Volume XLIV Number 457 Autumn 1976 THE BEST WEATHER CLOTHING IN THE WORLD

•AIRFLOW COAT JACKET LIGHTWEIGHT JACKETS ARE WATERPROOF FREE FROM CONDENSATION 0 ROYAL NATIONAL COLD WEATHER PI LE JACKET I LIFE BOAT INSTITUTION About HOOgms (39oz) g Keller of 28 February 1974 BLACK u from Assistant Superintendent (Stores) The pile fabric is protected against • Your company's abrasion by an outer of uncoated nylon protective clothing has Four pockets 0 now been on extensive Shoulder straps Two way zip § evaluation for over two years This is NOT an 'Airflow' garment and I am pleased to advise that, the crews of our but a foamliner can be inserted to U offshore boats have found increase insulation and warmth a the clothing warm, comfortable and a fc considerable improvement The issue of your clothing in is being extended to all of our offshore life boats as replacements are required u UJ i a V Ralph Lee. Technical Editor I 'Camping & Caravanning' UJ ii 0 the finest outdoor garments a I have ever seen . . . not just good material and well made. It is the amount of thought that has 0 gone into the design that delights Hi me . . . I give this o firm top marks U IU aHI it Derek Agnew, Editor of 'En Route T Magazine of the Caravan Club 0 in 1 a ^ .1 have been giving an UJ extensive wear trial to in outdoor clothing made by I D o Functional of Manchester . . . a All I can say is that one Bill Boddy in 'Motor Sport' Kevin MacDonnell in motoring magazine's description Photography of May 1975 of Functional as the Rolls-Royce •. ... A really top-class of outdoor clothing is thoroughly conscientiously made * ... My attempts to find the accurate. If there was a better product . . . the Rolls Royce of ideal photographer's garment have epithet I would use it bad-weather, keep-warm spread over many years . . I I have sat fishing without clothing . . . clearly the best noticed recently that most outdoor moving in torrential rain for six possible for outdoor T.V. Crews had ... a standardised hours; I have been all day in the work and play . . . garment . . . and I was off on the UJ middle of windswept lakes and trail of FUNCTIONAL Clothing I have never experienced the £ slightest discomfort. There are designed made and sold only by ... on a very warm day . . pockets galore, really strong zips in spite of the two waterproof wherever they are needed and layers there was no condensation . . . a rain and wind could be non hanging, around an airfield on a UJ existent for all the effect they bitterly cold day I stayed warm. have on you FUNCTIONAL: It's an all-weather job' \ For the caravanner who Ul wants only the best I thoroughly j^ The astonishing thing is the recommend this range. You price. It's incredibly well made cannot buy it retail, but only 20 C HEPSTOW STREET out of top grade materials a direct from the manufacturer . . . ^ MANCHESTER Ml 5JF This is the best clothing d bargain . . . encountered for u 061-236 2606/7 9 Alfred Place Store Street Tottenham Court Road \\C1E 7KB 01-580 4906 Counter Sales now at London and Manchester offices Write to Manchester office for catalogue - twenty pence

CLOTHING FOR ACTION FIT FOR FUNCTION WARM IN WINTER COOL ir SUMMER THE LIFEBOAT

Autumn 1976

/^^ u. j. Notes of the Quarter, by the editor 183

Lifeboat Services ...... 185

Naming Ceremony: Fleetwood ...... 191

Volume XLIV TI n Al. nl _Respect s DRead . y ,fo r _Sea , .b y ,Joa nn Davie . s ... 192

rSUmDci 457 Righting Trials of the first 37'Oakley lifeboat to be fitted with radar ... 196

Gifts in Kind 196

Chairman: Model Lifeboats ... 197 MAJOR-GENERAL R. H. FARRANT, CB 198 Director and Secretary: CAPTAIN NIGEL DixoN, RN Maritime Buoyage System A 200

Obituary ... 201

Shoreline ... 202

Building a Rother Class Lifeboat: Part I ...... 203 Editor: PATRICK HOWARTH Around the Coast 204 Assistant Editor: Some Ways of Raising Money 205 JOANDAVIES Letters 208 R/T Distress Procedure Changes ... 209 Headquarters: Royal National Life-boat Institution, Two LP Records for the RNLI 209 West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 , ,, 1HZ (Telephone Poole 71133). RBook RpvipwReviewss 21n0 Offshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1976 ... 213 London Office: Royal National Life-boat Institution, 21 Inshore Lifeboat Services, March, April and May 1976 214 Ebury Street, London SW1W OLD (Telephone 01-730 0031). Index to Advertisers 216

Editorial: All material submitted for Advertisements: All advertising en- COVER PICTURE consideration with a view to publication quiries should be addressed to Dyson in the journal should be addressed to the Advertising Services, PO Box 9, Godal- Coxswain Arthur Liddon of Dover joined the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal National ming, Surrey (Telephone Godalming lifeboat crew in 1950. He became assistant Life-boat Institution, West Quay Road, mechanic in July 1952, second coxswain in (04868) 23675). April 1966 and coxswain/mechanic in 1967. Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ (Telephone He was awarded the silver medal for gallantry Poole 71133). Photographs intended for for a service on the evening of last December return should be accompanied by a 1, when he took the 44' Waveney lifeboat stamped and addressed envelope. Subscription: A year's subscription of Faithful Forester to the aid of the coaster four issues costs £1.40, including Primrose in storm force winds gusting to Next Issues: The winter issue of THE postage, but those who are entitled to hurricane force. This photograph was taken LIFEBOAT will appear in January and receive THE LIFEBOAT free of charge will by Peter Phillips. news items should be sent by the end of continue to do so. Overseas subscrip- October. News items for the spring issue tions depend on the cost of postage to should be sent in by the end of January. the country concerned. 181 Backbone of the FishingTrade.

This was one that didn't get away. One of a thousