and with the work itself. Band, songs sung by young children done: * * * from the school and hymns and an 'It is a truly remarkable effort, and for An ILB to be carried on board anthem sung by the male voice choir, Mr Low, your president, it is a consider- Clovelly's 71ft Clyde class lifeboat City C6r-y-Traeth, it had been a wonderful able personal achievement. This exemp- of Bristol was presented to the RNLI afternoon and a really happy village lifies the way in which our lifeboat ser- by the Ancient Order of Foresters occasion. vice unites and involves the whole Friendly Society to commemorate the * * * community. 'The voluntary spirit extends to hel- Silver Jubilee of HM The Queen. The On Monday, July 17 at Broughty pers, organisers and thousands of sup- ILB was handed over by W, J. Mum- Ferry Harbour, Dundee, HRH The porters who make the whole operation ford to Surgeon Captain F. W. Basker- Duke of Kent, president of the Institu- possible and who work jointly with a ville, a vice-president of the Institu- tion, named the station's new 52ft Arun single aim—to provide the very best for tion, on the old lifeboat slip- lifeboat Spirit of Tayside after what the incomparable lifeboat crewmen, with way at Clovelly on Sunday May 21. As was a somewhat unusual handing over whom it is a point of pride that at any well as representatives of the Ancient ceremony. The cost of the new lifeboat time they are ready to go out without Order of Foresters and members of regard to the risk of their own lives to Clovelly crew, branch and ladies' had been largely defrayed by a local save the lives of others.' appeal which raised the magnificent guild, a large number of holidaymakers sum of £226,000. It was, therefore, Ian After he had performed the naming were there to watch both the ceremony Low, president of Dundee branch, who ceremony, the Duke of Kent stepped and the demonstration launch which handed over the boat to Sir Charles aboard Spirit of Tayside for a demonst- followed. McGrigor, Bt, convener of the Scottish ration run to sea Lifeboat Council and a member of the * * * First day cover Committee of Management, who then In a ceremony on Wednesday July 26 Lerwick branch printed a first day delivered her straight back again into closely linking Edinburgh with Kipp- cover envelope for the naming cere- the care of Dundee branch for use at ford station branch a new D class ILB mony ofSoldian, the station's new 52ft Broughty Ferry station. She was was handed over and a newly built Arun class lifeboat, on September 12. accepted on behalf of the branch by the boathouse opened. These envelopes, including date mark honorary secretary, Captain R. W. The boat had been purchased with and stamps, are available price 50p Forbes; Spirit of Tayside in name and money raised by Edinburgh ladies' each from William Kay, c/o D. and G. in very truth. guild's charity shop 'The Lucky Dip' Kay, Commercial Street, Lerwick. A service of dedication was con- (see THE LIFEBOAT, Spring 1978). Since ducted by the Reverend Dr J. U. it first opened ten years ago the shop Correction Cameron, minister of St Stephen's and has raised £62,000 and its founder Mrs The photograph of the dedication of West Church and the Reverend T. P. J. P. Patullo said that no one could Port Isaac ILB published in the sum- Robertson, minister of St James's have foreseen that the dilapidated mer issue of THE LIFEBOAT was, we Kirk, both of Broughty Ferry, after butcher's shop they had taken over regret, wrongly credited. It was taken which the Duke, following in the foots- would grow into such a flourishing by David Dawson and we thank him for teps of his mother, Princess Marina, venture. W. F. G. Lord, a member of lending it to us. came forward to name the lifeboat: the Committee of Management and When you have finished with 'It strengthens a family link,' the Duke vice-convener of the Scottish Lifeboat told the 1,500 people gathered on the Council, accepted the boat on behalf of your copy O/THE LIFEBOAT quay, 'in that the previous lifeboat, The the Institution and gave her into the Robert, was named by my late mother 17 care of Kippford station branch. PLEASE PASS IT ON ... years ago.' Lady Birsay, president of Edinburgh

51 an especially important function. Man- ned by three people during office hours and by a duty officer at other times, here is collated all information relevant to the safe and efficient operation of the RNLI's fleet. Information which may be needed not only by staff in head office or on the coast, but by HM Coastguard and other search and rescue authorities. Busy telephone lines may bring requests for stores—anything from the smallest spare part to a relief engine or inshore lifeboat. Requests are passed to the depot across the road where a 24-hour watch is maintained, enabling the stores to be despatched to the coast in the minimum of time. Lifeboat services are reported daily by Coastguard Rescue Headquarters. Complicated services or ones that take place in gale force conditions, are immediately telexed to CO/IR by HM Cdr Peter Roe, operations room officer, checks a position on the chart while Julie Mannd (I.), Coastguard. The message can be pas- assistant boat movements officer, receives a telephone message from a station honorary sed to the divisional inspectors, or secretary and Margaret Pearce, operations room assistant, takes a radio message from a lifeboat on trials in Poole Harbour. alternatively, the situation can be moni- photographs by courtesy of Peter Hadfield tored by CO/IR. A supply of charts and navigational publications covering the entire coastline enables the duty officer to plot an incident or casualty and fol- Central Operations/Information Room low its progress. In very bad weather the work can RNLI HEADQUARTERS, POOLE become extremely urgent and of the greatest importance. Last Christmas CALLERS TO THE CENTRAL OPERA- can be contacted and the computer sec- Eve, Cdr Peter Gladwin, who was duty TIONS/INFORMATION ROOM on the tion requires information about a new officer, was sleeping in the cabin across fourth floor of the RNLFs headquar- lifeboat going on station. The staff the corridor when he was summoned at ters are frequent. During a typical officer (communications) has, perhaps, 3 am by the Telex alarm. The Coast- morning, the chief of operations may an urgent message to be telexed to The guard at Land's End reported that the wish to be given particulars of recent Decca Navigator Company, the sur- Padstow and St Ives lifeboats had lifeboat passages, the trials officer will veyor of machinery requests that pas- launched to the assistance of a Danish want details of the shipping forecast, sages on a relief lifeboat are arranged coaster off Trevose Head. the director's personal assistant needs for two boat mechanics while the assis- It was only the beginning of a day to know where a divisional inspector tant public relations officer makes the that was to result in seven lifeboats, first of two daily visits to check if there from all areas, answering calls to dis- are lifeboat services to report to the tressed shipping as severe storms press. pounded the entire coast. Sadly, it was Visitors who are shown round head the day a lifeboatman was to lose his office always like to identify 'their' life when Kilmore lifeboat was twice lifeboat station from the stateboard on capsized, and twice righted herself. the far wall which not only shows the Cdr Gladwin was quickly able to deployment of lifeboat stations in each contact the staff required to return to of the nine divisions throughout Great the office and take action in these cir- Britain and Ireland, but details of the cumstances. It was also possible to class of lifeboat, her speed, launching remain in close contact with the sta- requirements, whether she has a self- tions and to have necessary informa- righting capability and if she carries tion readily available. Such a possibil- radar or navigational aids. ity had not existed before the setting up Beneath the seemingly informal of the CO/IR two years ago, after the atmosphere, however, this room fulfils RNLI's transfer from London to Poole. The decision to set up the CO/IR was Updating information on the outcome of considerable discussion the stateboard. Move- by the Committee of Management fol- ments of head office offi- lowing the loss of Fraserburgh lifeboat cials, divisional inspectors in 1970 and taking into account the and other coast staff are kept readily available on changes which had been occurring in pegboard (r.). the pattern of lifeboat services, includ- ing their increased number, over the past decade. Operational control con- tinues to be exercised locally by station Staff Coxswain Billy Dent honorary secretaries as launching has called in to discuss a authorities and the coxswains while at problem with Cdr Roe. A sea, but the Institution has a more short telephone call to the comprehensive overall view of lifeboat department concerned operations on the coast and so the fa- soon resolves the query. cility to help when needed. H.D.

52 'The main object of the re- organisation is to make better n.se of our Coastguard . . . limited regular manpower and we are enabled to do that by the fact that we have now in progress the installation of a LT-CDR TIM FETHERSTON-DILKE, much more sophisticated communica- tion system than we ever possessed the new 'Chief, talks of the re-organisation he/ore. That in turn means we can co- taking place within Her Majesty's ordinate operations, perhaps involving Coastguard, emphasising that its lifeboats and helicopters and our own resources, from fewer centres than we long-standing traditional relationship with have done in the past. Individual lifeboat the lifeboat service will go on into the future stations may find that there is no differ- unchanged. ence at all in the way they work, or there may be the difference that, initially, they are talking with someone further away: ON SEPTEMBER I, 1978. a re- Lt-Cdr Tim Fetherston-Dilke. in the probably during the progress of the organisation of HM Coastguard came new post of Chief Coastguard, is taking operation, however, they will still be into effect designed, by taking advan- over from a distinguished predecessor. talking with their same well-known local tage of modern communications, to Lt-Cdr Douglas's period of office was voice. make the best possible use of available one of intensive modernisation and 'The working arrangement in the past experienced coastguard officers in the expansion in the role of HM Coastguard has been that each lifeboat station had a co-ordination of marine search and including much improved radio com- coastguard launching station which, if rescue around the coasts of the United munication and the establishment of you like, it regarded as its own and with which it had a close relationship. Thai Kingdom. It also takes into account the the Channel Navigation Information launching station's main function was to increasing international co-operation Service and the Brixham Training be the link in establishing the need for a with neighbouring countries. School. The advances he encouraged in lifeboat launch and thereafter to keep Six regions, shown on the map the spheres of both technical equip- the lifeboat authority on shore informed. below, are to replace the existing 11 ment and professional skill laid down a Now, the initial alerting of lifeboat divisions. In each region there will be a strong basis for future development. authorities and other rescue units is Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre He worked closely with the lifeboat likely to come from one of the 28 rescue supported by Maritime Rescue Sub- service, and. happily, as he is taking up centres, which correspond basically with Centres, of which there will be 22 in all. the new post of Regional Controller. the 28 district headquarters already- established. But. while initial communi- Thus, as at present, there will be 28 West Scotland, the benefit of his cations during an operation will come districts but greater concentration of experience will still be available to the from these centres, local coastguard experienced coastguards will progres- rescue services. resources can be alerted within minutes sively be built up at the regional and and both regular and auxiliary coast- district centres while the necessary guards will be concerned in the co- backing along the coast will be pro- ordination of inshore casualties as they vided by auxiliary coastguards under are now. The local man will still he the supervision of regular officers. involved. The re-organisation just started will 'With the centre forming the link, the necessarily be gradual and there will be local coastguard will be freed to he on the actual scene in his vehicle, working consultation with local interests on the where necessary with. say. an inshore details and timing of changes. Inevita- lifeboat or helicopter, and information to bly it will take a long time for these the lifeboat authority will be routed back changes to be fully implemented, pos- through the centre. sibly several years, and it is logical that 'It is really no different from what they should be seen through by one other emergency services have had to man. So it was agreed that it would be do. Take ambulance control in a county. sensible for Lt-Cdr John Douglas. OBE, People in need of an ambulance are used who had been Chief Inspector of to dialling 999: they have been answered Coastguard since 1970 but who is near- from the control centre and the ambul- ance has appeared and any other ser- ing the age of 60. to make way for his Lt-Cdr Tim Fetherston-Dilke, vices necessary have all congregated on the new Chief Coastguard, successor now rather than at the the scene. What we shall be doing is expected time next year. similar to that. HM COASTGUARD Lt-Cdr Fetherston-Dilke. his succes- 'No lookout point is being closed or sor, is already well known to lifeboat abolished, but the coverage provided by people along the coast from Kent to some lookouts, where there is no longer Lincolnshire because he has held the a need for it to be maintained on a 24- post of Inspector. Eastern Division, hour basis, will be reduced. Our experi- since he joined HM Coastguard in 1966. ence during the past eight or nine years Talking to the editor of THE LIFEBOAT has been that the way we first hear that someone is in trouble has changed. The he explained the coming changes a little general public is taking greater interest more fully: in what is happening off the coast. We 'Perhaps I can summarise it by saying have now got to the encouraging situa- that lite relationship between the Coast- tion where something like 95 per cent of guard and the RNLI at all levels—head- all initial information about people in quarters to headquarters, and lifeboat trouble at sea tomes to us either from station to the coastguard on the the general public, dialling 999, or by- coast—is not going to change in any radio from craft already at sea. The way. We are going to maintain these information actually coming in from a direct links. The coastguard under re- coastguard's pair of eyes, whether he be organisation is not disappearing from regular or auxiliary, is under 5 per cent. the coast and going in behind high brick Well, we obviously cannot afford to use walls at headquarters, although the pre- highly trained staff—and we only have sence of regulars is going to be 600 regulars around the coast—just as diminished at some, relatively few. pairs of eyes. We can use auxiliaries places while it is augmented elsewhere. where necessarv and we shall maintain *• SOUTI 53 Coastguard continued with public relations work and liaison can convey the sense of urgency or a full with the representatives of a wide appreciation of the problems. Perhaps the same visual watch policy as we have range of other bodies. The coastguard you are trying to get hold of someone done for the past fire years: that is, keep- inspector works closely with the divi- and he isn't in. Or you cannot get a ing watch when we think there is a need sional inspector of lifeboats for his response from a ship with which you for it; when the weather is bad or when, were in communication five minutes for instance, there is a lot of small craft area; then there are other water safety ago. There is bound to he tension if activity off a particular bit of the coast. organisations; the Post Office (a vital somebody is in trouble at sea: you have 'The advantage in the new system is link of the search and rescue chain); got the resources going, whether it be a that we can in fact produce a quicker and representatives of search and lifeboat or another ship or a helicopter, response to an incident by having rescue authorities along the opposing but you don't know for certain whether stronger staffs gathered in fewer places. European coast: they are going to get there in time and there is nothing more at that particular It comes down to a question of how- 'Fairly recently,' said Lt-Cdr moment that you can do about it. But many pairs of hands a man has. Twelve Fetherston-Dilke, 'international co- years ago, when 1 joined, a coastguard that is the situation which is faced, not operation has been increasing apace. In by inspectors, but by the average coast- officer was on his own. He would receive the past there was not much cross- guard officer at any time. some emergency information, a 999 call fertilisation of ideas between the two 'One thing I have learnt is that the or the sighting of a distress flare. Then sides. We had dealings with each other, casualty which starts off looking rela- he had to do everything in the first five of course, but usually it was the coast tively simple is the one which can so eas- minutes: that means lifting the telephone radio stations which acted as the link to ring the honorary secretary, lifting the ily turn into a difficult situation: while, and it did not have the direct touch. Now telephone, perhaps, to ring the RAF, very often, the one which looks a tough we have both Telex and direct telephone nut to crack miraculously solves itself acquainting his superior officer, notify- dialling links with our opposite number with no difficulty at all.' ing the ambulance service. There is a in virtually all the countries—certainly limit to what one man can do. He did get from Norway down to France. I have Communications, Lt-Cdr Fetherston- through what had to be done but it took had the opportunity of meeting search Dilke, emphasised, is one field that can that much longer. By augmenting the and rescue officials in Denmark, Ger- actual watchkeeping levels, so that two make or break the success of a rescue. many and Holland, and my colleagues men are brought together at a centre in- It was of the greatest importance that on the south coast in their turn have their stead of two men each being on their people should communicate correctly, links with the French. speak the same radio language and thus own, you get the actions going on 'The Coastguard is also associated simultaneously. with NATO for the military side of get the information through, regardless 'At a higher level, for major incidents search and rescue, and that embraces of race—or even dialect! The Coast- we have always been very thin on man- other countries such as Iceland. Once a guard, he said, had gone to great pains power because officers in charge of the year we have been participating in to improve its RT practice and proce- districts and inspectors in charge of the NATO search and rescue exercises well dure and there had certainly been an division were scattered all the way round out at sea—perhaps 150 miles out in the and no man can be available for 24 hours equally matched improvement in RNLI North Sea—and that again has a day. By concentrating their efforts, if crews. enhanced our links with the continental there is a major incident at any time Lt-Cdr Fetherston-Dilke has found countries. The North Sea isn't a/I that that coastguards are accepted through- which requires more expertise, a senior big, in fact. With the rescue resources officer will be available.' stretched round it, even if you are 150 out the community 'from the bishop to Lt-Cdr Fetherston-Dilke has behind miles out a rescue helicopter from one of the bait digger' as helpful government him the experience of twelve years on the bordering countries can reach you in officials who are there to give assis- the coast and he described the work of really a very short time. We have, for tance rather than to be law enforcers, a coastguard inspector as 'a good, instance, had numerous occasions when and he is convinced that the goodwill broad mix'. An inspector is in charge of Norwegian helicopters have come over and friendship engendered by this the coastguard service for his particular into what might be called the British side image is of the greatest importance in of the North Sea to take off sick men their work among seafaring people. stretch of the coast and, equally, is from fishing vessels and the like because responsible for the efficiency of search they happened to he available at the 'That does not mean,' he added, 'that and rescue co-ordination for the sea off time. There is a very close relationship we should not discourage unwise or that coast. With something like 60 regu- developing.' ignorant people who put the rescue ser- lar officers and 500 to 600 auxiliaries in vices and lifeboat crews themselves at Should there be an oil spillage such risk. Nevertheless. I think a great deal a typical division, much of an inspec- as occurred when Eleni V was wrecked would be lost were we to become a law tor's time is absorbed in sheer off the coast of East Anglia, in Lt-Cdr enforcing organisation.' administration and in the supervision of Fetherston-Dilke's area, the local The new Chief Coastguard is going to training. He is concerned with the care coastguards will be acting as com- of premises and equipment and also miss the day-to-day contact he had as municators and plotters for their col- an inspector, both with coastguard aux- leagues in the Department of Trade iliaries and rescue companies and with who are responsible for anti-pollution lifeboat crew. 'They are,' he said, 'the Visitors from Holland measures. In fact, Eleni V occupied salt of the earth.' Very often these vol- ON HOLIDAY in England last June, Lt-Cdr Fetherston-Dilke for 30 days. unteers would also be fishermen: Nicholas Oldenburg, coxswain of 'That,' he commented, 'was the month of May written off!' He was also in 'Then one got the benefit of hearing Ijmuiden lifeboat, visited Cromer the other person's point of view. I have close liaison with the French lifeboat station and was taken out on had many a chat on the beach with an authorities at Cherbourg during the exercise in Ruby and Arthur Reed by Aldeburgh fisherman, also a coast- Coxswain Richard Davies. Coxswain Amoco Cadiz operation. guard, who was more or less giving me Oldenburg's lifeboat lies afloat and On the operational side, the coast- two points of view at the same time!' guard inspector has to ensure that the this was the first time he had experi- Although he will see less of old enced a slipway launch: 'Fantastic!' he right steps are taken in every incident. friends in East Anglia, Lt-Cdr In a typical year that means studying said. Fetherston-Dilke is looking forward to Coxswain Oldenburg with his perhaps 650 to 700 reports to check that the time when, as present administra- all went well or to see if there are brother Gerard and their wives had tive demands slacken, he will have the been staying with Eric and Fred Grice any lessons to be learnt. Lt-Cdr opportunity of meeting coastguards of Stapleford who had been rescued by Fetherston-Dilke has himself been and lifeboatmen in other parts of the Ijmuiden lifeboat last year when their involved in a number rescue services: country. In the meantime he can be yacht lost her rudder. On that occasion 'Actually being present is very differ- sure that the good wishes of lifeboat Mr and Mrs Grice had been entertained ent from reading a report of an incident people go with him as he embarks on by Mr and Mrs Oldenburg. afterwards,' he said. 'No written report his tasks.

54 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and presentation of awards ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, TUESDAY MAY 16 TRIUMPH IN THE FACE OF A MOST TESTING WINTER

'GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME . . .' porary slowing down of the boat- Turning to the economies that had The annual general meeting of gov- building programme became necessary been practised, General Farrant said ernors of the RNLI, held this year for while an attempt was made to build up that it was inevitable that the burden of the first time in the Purcell Room of the reserves by practising strictest some of these should fall to a consider- Royal Festival Hall, was under way. economy and also by strenuously seek- able extent on the permanent staff: Major-General Ralph Farrant, chair- ing new money. It was only a pause, ' We have a small staff for running man of the Committee of Management, not a cessation of building and in fact what is in fact a major operational ser- in presenting his report to the gov- six new lifeboats went into service in vice. Their devotion to duty is something ernors drew together the threads of a 1977. The chairman continued: which can easily be taken for granted, year which could be remembered with but it would be wrong to do so. The pay 'At the end of 1976 the RNLI's free of our staff generally has slipped too far justifiable pride and satisfaction both reserves represented only 13 weeks' by our lifeboat crew members, who had behind the national average; and, expenditure at the current level. This although in the past year we have done rescued 1,134 people from death at sea, was still disturbingly low. I am happy to our best, within the guidelines laid down and by our voluntary workers who had be able to report that at the end of 1977 by the Government, to improve it, there done so much to help achieve a record the free reserves amounted to 19 weeks' is still some way to go. No one joins the income of £6,738,831. With such expenditure. Though this marked lifeboat service to become rich, hut it is encouragement, the chairman could set increase is partly due to delays in only right that those who give their ser- the financial target necessary for the deliveries of equipment ordered, the vices on a full-time basis, in whatever amount of additional funds raised is capacity, should be adequately paid; coming year in the confidence that most encouraging: in fact, it has lifeboat people would once again rise to especially so because of the devotion to encouraged the Committee of Manage- duty that they all show.' the occasion: £8'/2 million would be ment sufficiently for us to have taken the needed to run the service in 1978. decision to step up planned expenditure Returning to his earlier remark that Looking back on 1977 General Far- on boat building in 1978. This, I think, is the intention to try to have a virtually rant recalled a year that had been both the most important news I have to con- self-righting fleet by 1980 was an act of eventful and exciting: vey to you today.' faith, General Farrant continued. 7 say exciting because of our partici- Turning to some of the ways in which 'In fact, in a sense, however carefully pation in many major events during Her the money had been raised, General we manage our affairs, our whole Majesty the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year, Farrant spoke of the great contribution economy rests on faith. So much depends on public good will, so vulner- culminating in the Royal Naming Cere- made by branches and guilds; of the mony at Hartlepool. Regarding event- able are we to a sudden drop in any encouraging response to the Shoreline fulness, it will come as no surprise to source of funds—for instance in anyone who spent any length of time on appeal for new members which had legacies—that we must always go on almost any part of our coastline during resulted in new subscriptions amount- pressing for more and more money. the past winter to learn that the demands ing to £90,000, making a total income Nevertheless, I believe the financial pol- on our crews have been exceptionally for Shoreline of £228,000 in 1977; and icy which your Committee has main- heavy. of the development in the work of the tained over the years and which we have 'This afternoon those who attend the trading company which had shown a shown can be successful in practice of presentation of awards will hear detailed net profit of some £58,000 in the year. continuing to rely on voluntary donation accounts of some of the acts of outstand- is the right one. ing bravery and steadfastness. It is in 'However,' the General added, 'our 'I feel confident that our faith in con- these, and in the other services rendered financial stability remains largely tinuing to plan to provide our volunteer amounting to more than 2,700 which dependent on legacies, and it is gratify- crews with the best modern boats and have not led to the making of awards, ing to know that more and more people equipment that they need and deserve that the justification is to be found of all are considering the RNLI when contem- will prove to be justified in the future as that we are doing. We are gathered here plating what charitable bequests they it has in the past. today to review the means we provide to could make. This does not happen by 'To illustrate the importance of adher- enable our brave volunteer crews to accident. It is the consequence of the ing to this policy of providing the best, I carry out our objective of saving life at good will which is felt towards the would conclude by referring to a sad sea. lifeboat service throughout Great Britain event which occurred towards the end of 'As chairman of your Committee of and Ireland. This good will is engen- last year. On Christmas Eve Kilmore Management it is my duty to render an dered in a wide variety of ways and by lifeboat put out following a report that account of our stewardship, and particu- large numbers of people, the great distress signals had been seen. In appal- larly of our financial management, and majority of whom work voluntarily for ling conditions the lifeboat was capsized today I am in the happy position of being the Institution.' twice by heavy breaking seas. Twice she able to give some encouraging news.' Extra support was being sought from righted herself and the engines were started immediately, but although the General Farrant reminded the gover- old friends and from new, and bulk of the crew who had been washed nors that at the beginning of the 1970s it encouraging help in one form or overboard on the second occasion were had been decided to embark on an another was coming in from such recovered safely, one man lost his life. extensive new boat-building pro- spheres of industry and commerce as ' That the loss of life was not greater gramme with the object of producing a shipping and oil companies. Help was was due in great part to the courage, self-righting fleet by 1980. The decision coming from overseas, too: from the skill and determination of the coxswain was described at the time as an act of United States citizens who have and crew, but there was another impor- faith which could now be seen to have pledged themselves to raise funds for a tant factor. The lifeboat was one of the been fully justified. As a result of infla- new lifeboat; and from a group of 37ft self-righting Oakley class. The first of these lifeboats came into service just tion, however, this act of faith had been Belgians who have not only become 20 years ago. At the time of the capsize running the Institution's financial Shoreline members but have also at Kilmore these boats had been reserves dangerously low and a tem- formed a Belgian branch. launched over 1,750 times and had saved

55 nearly 1,000 lives. Indeed, on that same ing amended proposal, suggested by friends of the lifeboat service for the Christinas Eve a similar Oakley boat at P. R. Threlfall and seconded by Cap- presentation of awards. This year there St Ires, having been hove over beyond tain John Leworthy, was carried was a break with tradition in that it was 90 degrees by a rogue sea, came upright unanimously: not possible for the Band of the Royal at once and was able to continue on her service. I believe and I hope you will The governors of the Institution shall Marines to be present, but music was agree that our boat-building programme consist of the persons who at January 1, provided by Ralph Downes, CBE, to press ahead with the construction of 1979, shall already be life governors or organist-curator of the Royal Festival new self-righting lifeboats is clearly who thereafter shall have subscribed to Hall, and Pipe Major D. P. Black. Wel- shown to he on the right lines by these the funds either one sum of £150 or coming all those in the crowded hall, two important pieces of evidence, name- upwards, or by an annual payment of £15 General Farant said: ly, immediate self-righting if capsized or upwards, and of such other persons as shall be elected to be governors by a 'We have lately come to the end—that and yet excellent stability against is to say I hope we have come to the capsizing.' general meeting, as having rendered essential service to the Institution, and end—of one of the most testing winters Coming to the annual accounts for shall be entitled to vote at all general which the lifeboat service has experi- 1977 (summarised below), General Far- meetings.' enced in recent years. Even as early as November the north west coast of Eng- rant made the following comments: During 'any other business,' Captain 'The balance sheet shows that the land in particular was struck by gales of Watkin of Ramsey, Isle of Man, made a exceptional violence. Our inshore improved liquidity of the Institution at request that the Committee of Man- the year end derives from three main lifeboat house at Fleetwood was sources: firstly, the surplus for the year agement consider publicising in yacht destroyed and the launching tractor was of £437,000, which was caused largely by clubs and harbour masters' offices that found buried in the beach. Two months the late delivery of capital items of the Institution is a voluntary organisa- later in January it was the east coast of equipment; secondly unrealised tion and that yachtsmen should not put England which suffered worst. At one appreciation of our investments of coxswains into the position of having to time no fewer than seven offshore sta- tions were out of action because of dam- £479,000 together with realised profits of make intolerable decisions by refusing £54,000: and thirdly, the increase in age to shore installations. We were to abandon their boats when in trouble. indeed lucky to save the Margate restrictedfunds held for future purposes. Captain Watkin expressed these views 'The income and expenditure account lifeboat when the pier was wrecked and very strongly and stated that the the boathouse and slipway were left shows an increase of 12 per cent in new- Institution's aim is to save lives and not income which matches the national rate isolated.' of inflation last year. Capital expendi- boats. The chairman replied that these Between these two periods, con- ture has been reduced by 3 per cent, sentiments were the same as those of tinued the General, an even greater loss reflecting the pause in the boat-building the Committee of Management, and had been suffered, and he invited programme, while other expenditure was that the Public Relations Committee everyone present to stand and observe contained within a 9 per cent rise. The dealt with this kind of problem. He also proportion spent on operational matters a moment's silence as a tribute to the said that an article stating the case very late Fintan Sinnott who lost his life has risen slightly while that spent on well had been published recently in one other activities has remained unchanged when, on Christmas Eve, Kilmore of the yachting journals. It was pointed lifeboat had been capsized and had overall although variations in detailed out from the floor that the Royal Yacht- allocations have been necessary here righted herself twice on service. ing Association devotes a great deal of and there.' Resuming his speech after this silent publicity to warning people of the dan- tribute, General Farrant said that The adoption of the report and gers of going on the water unprepared accounts without further discussion although the RNLI had come through a and the chairman confirmed that the winter suffering material damage was followed by the election of mem- RNLI works closely with the RYA. involving, in consequence, considera- bers of the Committee of Management. * * * The names of those nominated had ble extra financial costs, as a service it been displayed in accordance with the After a break for lunch, the gover- had come through this winter, and bye-laws of the Institution both in the nors assembled once again, but this indeed the whole of the past year, Poole headquarters and in the London time in the Royal Festival Hall together triumphantly: office. The list of ladies, noblemen and with representatives from stations, 'The operational record has been a gentlemen were now read out by Cap- branches and guilds and many other memorable one with no fewer than 1,134 tain Nigel Dixon, director of the lives saved by our offshore and inshore Institution, and they were declared lifeboats. During the year lifeboats were elected. launched on service 2,751 times and of Summary of Accounts 1977 these nearly 250 were carried out in gale A proposition arising from discus- £OOOs conditions over force 7 and over 900 in sions by the Fund Raising Committee, Income partial darkness or at night. You will a special working party and the Com- General Purpose Legacies . . . 2,984 shortly be hearing details of a few of mittee of Management that the sub- Subscriptions and donations .. 2,617 the lifesaving services, and I think you scription rates for governors should be Contribution from Funds for will conclude—and conclude rightly— raised from January 1, 1979, provoked Restricted Purposes 709 from them that it was only the quality of considerable discussion. The rates sug- Investment Income 258 the boats and of the men who manned gested were either one sum of £150 or Trading Income 171 them which prevented us from suffering further losses during the past winter.' upwards for life governors or annual 6,739 payment of £15 or upwards. Some The achievements of the crews had, governors thought the increase of the Expenditure the General continued, been truly annual rate over modest in view of the Life-boat service— matched by the achievements of the fact that it is eight years since the rates Recurrent costs 3,467 voluntary fund-raisers and he thanked were last reviewed, while others were Capital costs 1,211 all of them with equal warmth: afraid that the size of the increase Life-boat support— 'The great strength of the lifeboat ser- might discourage potential governors Fund Raising and Publicity 1,134 vices lies in the fact that its activities are —one speaker pointing out that many Administration 489 so widespread and extend to all parts of governors were also fund raisers and Other costs 1 Britain and Ire/and. No centralised fund-raising organisation could ever be made other contributions both direct 6,302 and indirect. In the end, however, a substitute for our voluntary branch and there was overwhelming support for guild system, and we know that whenever some extra pressure has to be the rates as proposed. Balance transferred to General Fund 437 put upon them, these branches and Discussion then turned to the precise guilds always do their best to respond wording of the bye-law and the follow- accordingly.' 56 General Farrant then spoke of the and European waters where help is gratifying responses that had been never far away. She herself had made to a number of special appeals, received a blow on the head as her thanking in particular the National yacht ran before a strong gale Federation of Round Tables and the approaching the end of the last leg; Civil Service and Post Office Lifeboat ADC Accntrac was, she maintained, Fund and remembering the many suc- the only boat to finish whose helmsman cessful local appeals. He also men- saw two lines! tioned the support coming from To the delight of the audience Miss America and also from Belgium: Francis first told them that her hus- 'All this activity reflects the standing band. Jacques Redon, was hoping to which the RNLI enjoys in the nation's, join the crew of Lymington ILB and and indeed in the world's, regard, and it then made a surprise presentation on was in recognition of this standing behalf of the whole crew of ADC throughout the United Kingdom that the Accittrac, the only boat which in fact RNLI participated so prominently in the completed the whole round-the-world celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of Her race with the same crew on each of the Majesty the Queen. For our part, we are deeply indebted to Her Majesty for spar- four legs. It was an historic bottle of Miss Clare Francis, MBE, guest speaker at ing the time, in the course of a year of champagne which had been presented the presentation of awards meeting, ended to Sir Francis Chichester in Sydney on such exacting demands, to name the new her speech by making a surprise presenta- lifeboat at Hartlepool which had been January 29, 1967, and which had voy- tion of her own. On behalf of the whole crew provided by the efforts of the Scout of ADC Accutrac, the yacht which she skip- aged with him in Gipsy Moth IV round Association. This was the first occasion pered in the Whitbread Round-the-World the Horn. After he arrived at Plymouth on which the reigning sovereign had Race, she gave to Major-General Farrant, on May 28, 1967, the champagne was named a lifeboat at the boat's own CB, chairman of the Institution, an historic auctioned at Bonhams and bought by station.' bottle of champagne which had been carried Bonhams. It was given subsequently to Speaking of the boat-building prog- twice round Cape Horn: first by Gipsy Moth the crew of ADC Accutrac who had ramme, the General said: IV and then in ADC Accutrac. // will be taken it round the world again. Now it 'Not only are we continuing to build used to raise funds for the lifeboat service. had been given to Major-General Far- our An/us, Waveneys, Rothers and rant for the benefit of the lifeboat ser- Atlanlics, but for the longer term, we are through the Southern Ocean on a leg vice and will be used for fund raising. considering in detail plans for the for which the sailing instructions just Coming to the end of her speech, development of a new, fast boat to be read 'from the starting line to Rio de Miss Clare Francis moved the time- launched from a slipway, and other new Janeiro leaving A Buoy to starboard honoured resolution: forms of design as well.' and Cape Horn to port', and from Rio 'That this meeting fully recognising the The financial demands of the service, back to Portsmouth: a tremendous important services of the Royal National the General continued, are large and voyage during which the yachts had Life-boat Institution in its national work would inevitably continue to grow: been driven on through many gales and of lifesaving, desires to record its hearty 7 do not wish to alarm you hut I would storms. Despite that, Miss Francis appreciation of the gallantry of the cox- he neglecting my duty if I failed to men- declared that some of the lifeboat ser- swains and crews of the Institution's tion that this year we shall be looking to vices for which the medals for gallantry lifeboats, and its deep obligation to the raise something in the order of£8'/2 mill- were awarded made the round-the- local committees, honorary secretaries ion. This may seem a daunting task, but and honorary treasurers of all station world race seem tame! branches; to all other voluntary commit- I have served long enough on the Com- Yachtsmen setting out on such a mittee of Management of the RNLI and tees and supporters and to the honorary as its chairman to hope and believe that race, Miss Francis continued, know officers and thousands of voluntary no task can be too daunting, nor chal- that they must rely on themselves and members of the financial branches and lenge too great for the supporters of a they make provision accordingly. They the ladies' lifeboat guilds in the work of service which incorporates so much of have to be independent. After all, she raising funds to maintain the service.' what is best in this country. I don't want said, there is not a lifeboat on Cape General Farrant then presented the you to give yourselves heart attacks, or Horn yet! But regardless of the most awards for gallantry. Sadly, Coxswain nervous breakdowns but just ask you to careful preparation, the unforeseen Horace Pengilly of Sennen Cove had keep on doing better than you have ever could happen. Towards the end of the done before—and you always do!' died since the service for which he was third leg of the race a ere w member was awarded the silver medal; the presenta- Coming to the end of his opening seriously injured when, in winds tion was, therefore, made to his widow, speech, General Farrant introduced the approaching hurricane force, a huge Mrs Dorothy Pengilly. guest speaker: wave from abeam crashed down on one of the smaller yachts, throwing her on Coxswain Eric Pengilly, Sennen Cove: 'This is someone who is also silver medal undaunted in the face of difficulties and her side. Although messages were sent dangers. Miss Clare Francis, who to all and every effort made, it was not pos- On November 16. 1977, Sennen those who know anything about sailing sible for help to get to her and it was Cove lifeboat Diana White was and the sea needs no further introduc- several days before she made Rio launched into 'maelstrom' conditions tion. We are delighted and privileged to Grande, the nearest port some 400 to search for the motor vessel Union have her as our speaker today.' miles away. Fortunately, after a day or Crystal which was listing and in dif- Clare Francis had only arrived back two a French yacht with a doctor in her ficulties. The lifeboat searched for in this country a few weeks before, on crew was able to rendezvous with the nearly six hours in a north-westerly Easter Saturday, after skippering the smitten boat. The swell still running storm and very heavy seas. Union 64ft LOA ketch ADC Accutrac in the made it impracticable for either the Crystal sank and the only survivor was Whitbread Round-the-World Race (a injured man or the doctor to be trans- picked up by helicopter. review of Cape Horn to Port, the offi- ferred by rubber dinghy, but, undeter- Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge, BEM, St cial account of the race, appears on red, Dr Jean Louis Sabarly jumped into Mary's, Isles of Scilly: second bar to page 66). The fleet of 15 yachts had set the sea and swam through the waves to his silver medal out from Portsmouth the previous be hoisted aboard to take care of his On February 13, 1977, St Mary's August and at the end of March had patient. lifeboat Guy and Clare Hunter attemp- completed the four legs of a race which Incidents of that sort, Miss Francis ted to rescue the crew of the French had taken them to Cape Town, round said, made seamen appreciate how for- trawler Enfant de Bretagne in a fresh the Cape of Good Hope to Auckland, tunate they were when sailing in British south-westerly wind and a very heavy very rough sea. The lifeboat, being pounded heavily, after two attempts managed to come alongside the casu- alty and take off her sole occupant; the other crew member had been taken off by helicopter. The yacht was then towed to Holyhead in arduous conditions. Coxswain John Petit, St Peter Port: third bar to his bronze medal On November 11, 1977, St Peter Port lifeboat Wlliam Arnold saved the four crew of the French yacht Canopus in a strong west-south-westerly gale. The yacht was close to the shore and very heavy seas made it extremely difficult to bring the lifeboat alongside the yacht to take off the occupants. Four sepa- The Medallists: (I. to r.) Matt Lethbridge, BEM, Antony Warnock, Trevor England, David rate approaches had to be made and the Bliss, Thomas Cocking, Senior, Thomas Walsh, Mrs Dorothy Pengilly who received the boats could be held together for only medal awarded to the late Eric Pengilly, John Devereux, John Petit, Bruce Brown, John seconds each time. Marjoram, William Jones, Arthur West and George Dyer. Coxswain Arthur West, Falmouth: bronze medal swell. The search for survivors was mechanic, helped by other crew mem- On November 28, 1977, the relief carried out in hazardous conditions bers, rescued one crew member who lifeboat Rotary Service at Falmouth among rocks, many of which are was washed out of the lifeboat during landed six men from the jack-up barge uncharted. the first capsize and three of the four Mer d'Iroise which was pitching and Coxswain Antony Warnock, Padstow: crew members who were washed out of rolling heavily in gale force winds and silver medal the lifeboat during the second capsize. rough seas. The decks of the barge Second Coxswain Trevor England, Pad- Coxswain John Petit, St Peter Port, were awash and her four legs projected stow: silver medal Channel Islands: silver medal 40 feet below and 70 feet above the sur- On July 17, 1977, Padstow lifeboat On February 1, 1978, the relief face. The lifeboat was held alongside James and Catherine Macfarlane lifeboat The John Gellatly Hyndman, the casualty and the crew told the sur- saved the yacht Calcutta Princess, her on temporary duty at St Peter Port, vivors the exact moment to jump. crew of two and a dog in a west- rescued two men from the oil rig Orion Coxswain George Dyer, Torbay: bronze south-westerly gale and heavy con- which was driven aground at night in medal fused seas. The lifeboat had to be west-north-westerly gales. One man On February 19, 1978, Torbay manoeuvred between the yacht and was taken off a scrambling net and the lifeboat Edward Bridges (Civil Service rocks, some of which are submerged, other rescued from the sea when he fell and Post Office No. 37) saved three in order to pass a tow. from the net. The lifeboat then stood by men from the pilot cutter Leslie H in Helmsman David Bliss, St Agnes: silver the rig for over three hours while storm force east-south-easterly winds. medal helicopters lifted off 25 men. While towing the cutter the lifeboat On July 17, 1977, St Agnes ILB Blue Coxswain/Mechanic Bruce Brown, was knocked down by a huge wave and Peter IV rescued a man trapped in a Walmer: bronze medal a lifeboatman was washed overboard. narrow cove at the base of 150 feet On August 4, 1977, the relief lifeboat The coxswain flicked a rope to him and overhanging cliffs. The ILB, being Beryl Tollemache on temporary duty at with the help of two of his crew hauled swamped continually by breaking Walmer, rescued the crew of four of him back on board the lifeboat. waves, was driven through dangerous the cabin cruiser Shark and saved the Since the last presentation of awards surf and over rocks just below the second coxswain of the lifeboat who meeting the Committee of Management surface. became trapped by the leg on board the had awarded four honorary life gov- Coxswain Thomas Cocking, Senior, St casualty. The coxswain boarded the ernorships, three bars to the gold badge Ives: silver medal cabin cruiser and, using great physical and 12 gold badges to honorary work- On December 24, 1977, St Ives strength, pulled his second coxswain ers for long and distinguished service. lifeboat Frank Penfold Marshall free only moments before the casualty Fourteen of the recipients were at the launched in a west-south-westerly sank. Festival hall to receive their awards, storm and very heavy seas to search for Helmsman John Marjoram, Aldeburgh: which were presented by General the motor vessel Lady Kamilla bronze medal Farrant: reported in distress. The lifeboat, On August 17, 1977, Aldeburgh ILB Honorary Life Governor which was at sea for nearly seven hours rescued a young boy from the yacht Mrs W. L. Else, MBE JP in the very severe weather, was rolled Spreety in an easterly gale and a rough Honorary secretary of St Helens over to nearly 90 degrees by a breaking sea. The ILB was launched in very dif- ladies' guild from 1942 to 1952 and wave estimated to be 30 to 35 feet high ficult conditions despite being com- chairman since 1952; awarded which appeared to starboard as 'a wall pletely filled by breaking seas and took statuette (joint) in 1952, gold badge in of water'. the boy off the yacht which was later 1967 and bar to gold badge in 1972. towed into the River Ore, with her Coxswain Thomas Walsh, Kilmore: J. E. Roberts, MBE JP (retd.) silver medal single-handed skipper on board, by Aldeburgh lifeboat. Honorary secretary of Porthdinllaen Acting Motor Mechanic John Devereux, station branch since 1937; awarded Kilmore: bronze medal Coxswain William Jones, Holyhead: bar binoculars in 1949, gold badge in 1964 On December 24, 1977, Kilmore to his bronze medal and bar to gold badge in 1973. lifeboat Lady Murphy was capsized On September 4, 1977, the relief twice in a strong west-south-westerly lifeboat Thomas Forehead and Mary Bar to Gold Badge gale and a very heavy breaking sea Rowse on temporary duty at Holyhead, Mrs B. A. Golby while investigating a report of red saved the yacht Gika and one of her Honorary secretary of Kenilworth flares. The coxswain and acting motor crew in a south-westerly gale and a branch since 1949; awarded silver badge in I960 and gold badge in 1969. a committee member from 1948 to dent of Ramsey ladies' guild and donor Mrs J. M. Lucas 1956, honorary treasurer from 1956 to of two lifeboats, one at Ramsey, carry- Honorary organiser from 1947 and 1967 and honorary secretary from ing out the wish of her late husband, Mr honorary secretary of Barking branch 1967; awarded silver badge in 1964. J. B. Ritchie, and the other at Port St since 1949; awarded silver badge in Mrs G. H. A. Haynes Mary; a bar to the gold badge was I960 and gold badge in 1971. Committee member of Stanmore awarded to G. S. Storm, honorary sec- retary and treasurer of Nairn branch Gold Badge branch since 1948; awarded silver badge in 1966. since 1937; and gold badges were C. J. Morehouse awarded to Miss D. North, honorary Committee member of Sonthend Mrs L. Cobb secretary of Kirkby Lonsdale branch branch since 1940 and chairman since Chairman of Broadstairs ladies' guild since 1952, and to Brian O'Gallachair, 1952. since 1972; awarded silver badge in NT, honorary secretary of Arranmore 1966. Mrs A. C. R. Scorgie station branch since 1954. President of Dumfries' ladies' guild N. O. Mabe since 1952; awarded silver badge in Honorary secretary of Fishguard sta- 1963. tion branch from 1953; awarded Drawing the business of the day to a binoculars in 1964. Mrs J. L. Williams close Captain J. B. Leworthy, a Honorary secretary of Llanidloes Mrs H. Mackenzie-Gillanders member of the Committee of Manage- branch since 1955; awarded silver Committee member of Dingwall ladies' ment, moved a vote of thanks to Miss badge in 1966. guild and vice-president since 1964. Clare Francis for addressing the meet- ing and announced that in the Whit- Mrs J. Daryl Neal A. A. Gammon Honorary secretary of Stafford branch bread Round-the-World Race ADC Honorary secretary of Blackburn Accutrac had in fact finished fifth out branch for three years; a member and from 1953 and chairman from 1975; awarded silver badge in 1968. of the 15 yachts on corrected time. On collector for Hoy lake ladies' guild for behalf of those present, Captain over 30 years and president since 1967; Leworthy also thanked the chairman, chairman of Liverpool and District An honorary life governorship was also Major-General Farrant, not only for ladies' guild since 1975; awarded silver awarded to the late Ex-Provost A. P. conducting the day's proceedings but badge in 1959. MacGrory, MBE, honorary secretary of also for so ably guiding the affairs of Mrs F. W. Radcliffe Campbeltown station branch from 1934 the Institution during the past year. Joint Honorary secretary of Staly- to 1969 and chairman from 1969 to The resolution of hearty thanks was bridge ladies' guild from 1936 to 1948, 1976, and to Mrs A. A. Ritchie, presi- adopted with great warmth.

AFRAS. Another keen supporter American Journey whom I met was the director of Skipper Travel Services Ltd, Irving Anshen, who regularly arranges boating holi- days for Americans in Europe. In by Patrick Howarth Southern California I was fortunate in being put in touch by the British Consul-General in Los Angeles with a retired RAF group captain, W. M. RECENTLY I VISITED the USA in my early stages because the first sec- Tremear, who while serving in Coastal capacity as secretary of the Ameri- retary/treasurer to be appointed was Command during World War II was can/British Lifeboat Appeal Commit- unable to spare the time to promote this shot down in the sea and rescued. He tee. I was able to make my journey at appeal. It was most gratifying to find willingly agreed to act as regional no cost to the appeal through the there is now the embryo of an effective organiser for AFRAS in Southern generosity of Transworld Airlines and organisation in being. California. was fortunate enough to be on the My discussions with Admiral inaugural flight of their new Lockheed Californian meetings Sargent, the president of AFRAS, an 1011 from London to New York. Through the good offices of members old friend whom I met at the Interna- The purpose of my visit was to help of the American/British Appeal Com- tional Lifeboat Conference in New the work of the Association for Rescue mittee in London, in particular Bruce York in 1971, included a luncheon at Sea (AFRAS), a tax exempt charity Mitchell of the Bank of America and arranged by the United States Coast registered in the United States which is Philip Wilson of Chevron, I was very Guard at Long Beach. The principal raising funds to provide a new lifeboat well received in San Francisco by lead- speaker was Vice-Admiral Austin C. for the RNLI. ing figures in both these great enter- Wagner, who may also be associated In New York I had a number of dis- prises. I also received much help from with AFRAS. Those interested in sup- cussions with Nicholas L. Ludington, the British Consul-General, Tim Kin- porting AFRAS in California may like the secretary of AFRAS. I was encour- near. Perhaps my most fruitful meeting to note the following addresses: aged to find that he had succeeded in was with Frank Elton, the executive- Vice-Admiral Thomas R. Sargent, III, interesting a number of leading figures director of the British-American USCG (Retd), in the New York business community Chamber of Commerce in San Francis- 1311 San Julian Drive, in the cause of AFRAS. Among those co, who agreed to become regional Lake San Marcos, whom I met were Martin Hansen, organiser for AFRAS in the San Fran- California 92069 USA vice-president of the Chase Manhattan cisco Bay area. He was duly appointed Frank Elton, Bank; Arthur L. Armitage, principal to this post by the president of AFRAS, Executive Director, director of Ward Howell Associates British-American Chamber of Admiral Thomas R. Sargent III. Commerce and Trade Center, Inc; Jerry Blyde, a former banker now I addressed the San Francisco 68 Post Street, in the communications industry; and branch of the Royal British Legion, San Francisco, William Tailyour, a Scotsman with a which was attended by some 50 or 60 California 94104 USA leading position in the paper industry. people, including an American general. Group Captain W. H. Tremear, In New York the affairs of AFRAS Members of the Legion assured me that 4244 Jackdaw Street, suffered something of a setback in the they would support the cause of San Diego 92103 USA

59 Shoreline Section ONE SUNDAY in July I had the great pleasure of meeting lifeboatmen from Blyth, the station on the north east coast of England for which the Rother lifeboat being funded by the Shoreline appeal is destined. Motor Mechanic Colin Cutherbertson, Assistant Mechanic John Scott and Crew Mem- bers George Turner, Tom Moss, Dallas Taylor and Les Fay. They had come down to Dorset to go out with Cox- Blyth lifeboatmen try out a swain Ron Hardy and some of his crew Rother lifeboat at Swan- in Swanage's 37ft 6in Rother J. age: (above, I. to r.) Lt Reginald Corah. For the Blyth Alan Tate, divisional lifeboatmen it was their first introduc- inspector of lifeboat (NE), Assistant Mechanic John tion to the class of lifeboat they will be Scott, Motor Mechanic manning in the future and after an hour Colin Cuthbertson, and or two at sea they came back very Crew Members Les Fay, happy with all they had seen. George Turner, Tom Moss * * * and Dallas Taylor with Coxswain Ron Hardy of As you know, the future RNLB Swanage. (Right) J. Shoreline is building at William Reginald Corah is re- Osbornes of Littlehampton. Now, the covered after the exercise. senior boatbuilder working on her, Bob Silverson, is leader of the Fifth Little- hundreds of letters, in your own names its headquarters from London to Poole hampton Sea Scout Troop and so, as of course, that it has been my lot, and and had settled temporarily into small you can imagine, we were delighted pleasure, to write to so many of you and rather makeshift premises on the from every point of view to welcome during my five years as correspon- quay. There it fell to my lot to take on, this Troop to group Shoreline member- dence clerk in the Shoreline member- almost single-handed, the initial recep- ship a few months ago. ship office. tion of new Shoreline members. Such * * * How different it seems, and yet in simple beginnings they were: eagerly some ways how very much the same, counting the day's total of people who Bristol branch of the Navigator and since those early days when this were responding so quickly to this new General Insurance Company is giving scheme was not much more than a appeal. Then entering their names and wonderful support to Shoreline. As gleam in someone's eye. The birth of numbers in our first hardbacked mem- well as keeping membership forms on Shoreline itself was in October 1972 bership book, and finally writing by its reception desk for anyone calling in hand all their receipts. I remember now to take (and many people do take them) having come out of the original YLA the thrill of reaching that milestone a Shoreline leaflet is put in with every when we really had enrolled 100 new new policy sent out to clients. This members in a week! insurance office also collects its best Well, we have come a long way since used stamps for the RNLI, bringing in then and although almost all of the about 1,000 to our Bristol office each handwritten work has now been trans- week. Such positive help is of the ferred to computers we can—praise be greatest encouragement—thank you it!—not computerise letters yet. Navigator! The sameness that has continued to * * * this day is the quick response to every Last quarter I handed this page over further appeal, the enthusiastic and to Linda who took you on a conducted genuine wish to ensure the Institution's tour of Shoreline office. Now, I am well being by both Shoreline members going to pass over to Peggy who will Smart, Shoreline and by all those whose names have tell you about her work as correspon- correspondence clerk. found their way into our records. dence clerk in a little more (Yachtsmens Lifeboat Association) to In 1975 we were able to move into detail.—PETER HOLNESS, membership which, of course, many of our our new purpose-built premises and to secretary, RNLI, West Quay Road, present-day members belonged. join forces with the 'mechanical' sec- Poole, Dorset, BH15 I HZ (Tel. Poole The difference I mentioned above tion of Shoreline that had previously 71133). was more connected with the furnish- operated from Salisbury. Since then, * * * ings, so to speak, rather than the nature with the computer taking on the record- Dear Shoreline Members, of the scheme itself. I had the good for- ing, the numbering, and the issuing of This is surely how I must start as this tune to join the fund-raising section membership cards and receipts my is the way that I have opened the many very soon after the Institution moved continued on opposite page

60 through the wing compartments is Building a Rother Class Lifeboat routed through these aluminium trunks into the lower part of the forward end box. From there, the air is vented PART IX: CLOSED CIRCUITS through pipes to the upper part of the end box from where it is driven by fans back through pipes to the engine room. FIRST A CORRECTION: In part VIII of tinuously in an enclosed system, while (To be continued) this article an error appeared in the size the fresh water in its turn is cooled by given for the keel bolts. The ballast sea water. Fresh water coming back keel of the Rother is in fact fixed with hot from the engines circulates through 12mm bolts. small pipes inside the coolers. Round The photographs on this page show these pipes, within the outer casing, work progressing on closed circuits flows an endless supply of cold salt needed in a lifeboat to make sure that, water; it is taken in forward and expel- come what may, sea water will not led out into the sea again through skin penetrate the hull or machinery. fittings in the hull, remaining com- Fig. 1 is another view of one of the pletely isolated on passage and doing propeller tunnels, this time with the its work, as it were, by remote control. stern gear in place: naval brass sleeve On the sides of the well at the for- piece forward and A bracket aft carry- ward end, port and starboard, are ing between them the stern tube aluminium vent trunks; evidence of yet through which will pass the propeller another closed circuit. This time it is a shaft. The shafts will need continuous ventilation system which will keep lubrication with very heavy oil, and wood in sealed compartments of the Fig. I: Stern gear in place in starboard this calls for the first closed system. hull in good heart. Air coming from aft propeller tunnel. The oil is piped from the after end of the engine room, through a hole in the outboard arm of the A bracket, forward through the stern tube to the forward bearings and thence back into the Fig. 2: Forward well. Note engine room. When the propeller is twin engine coolers fitted turning the oil circulates naturally; into bilges and also when the time comes to change the oil, aluminium vent trunks at it can be pumped round with a hand forward end of well sides pump. which will route air from Fig. 2 is a photograph taken looking the wing compartments down into the forward well and through through to lower part of forward end box. Benches the open bulkhead into the forward end run down each side of well box. Down in the bilges are twin engine with stowage lockers water coolers, one for each of the under; the port forward lifeboat's twin engines; the engines are locker will be a watertight cooled by fresh water circulating con- storage for provisions.

We have our sad moments, too, now coming to you. We put off the day Shoreline when very recently bereaved relatives for as long as we were physically able from opposite page write to ask whether they can take over to type every one personally, but pure time and efforts have been given over the membership of the one that they weight of numbers and the ever-rising almost entirely to letterwriting. There have just lost. That they can still think costs of manpower have taken over and must be many who are reading this of our needs at a time of suffering their we only hope that you will appreciate journal to whom I have had the occa- own grief we find most touching. So, that our sentiments are still as genuine sion to write, perhaps more than once, indeed, are the letters written in such even though it is now only possible to and may I say how much pleasure this shaky handwriting by the aged and gen- 'top and tail' our letters of thanks. has always given me? I feel that I have tle OAPs who tell us that in spite of In having been given the privilege of acquired a veritable legion of unseen their increasing difficulty in making the writing this article I have, quite under- friends! pennies go round they will continue to standably I think, touched upon the There has been, needless to say, a renew their memberships for as long as particularly human side of our huge and interesting variety of mem- they are able. Then there are the many Shoreline membership scheme, but bership enrolments, so many of whom who are suffering ill-health or infirmity then isn't that what a charity like ours have written letters rather than make but still manage to write us a kind and is basically all about? For those of you formal application. We have had peo- sympathetic letter and support our who hunger for more active news there ple in their 80s and 90s wishing for life work in as generous a way as they are will no doubt be plenty to come. membership, and at the other end of able. I have written some pretty long let- the scale are babies who have been All this, then, with the amount of ters at times but I think this one makes recorded—for life—by their parents or human warmth that emanates from a record! It has been nice writing to you grandparents. In between we have your letters makes my job as corres- all at once and no doubt many of you enrolled into various categories ships pondence clerk a heart-warming and will be hearing from me again at some and their captains, classes of school- satisfying occupation and I look for- time, but in the meantime may I children, clubs, pubs, show-biz folk, ward to many more years of enjoying express as always our very best wishes companies and their directors, sailors this pleasure. and end with what is surely the fitting on the high seas—in fact all sorts of While there are still a vast number of conclusion? people in all walks of life have written our members to whom we continue to Yours sincerely, all kinds of letters, but all with one write personal letters, and always will, clear message coming through, their many of you will notice that more and eagerness to help. more standard, or printed, letters are fa«o J« Mrs Jo Allam, 'the lifeboat lady' of Here and There Weston-super-Mare, has made the lifeboat service her life for the past 27 years. Her husband, in the Merchant Service, was one of 41 men lost when ss Samtampa was driven ashore on rocks off Sker Point on April 23, FOLLOWING THE RESCUE OH August 12 1947, the night The Mumbles of a student who had fallen over cliffs lifeboat, Edward, Prince of Wales, at Petit Tor, Torbay ambulance divi- going to the help of the stricken ship, sional commander, John Bourne, told capsized with the loss of her whole crew of eight. Soon afterwards Jo Torbay honorary secretary, Captain Allam's son was born (now, like his Barry Anderson, how impressed he father, in the Merchant Service). was with the way the ILB crew, John When he was four years old Jo Dew, Brian Gaunter and Tony Smith, started on her lifeboat work, spend- had handled the casualty. Handling had ing all day selling souvenirs, first in been correct in every way, bearing in the lifeboat house on Birnbeck mind that the student, later in a fair Island, now, since its building in condition in hospital, had a fractured 1975, in the alternative inshore neck, broken ribs, punctured lung, rup- lifeboat house at Anchor Head; showing people over the boathouses; tured spleen and broken leg. watching over boat and crew (some present crew members she has known since they were small boys) and making sure there is always soup and coffee waiting when they return from service or exercise; looking after the town collecting boxes. In the summer her attractive stall is open from 9 am to 10.30 pm and is often 'in business' at other times—even on Boxing Day. Instead of floral tributes at their As well as RNLI souvenirs, Jo sells all kinds of things that she or her friend have death many people ask that a donation made—woolly hats, dolls, jewellery, needlework—and anything like apples or tomatoes that should be made to the lifeboat service. she is given. She herself has made 900 jars of marmalade from oranges brought home on her In April Gateshead ladies' guild son's ship. Since the move to the ILB house more than £18,000 has been raised, over £8,000 in received £10 in memory of Leslie S. 1977, and that total is rising every day . . . Sims, a former Lloyds surveyor, and photograph by courtesy of Nick White his wife, Mollie. Mrs Janet Hampson, honorary treasurer of St David's ladies' ure of the affection in which she was given to the RNLI. Mrs Carol Macfar- guild from 1970 until her death in Sep- held. The coffin of S. A. Maslin, a lane was instrumental in starting tember 1977, asked for donations to Shoreline member of Barry who died in lifeboat day collections in Rayners lifeboat funds in lieu of flowers; that January, bore only one wreath, in the Lane in 1963 and at her wish and that of they amounted to over £600 is a meas- shape of an anchor, while £90 was her husband, Ronald Macfarlane, donations in her memory were given to lifeboats through the branch; they Peter Fulton, RNLI honorary inspector amounted to £171.50. (communications) has devised a A very good friend to Tynemouth radiotelephone training unit that can be station branch, Billy Burlison, the stowed and carried in a suitcase. Two have vice-chairman, died in March; as well been assembled and each Mobile Training as involving himself in the crew's wel- Unit is equipped with one. Now, when a fare and in fund raising, he found that, training inspector wishes to visit a remote being an undertaker, he was able to station, he can take the suitcase when it would be expensive, even impossible, to suggest to bereaved people seeking take the caravan. There are facilities for guidance because they wanted to make eight students, each having a control unit, a more permanent tribute than fist microphone and headphones, as well as flowers, that gifts should be made to a master control unit for the instructor. the lifeboat service.

Four presentations were made at Newton Road Civil Service Club, Leeds, on July 13: (I. to r.) to George Long, the thanks of the Institution for his services on the flag day committee; to L. Bellhouse, a plaque for raising over £1,000 with a cabaret evening; Robert Ibberson, chairman of Leeds branch; to Geoff Licence, a silver badge for long service as branch honorary treasurer; Ken Thirlwell, district organising secretary (NE); and to Peter Hey, chairman of the Post Office Sailing Club which raised £1,155 in 1977 with a spon- sored sail in Leeds, a plaque.

The Rotary Club of Shetland presents a cheque for £1,000 towards Lerwick lifeboat appeal. (I. to r.) William Reid, Lerwick honorary treasurer, Coxswain George Leith, W. Moncrieff, Rotary president, Second Coxswain Peter Leith and Magnus Shearer, station honorary secretary. photograph by courtesy of Dennis Coutts

62 Some

Medieval jousting was just one of the displays in 'Fix a Day Out' on Saturday July 8 at Sutton Place, Guildford. Jimmy Savile was there and the proceeds of the day, £1,200, were shared equally between the Royal Marines and the RNLI. The event was organised by Sydney Gillingham, ADOS South East, together with Chris Goode for the Royal Marines, and branches throughout the South East district took part. photograph by courtesy of 'Surrey Advertiser'

also belied her supposed handicaps by A 'schools at sea' exhibition surpassing all records and reaching organised by the Chippenham branch £790. in March turned out to be a great suc- cess. Seven primary schools exhibited Kidderminster guild organised a RNLI-orientated paintings, models, punch and pate party where guests writing and poetry. A 'rescue at sea' To organise a massive cheese and were able to sample over 40 different was organised by two schools with a wine evening with more than 200 guests pates, all made by guild committee landrover ingeniously converted into a is no mean achievement when you are members. Over £200 was raised. lifeboat! During that evening an RNLI over eighty, confined to a wheel-chair and reliant on the telephone for making The Mayor of Winchester, all arrangements. Nevertheless, the Councillor D. Ball, being irrepressible Mrs Hamley-Rowan, helped into oilskins ready already awarded an honorary life to take his part in the local governorship of the Institution for her flag day. Over £1,000 was years of service, has succeeded in rais- raised, an all time record ing £250 for her East Sheen branch by for Winchester branch. photograph by courtesy of running such an event this July. In 'Hampshire Chronicle' addition to the cheese and wine party, her lifeboat day collection in March

One thousand pairs of odd sized shoes raised about £2,000 for the Wolverhampton branch. A local shoe dealer very kindly donated 2,000 new, but odd sized shoes. The branch made up 1,000 pairs of shoes within a size of each other. Prices ranged from 50p to £6, but on average the shoes sold at about £2 a pair. photograph by courtesy of 'Wolverhampton Express and Star'

Pennies may not rain from heaven but pound notes floated down just outside Filey, with a little help from a helicopter from 665 Army Helicopter Squadron from Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. Staff at the Topcliffe base had done a 44-mile sponsored walk over the moors and the amount raised, £83, was shared equally between Filey and Scarborough branches. The picture shows (I. to r.) George Exley, secretary Scarborough branch, Sgt David Borrows, Sgt Joe Harris, Staff Sgt Mick Sharpe and David Liversidge, secretary Filey branch. photograph by courtesy of Scarborough and District Newspapers

63 In the autumn of 1977, the ladies of three villages in North Yorkshire formed the Wensleydale ladies' guild. Since then the guild has raised £398 from coffee evenings, their house-to- house collection and flag day. In anticipation of a big event planned for this autumn, ladies of the guild meet regularly to sew articles which will be sold.

Although too young to help on flag day, Enfield Girl Guides and Brownies were able to donate £68.94 to Enfield branch's lifeboat week fund, for this was the amount raised in their St George's Day church service collec- tion. Another £1,140 was contributed to Enfield by Southgate branch of the Round Table.

Teesmouth guild organised a fashion Over 800 Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts took over Great Yarmouth beach in April in the show, staged at the Dragonara Hotel, biggest sponsored walk the town has known. The aim? to help raise the money for four ILBs Middlesbrough, in March. There was which Yarmouth and District Round Table plan to give the RNLI. photograph by courtesy of Great Yarmouth Press Agency also a hair styling demonstration and a perfume counter. In total the event raised £433. Another fashion show, this film was shown after which Sir Alec time held in May, was organised by Rose talked about his voyage around Reading branch. Grand Western the world. Among the other organisa- Motors kindly provided the venue and tions taking part were the St John by the end of the display £ 115 has been Ambulance Brigade and Chepstow raised. Auxiliary Coastguards. RAF Lyneham lent a 26-man liferaft and Pains Wessex A ball, held by the Mayor of Surrey Schermuly donated rockets and smoke Heath, who is also Camberley branch's flares. In all over £420 was raised. president, realised over £500 for the RNLI. Unfortunately the mayor was After seeing a Uptons' foreign coin unable to be present but the deputy appeal leaflet, Robert Pink, chief mayor presided and the 174 guests, officer on the Shell tanker Donovania, including Major-General Ralph Far- A splendid cake, donated by Sunblest put a collecting box in the ship's bar so rant, chairman of the Institution, Bakeries, was first prize in a raffle at Ains- that officers and crew could donate enjoyed their evening very much. dale branch's tenth anniversary dance, an their surplus foreign coins. In all £50 event which raised £440. was collected. In addition, Mr Pink has Two shaves have raised over £100 issued a challenge to other ships in the for the RNLI. The first took place in fleet, to see if any of them can top this May when Mike Newman, landlord of John Bitckland, an assistant mechanic from amount. If the challenge is accepted, it Eastbourne station, has raised £485 towards the White Hart, Bristol, shaved off half the cost of Eastbourne's new lifeboat by will be a considerable boost to RNLI his moustache. His sponsors raised means of a sponsored walk. John, seen here funds. £55. And a 22-year-old beard grown by with Coxswain Joe Martin of Hastings (r.) Norman Stringer, landlord of the Black walked from Eastbourne to Hastings last By re-cycling old horse shoes from Prince, Princes Risborough, was April. his son's forge and offcuts of marine shaved off in aid of Swanage lifeboat, plywood from William Osborne's yard raising over £90. at Littlehampton, Mr Jefford of Arun- del has found an effective way of rais- Clare Gill, a nurse at Kilronan, and ing money. The plywood is cut and the local Garda sergeant, P. Connolly, fastened to the shoes, then painted with organised a sponsored walk which the RNLI flag and the inscription raised £153 when a number of walkers 'Littlehampton ILB—Blue Peter I. Mr turned out in spite of a strong gale and Jefford has already raised £18. heavy rain.

Mrs M. Donald, a member of The Mumbles ladies' guild, presents a cheque for £5,000 to Mrs P. Morgan, president of the guild. This most generous cheque had been given to Mrs Donald with instructions that it should be given to her favourite charity.

64 Three iifeboatmen', II. to r.) Muriel Winfield, Doris Smith and Barbara Fitz- gerald, from Kidlington branch, perform ' The Lifeboat Song' during the branch's Old Tyme Music Hall held last April. The lyrics were written by branch member Connie Sailer to music from 'HMS Pinafore'. The evening, a great success, raised £400.

With great glee and satisfaction three young A sponsored silence, lads and their fathers knock down a pile of organised by Skegness coins worth £126 which had been amassed ladies' guild, was under- by the senior ratings of HM Submarine taken by 72 local children Courageous for Sheerness lifeboat. Doing a and raised £534. The first grand job of demolition are Coxswain three prize winners, Charles Bowry (r.) and his son Charles Jnr, Michelle Hilton, Emma and Crew Member John Pairman and his Ruston and Wendy Balder- three-year-old twin sons Paul and Philip. son, between them raised £68. They were presented No one can say that the Palm Line with their prizes on board shipping group is not doing its bit to Skegness lifeboat by Cox- swain Ken Holland. help the lifeboats. A collecting box has photograph by courtesy of been placed in their conference room Wrates Studios along with a list of suggested fines. Fineable offences include: late arrival for meetings, lOp; untidy dress, lOp; absence of stationery, pens or pencils, 5p; smoking without permission, 20p. Collecting boxes have also been put in all ships in the Palm Line fleet and at their head office. One contribution for Girls and boys from Con- £117 was a credit for a quantity of sub- nah's Quay held a spon- standard beer carried on board Katsina sored swim and raised Palm on one of her voyages. £154.32. A cheque for this amount was presented to Mrs E. L. Coppack, sec- Surbiton branch has increased its retary of the Connah's profits from £222, when it was formed Quay branch, at the pool ten years ago, to £3,133 last year. As side. well as its flag day the branch organised photograph by courtesy of a wine tasting evening, dances, whist Frederick B. Scott drives and a riverboat evening. A sponsored marathon dinghy race, originally due to last for 24 hours, was cut to 12 hours by high winds. The distance covered by entrants in the race, which was organised by Wyboston The Carnmarch Hotel, Newquay, Sailing Club, ranged from 30 to 40 miles. More than £2,000 was raised. recently collected £20 in six weeks in photograph by courtesy of Wren Studios the lifeboat box in the bar, by display- ing above the box the following letters 'YCWCYFPFTLB' which being translated means 'your curiosity will cost you five pence for the lifeboat'!

Dungeness lifeboat has been adopted by the 3rd Hither Green Brownies of Catford and in the last two years the 24 girls have raised £193.73.

Errors made by members of Poole Model Yacht Club raised over £11 for the RNL1. During their annual regatta, competition was sharpened by impos- ing cash penalties for any infringements of rules during racing. At the end of the regatta an RNLI pennant was pre- sented to Brian Ashell who had contri- buted the least.

65 thermostats and ends with tips on catering for offshore sailing contributed by Cherry Jackson. All profits go to the RNLI and the price is £1 including postage and packing; for branches and guilds ordering in bulk the price is 75p per copy. Available from the RNLI London office, 21 Ebury Street, Lon- don SW1 OLD.—J.D. • Every now and again an outstand- ing book appears which is clearly REVIEWS destined to become one of the classics in the library of the sea. Such is Power Yachts by Rosemary and Colin Mudie (Adlard Coles, £15). Both Rosemary • Grahame Farr's The Tubular Capt Richardson died in 1887 and left and Colin are seamen through and Lifeboats 1850-1939 is in many ways the the RNLI £10,000 to pay for two more through, being equally at home under most interesting of his papers on tubular lifeboats. One of these was sub- sail or power, in dinghy or offshore lifeboat history. It is available from the jected to trials off Lowestoft in competi- yacht, cruising or racing. That the sea author at 98 Combe Avenue, Portis- tion with three other types of lifeboat. and boats are a joy to them is soon head, Bristol BS20 9JX, price 60p The adjudicators awarded 188 points to plain to the reader. including posting and packing. a Watson lifeboat, 150 to a self-righting Since 1958 Colin and Rosemary have The first record of a proposal for a lifeboat, 127 to a Norfolk and Suffolk been partners in their own yacht design tubular lifeboat goes back to 1813, boat and only 105 to the tubular boat. business, specialising in fast power and when Thomas Boyce was awarded a Yet in spite of its limitations a tubular sailing vessels up to about 100ft LOA; silver medal and ten guineas by the lifeboat remained in service at Rhyl as the sail training shipRoyalist is just one Society of Arts for a model of a small late as 1939. of the many and varied designs which lifeboat containing two wood framed Once more Mr Farr has put all has come from their board. Colin is a cylinders. However it is with the arri- lifeboat historians into his debt, and it fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval val on the scene of two somewhat is perhaps a pity that his excellent Architects and joint chairman of its eccentric figures named Richardson series of lifeboat papers is produced so Small Craft Group; he is also a fellow that Mr Farr's narrative becomes really modestly. At one point in this new of the Royal Institute of Navigation as engrossing. paper, in a reference to the competition well as a past president of the Yacht Henry and Henry Thomas Richard- held for the best model of a lifeboat in Brokers, Designers and Surveyors son were father and son and both were 1851, Mr Farr mentions a 'Henry Association, and he has recently Army officers. Their interest in and Beeching'. Is it possible that for once become a member of the RNLI Tech- dedication to tubular lifeboats is Mr Farr has nodded and he is in fact nical Consultative Committee. Both described as 'single minded to the point writing about James Beeching, the are active members of Lymington ILB of fanaticism'. winner of the competition?—P.M. station branch, Rosemary is public The first tubular lifeboat the relations officer and Colin is a deputy Richardsons built was named Chal- • William Whiting, master of the launching authority. lenger. The Richardsons carried out 'quiristers' of Winchester College for Described as a detailed discussion, trials with her off the north-west coast 36 years in the nineteenth century, was Power Yachts opens with chapters on of England, and when approaching the author of 'Eternal Father, strong to the way of a ship in the sea and the Lytham in foggy conditions they save', the hymn so well loved by sea- seamanship of power yachts, and goes decided to address the crowd on the faring people which is sung at all on to talk about methods of construc- shore in French and then fire a brass lifeboat services of dedication; it was tion old and new and all aspects of swivel gun. This promptly dispersed his contribution to the first edition of modern power boat design. Profes- the crowd who believed a French lug- Hymns Ancient and Modern published sional knowledge and practical com- ger was approaching. Later the in 1860. mon sense overflow into wisdom and Richardsons disguised themselves with In this centenary of his death, a biog- the whole is lightened by the good masks resembling boars' and raphy, William Whiting, has been writ- cheer and wit of the authors making a crocodiles' heads. ten by Patricia Hooper and published book which will be of great interest to In spite of their eccentricities they by Paul Cave Publications Ltd, 13 Port- the knowledgeable and an invaluable were extremely successful propagan- land Street, Southampton, price £3, introduction to the newcomer. Illustra- dists for tubular lifeboats in North postage and packing 30p. It is the result tion is exceptionally good, with large, Wales and the Liverpool area. Chal- of extensive research and, in addition clear diagrams and imaginative photo- graphs, and the whole appearance is lenger went into service, not in Britain to the story of the Whiting family itself, but in Oporto, but of the other tubular the history of the Quirister School is pleasing. No wonder the book has been nominated one of the top examples of lifeboats four were stationed at New taken right back to the founding of Brighton, three at Rhyl, one at Liver- Winchester College in the fourteenth British book design and production of 1978.—J.D. pool and one at Pwllheli. century.—J.D. A disaster occurred to one of the • 'At noon on Saturday, 27 August 1977, Mersey Docks and Harbour Board's • Food with a Flair is the latest cook fifteen fine ocean yachts set out from Eng- tubular boats in 1875, when the lifeboat book compiled for the benefit of the land for a 27,000 miles race around the capsized after taking off the crew of the lifeboat service. Barbara Wentworth world, via Cape Horn. Between them they American ship Ellen Southerd. has collected more than 100 recipes flew the national flags of Britain, France, Another tubular lifeboat succeeded in from members of the Central London Holland, Italy and Switzerland, besides that Committee and their friends—and of the European Economic Community; saving the lives of 19 people and follow- they were crewed by 158 men and 10 ing the subsequent enquiry Capt H. T. delicious they sound, too: Serbian fish women, including those from USA, Richardson pointed out strenuously casserole, for instance, or Elizabethan Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, that the Harbour Board's boat was ill- lamb, white turnip pudding or Belgium and Luxembourg as well as the designed because it had not been built gooseberry and geranium ice. The countries under whose flags the yachts in accordance with the patent which he booklet starts with notes on metric raced.' and his father had taken out. equivalents and comparative oven Thus begins Cape Horn to Port

66 (Nautical Publishing Co., £6.50), the the freezing cold of the Southern yachts and crews together with full official account of the 1977/78 Whit- Ocean) were laid down by the race results and technical comment. bread Round-the-World Race written regulations and all yachts were subject The last leg ended in strong gales and by Erroll Bruce with the help of other to scrutiny at each port of departure. storms and, as the author comments, members of the main committee. On Moreover, each crew had its own sur- when a westerly gale is blowing against such a race, during which gale and vival routines worked out. Close radio a strong ebb tide in the English Chan- storm would be welcomed by well- contact was maintained throughout the nel, the seas become much steeper than found yachts hoisting every stitch of fleet, with each boat ready to go to the in an open ocean gale of the same sail they could effectively carry, each help of another should the need arise. strength. of the experienced crews knew that Cape Horn to Port, written as it is by The exploits and achievements of the they would have to be self sufficient; a distinguished ocean racing skipper various yachts were astounding, but the course would lead them well away and a former member of Longhope one of the over-riding impressions left from shipping lanes into such inhospit- lifeboat crew, is a well told and well by this book is the strong bond which able waters as the notorious Roaring illustrated record of the race; a record was forged between all those who took Forties and even down into the ice- to which many more detailed stories part in the great adventure. Each crew strewn seas below 50° south. Require- from the crew members themselves competed with all its might, but deep ments for safety equipment (including will no doubt be added later. In the friendship and concern extended to the double-bottomed liferafts to combat appendices can be found details of the whole fleet.—J.D.

Lerwick lifeboat Being an ex-Shetlander I was very interested in the news that a new lifeboat would soon be stationed in Lerwick. My uncle, the late G. T. Kay, was Lerwick's first honorary secretary Letters... away back many years when he himself owned a famous Lerwick yacht called Sold/an. I have made many trips round Twin pedal power the Shetland Isles in this boat which For Northfleet Carnival I built a delighted with the lifeboat that she was so seaworthy she might have been lifeboat round my bicycle and here is a came down and placed a 50p piece on almost as unsinkable as the new Sol- photograph of 'yours truly' at the helm the deck. Her father had been picked dian! I am sure my uncle, and indeed (or should I say handlebars?) while up three times by lifeboat in the second his brother my father, would have been pedalling along in the carnival on July world war. honoured to know that the name Sol- 1. We had a collection while we went Being a deckhand with the Alex- dian has been chosen for Lerwick's along which realised £15.25, plus many andra Towing Co of London, I always new 52ft Arun lifeboat. funny comments. 'Hello sailor', was had an interest in the lifeboat service, As a youngster away back in the '20s my favourite. Several little boys ran but three things made me want to do and '30s I was always interested in alongside singing out, 'Mister, what's more for lifeboats. The first was in 1968 Lerwick lifeboat. She used to lie making you go along?' At one point when I was in the crew of one of our moored to a buoy just off the south end when the procession stopped for a tugs, MT Ionia, stationed at Harwich. of the harbour and never far away from short break I stood astride the crossbar We went to the aid of a small German my uncle's Soldian. In fact, these two and, while talking to my two helpers, coaster, MV Hermar, aground on the boats were usually the first to be pas- rocked the lifeboat from side to side. Shipwash Sands. We left Harwich at sed by the mail steamers as they came That was when a man came up and jok- 2043 and returned with Hermar in tow in from Aberdeen.—JAMES R. KAY, 9 St ingly asked me to keep the lifeboat still at 0430 the next morning. This job was Luke's Avenue, Maidstone, Kent. as I was making him feel seasick! done in dense fog, and all the time It took me about 16 days to build the Harwich lifeboat, the 44ft Waveney lifeboat, which is 10ft LOA with a 4ft Margaret Graham, assisted us and 'The Miracle of Dunkirk' beam. I bolted two iron bars to my stood by. I thought it was very good of I am completing a book about Dunk- bicycle frame and then built a wooden those lads in the crew of Margaret irk and would like very much to get in frame to which I tacked cardboard Graham, as after all they could have touch with anyone who participated in boxes. I also used cardboard to make been at home in comfort. those stirring days. If any of your read- the cabin, lights and sampson post. For Then there were the two lifeboat dis- ers can help, I would greatly appreciate masts and handrails I used dowel. The asters in 1969 and 1970, at Longhope hearing from them.—WALTER LORD, signal flags are all hand painted, using and Fraserburgh. I joined Gravesend do Penguin Books Ltd, 17 Grosvenor matt oil paints, the bow fender I made branch in 1971 and the Lifeboat Gardens, London SWI. out of hemp rope. Enthusiasts Society in 1972.—PETER H. To 'launch' my boat for trials I had to w. BOYD, box secretary, Gravesend Lifeboats at model regatta remove part of my neighbour's fence branch, II Gatwick Road, Gravesend, I was most interested to read the let- and go through her garden! She was so Kent. ter from Des Newton in the summer journal referring to the increasing interest by modellers in lifeboats. I feel that Mr Newton's ideas for raising funds, while good, could perhaps be taken a stage further, the eventual result of which to be a contribution towards the cost of a new lifeboat. At present there is a thriving model- Peter Boyd pedals his ling fraternity covering many clubs, bicycle lifeboat 'RNLB with supporting retail trade and period- Gatwick Road' along in icals. With all this enthusiasm I am sure Northfleet Carnival. that a modellers' lifeboat scheme could photograph by courtesy of have results.—R. s. BECK, PRO, Rosyth 'Gravesend and Dartford Civil Service Model Ship Club, 46 Hud- Reporter' son Road, Rosyth, Dunfermline, Fife. 67 RNLI Symbol Sweater

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68 poor when at 2015, the reserve 52ft Holyhead, Gwynedd Lifeboat Services May 11 lifeboat Ramsay Dyce, on temporary Howth, Co. Dublin duty at Buckie, slipped her moorings April 16 and 22 from page 48 and set out at full speed into a moderate Humber, Humberside sea. It was later learned that the fire March 9, 11, 17, 26, April 1, 2 (twice), 15, aboard the casualty had been exting- 16, 23, 24, May 7, 8, 14, 24 and 30 speed into a rough sea. She arrived uished but that she had restricted Islay, Argyllshire manoeuverability. March 2 alongside the casualty, the converted Kirkwall, Orkney motor fishing vessel Kathmar with a Ramsay Dyce continued on course and came up with the casualty at 2130. April 5, May 7 and 21 crew of three aboard, at 1350. Kathmar Lerwick, Shetland had been on passage from the Tyne to She stood by and escorted Glen Rinnes March 1 Londonderry when her engine had to Buckie Harbour, arriving at 2245, The Lizard-Cadgwith, Cornwall broken down. A line was passed and after which she returned to her March 10, 25, April 11, 12 and May 31 secured and the lifeboat began the tow moorings. Llandudno, Gwynedd through the heavy swell back to Mon- March 23 trose. Once the tow rope broke but it Longhope, Orkney May 18 was replaced and the tow continued. At Lowestoft, Suffolk 1515 the lifeboat and her tow entered March 7, 10 and 11 Montrose dock where Kathmar was Services by Offshore Mallaig, Inverness-shire left for repairs. March 31 The lifeboat returned to her moor- Lifeboats, March, April Margate, Kent ings at 1620 where she refuelled and and May, 1978 April 23 again made ready for service. Montrose, Angus March 24 and 28 Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire The Mumbles, West Glamorgan March 16 and 19 April 10 Scotland South Division Aldeburgh, Suffolk Newbiggin, Northumberland May 7 April 16 Amble, Northumberland Newhaven, East Sussex Escort May 7 March 15, 20 and 26 Anstruther, Fife North Sunderland, Northumberland EYEMOUTH DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTH- May 18 March 25 ORITY was informed by HM Coastguard Arbroath, Angus Padstow, Cornwall at 1608 on Tuesday February 14 that a March 18 May 27 number of fishing boats were about to Arklow, Co. Wicklow Penlee, Cornwall attempt to enter harbour and, as sea April 7 March 6, 10, 25, April 24, May 4 and 11 conditions in Eyemouth Roadstead Baltimore, Co. Cork Plymouth, South Devon were very dangerous, the lifeboat was May 30 March?, 31, May 6 and 23 requested to stand by. The maroons Barry Dock, South Glamorgan Poole, Dorset were fired at 1613 and seven minutes March 20 (twice), 28, April 23 and May 21 March 13, April 8 and 22 Bridlington, Humberside Port Erin, Isle of Man later Eyemouth's 44ft Waveney March 1 March 28, May 5 and 21 lifeboat Eric Seal (Civil Service No. 36) Buckie, Banffshire Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd slipped her moorings and set out into April 13 April 16 and May 31 the rough sea. Calshot, Hampshire Portpatrick, Wigtownshire It was cloudy with visibility at two May 1, 7 and 27 March 4 and 26 miles, a moderate breeze, force 4, was Clogher Head, Co. Louth Port St Mary, Isle of Man blowing from the north north east and April I April 9 the tide was flooding when the lifeboat Clovelly, North Devon Ramsey, Isle of Man arrived in the roadstead. She escorted April 6, 7, 15, May 18 and 25 March 25 Dover, Kent Ramsgate, Kent each boat in turn into harbour and by March 6, 11, April 13, May 7, 20 and 29 March 28 and April 24 1740 13 boats had returned. She then Dungeness, Kent Redcar, Cleveland learned from the Coastguard that March 6 and May 9 March 23 another two boats were due at 1815 and Dunmore East, Co. Waterford Rhyl, Clwyd the coxswain decided to stay at sea and March 15, 27 (twice) and May 11 (twice) March 23 and May 2 wait for them. At 1820 the two boats Eastbourne, East Sussex St David's, Dyfed arrived in the roadstead and as it was April 14 and May 17 March 11 now dark the lifeboat fired parachute Exmouth, South Devon St Helier, Jersey flares to enable a better watch to be May 24 March 11, April 6, 23 and May 12 Falmouth, Cornwall St Ives, Cornwall kept on the sea. Both boats were March 1, 5 and April 20 March 1, 19, May 17 and 28 escorted to safety after which the Filey, North Yorkshire St Mary's, Isles of Scilly lifeboat returned to her moorings March 30 and April 14 May 30 where she was refuelled and again Fishguard, Dyfed St Peter Port, Guernsey made ready for service at 1835. April 29 and May 28 March 11, 22, April 14 (twice) and 16 Flamborough, Humberside Scarborough, North Yorkshire April 9, 10, 14 and May 21 April 11 and 27 Scotland North Division Fleet wood, Lancashire Seaham, Co. Durham May 5 (twice) and 28 March 12 Galway Bay, Co. Galway Selsey, West Sussex On fire May 9 March 1, 4 and May 14 Girvan, Ayrshire Sennen Cove, Cornwall THE FISHING VESSEL Glen RilUU'S Of March 25 March 10 and April 18 Buckie, on fire off Burghead with a Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk Sheerness, Kent crew of three aboard, was reported to March 31, April 6, 23, 30, May 2, 4 and 6 March 15, 26 and May 28 the honorary secretary of Buckie Hartlepool, Cleveland Sheringham, Norfolk May 4 March 28 lifeboat station by HM Coastguard at Harwich, Essex Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex 2000 on Thursday April 13. March 11, 29 and May 3 March 5, April 2 and 3 A moderate to fresh north-westerly Hastings, East Sussex Sunderland, Tyne and Wear breeze was blowing and visibility was May 5 and 18 March 12

69 Swanage, Dorset Bude, Cornwall Oban, Argyllshire April 6, May 15,21 and 25 May 7, 23 and 28 April 9 and 28 Teesmouth, Cleveland Burry Port, Dyfed Peel, Isle of Man April 9 March 29 April 30 Thurso, Caithness Conwy, Gwynedd Plymouth, South Devon March?, April 12, 15 and 27 March 12 and April 23 April 4 and 21 Torbay, South Devon Craster, Northumberland Poole, Dorset March 28 and April 8 March 27 and May 16 March 3, April 8, 23, May 21 (twice) Valentia, Co. Kerry Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan April 24 March 26 April?, 10, 11 and 15 Walmer, Kent Eastbourne, East Sussex Port Isaac, Cornwall March 10, April 8, 30 and May 28 (twice) March 25, April 23 and May 28 (twice) April 9, May 27 (twice) and 30 Walton and Frinton, Essex Eastney, Hampshire (B.530) Port St Mary, Isle of Man March 20 and May 29 May 7, 10, 14,21 and 29 March 22 and May 23 Weymouth, Dorset Eastney, Hampshire (D.I84) Port Talbot, West Glamorgan April 18 and May 22 April 2, 29 and May 29 May 7 and 18 Whitby, North Yorkshire Exmouth, South Devon Pwllheli, Gwynedd March 20, April 10 and May 25 April 30 May 1 Wick, Caithness Filey, North Yorkshire Queensferry, West Lothian April 7 May 27 March 6 and May 23 Workington, Cumbria Fleetwood, Lancashire Ramsgate, Kent May 13 April 6, May 27 and 28 May 17, 28 and 30 Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk Red Bay, Co. Antrim April 28, May 20 and 30 March 10,21, April 3, 22, 24, May 6, 7, 16, May 24 Youghal, Co. Cork 21 and 28 Redcar, Cleveland May 15 Hartlepool, Cleveland May 26 ON 1056 on trials April 30, May 17 and 19 Rhyl, Clwyd April 21 Harwich, Essex April 15, 29 and May 29 (twice) March 25, 29, 30, April 16 and May 1 Rye Harbour, East Sussex Hastings, East Sussex April 20, May 1,22, 26 and 28 April 3, May 13, 16 and 18 St Abbs, Berwickshire Hayling Island, Hampshire May 21 Services by Inshore March 11, 12 and Aprils St Ives, Cornwall Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire March 27, May 14, 17 and 28 (twice) Lifeboats, March, April March 12, 13, April 30, May 7 (twice), 8 Selsey, West Sussex and 28 May 5 and 14 and May, 1978 Holyhead, Gwynedd Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex March 25 and April 15 April 3, May 14, 27 and 29 Horton and Port Eynon, West Glamorgan Silloth, Cumbria Aberdovey, Gwynedd May 14 May 4 and 29 Southend-on-Sea, Essex (D.236) March 27, April 23, 30 and May 23 Howth, Co. Dublin Abersoch, Gwynedd April 13, 16, May 9, 15 (twice) and 14 April 22 and 28 April 9, May 25 and 31 Southend-on-Sea, Essex (B.527) Humber Mouth (Cleethorpes), Humberside Aberystwyth, Dyfed March 18, 19, April 11, 23, 26 and 28 April 2 and May 31 Southend-on-Sea, Essex (B.541 reserve) May 2 Kinghorn, Fife Appledore, North Devon May 9, 26 and 28 April 25 and May 19 March 5 Stonehaven, Kincardineshire Arbroath, Angus Largs, Ayrshire March 26, April 23 and May 16 March 18, May 28 and 29 March 27, May 1, 7 and 19 Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Arran (Lamlash) Buteshire Littlehampton, West Sussex March 26 May 28 April 16, May 14, 28 and 31 Torbay, South Devon Atlantic College, South Glamorgan Llandudno, Gwynedd April 17 and 23 April 10, May 6 and 20 March 19, April 23, May 29 and 31 Tramore, Co. Waterford Bangor, Co. Down Lyme Regis, Dorset March 23, April 6 and May 10 May 31 March 7, April 23, May 14 and 28 Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear Barmouth, Gwynedd Margate, Kent April 18 May 1 March 25 and May 21 Walmer, Kent Barrow, Cumbria Minehead, Somerset March 31 (twice), April 7, 30 (three times) March 26 March 10, April 16 and May 8 and May 28 Beaumaris, Gwynedd Morecambe, Lancashire Wells, Norfolk March 13 March 1, 29, April 9, May 27 and 28 May 1 Bembridge, Isle of Wight The Mumbles, West Glamorgan West Kirby, Merseyside May 7 April 10 March 23 Berth, Dyfed New Brighton, Merseyside West Mersea, Essex May 20 and 28 May 21 (twice) April 5 (twice), 16, May 1 and 24 Bridlington, Humberside Newquay, Cornwall Weston-super-Mare, Avon (D.170) April 10, 29, May 11, 28 and 31 May 29 May 7 Brighton, East Sussex North Berwick, East Lothian Whitstable, Kent May 16 April 23 March 15, 19 and 27 Broughty Ferry, Angus North Sunderland, Northumberland Yarmouth, Isle of Wight March 26 March 25 March 25

SERVICES AND LIVES SAVED BY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE LIFEBOATS January 1, 1978 to July 31, 1978: Services 1,203; lives saved 473 THE STATION FLEET (as at 31/7/78) 134 offshore lifeboats 125 inshore lifeboats operating in the summer 50 inshore lifeboats operating in the winter LIVES RESCUED 103,736 from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to July 31, 1978

70 NECO MARINE

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PAINTINGS bers on the insurance of their boats. For a Classified Advertisements LIFEBOAT OIL PAINTINGS £45, post very prompt and personal service and for All Classifieds are subject to pre-payment at paid. Sae to Lee, 9 Esplanade, Weymouth, keen quotations, please contact: GEOF- 20p per word, minimum ten words. Dorset. FREY BERE, FCII, 19 WEDGWOOD DRIVE, POOLE, BH14 8ES. Telephone: ACCOMMODATION COLLECTIONS Collector would like to purchase awards, 0202-730591. BLACKPOOL. Don't stay at home cook- medals, old station histories—anything old ing! Enjoy your Christmas this year with and interesting about the RNLI. Cloke, 25 FOR ALL INSURANCE, Phone, Call or Wilf and Tina Briggs at the 'Homestead', 57 Gabriel's Hill, Maidstone, Kent. Write J. A. Harrison (Brokers) Ltd, 'Sec- Dean Street. Plenty of good food; full TROPHIES urity House', 160-161 Bromsgrove Street, Christmas fare, house parties, etc. Highly Birmingham B5 6NY. Telephone: 021-692 recommended. 4 days min £38. A few vac- RACE SETS—MAINSAILS—DINGHIES —CUPS. W. & E. Astin, 7 Westerly Lane, 1245 (10 lines). For keenest rates, service ancies still for October illuminations. For and security. details write or phone Briggs 0253 42436 Shelley, Huddersfield. Kirkburton 2368. (Lifeboat Mechanic). FUND RAISING LIFEBOATS, SAILING BARGES AND BRIXHAM, Torbay. Beside outer harbour, Advertising pencils, superb ballpens, YACHTS IN MINIATURE overlooking Torbay Lifeboat, comfortably combs, diaries, each gold stamped Lifeboat Retirements, Presentations and Trophies. furnished self-catering Holiday Apartments, name, etc., raise funds, quickly easily. Bran Fully detailed replicas of individual boats, each with lounge/diner, television, fridge Tub Toys: samples from Northern Novel- with crews, mounted on realistic sea bases and modern electric facilities for 2-6 persons ties, Bradford BD1 3HE. in perspex showcase. Each a tiny gem pro- (children over 8 years). Resident proprietors INSURANCE viding a truly 'live', unique miniature. associated with Torbay Lifeboat. Stamp From the RNLI's home town of Poole, Details: Brian H. Williams, Marine Model please for brochure: G. A. Smith, "Harbour Incorporated Insurance Brokers, keenly Artist, 'West Rock', The Cleave, Kingsand, Lights", 69 Berry Head Road, Brixham. interested in Marine Craft Insurance, would Nr Torpoint, Cornwall PL 10 INF (0752) Telephone: 4816. welcome the opportunity of advising mem- 822638. HAVE FUN FUND RAISING Free Illustrated Catalogue from

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Printed by The Friary Press Limited, Dorchester, Dorset. 72 The Captain takes his hat off totheRNLL ^ya/Nati Appeal

"TbeLynmouth Lifeboat, ijth January 1899'by <£Marl^Myers RSMA

The Perfect Gift for you and the RNLI The RNLI's Limited Edition Appeal has proved a 'The Lynmouth Lifeboat, i3th January The prints are also available framed resounding success, with thousands of pounds 1899' is published in a single limited edition with a fine bevelled mount surrounded already raised for the service from the sale of the of 850, signed and numbered by the artist by a high quality moulding. prints. Some copies of the print from Mark and stamped by The Fine Art Trade Guild. Myers' now famous painting (see The Lifeboat It is also available finely framed. Overall size of prints is 29 j X 25 Jin. Spring Edition), individually signed and numbered with an image size of 22$X 18 j in. by the artist, are still available. However, as the As a superb example of marine art in the first limited edition by one of Britain's most sought grand tradition, an investment for the after marine artists the prints will soon become future or as a way of contributing to the If you prefer not to cut your copy of Tin Lijtboal collectors' items and orders for the remaining RNLI - you can choose no more worthwhile send a letter. copies will be treated in strict rotation. gift for yourself this Christmas.

Make your cheque or postal order payable to 'Manuscript Ltd RNLI Appeal' and post with this order form to Manuscript Ltd, RNLI Appeal, PO Box No i, Liskeard, Cornwall, PLI4 41.0.

I hereby apply for signed prints of 'The Lynmouth Lifeboat' at £48 each

signed and framed prints of'The Lynmouth Lifeboat" at £75 each I enclose a cheque/PO for £. Signature Name

Address.

I understand tbat all prices are inclusive of VAT and postage and that if 1 am not delighted with my prints 1 am entitled to return them in good condition within 21 days and receive a full refund. Allow 28 days for delivery.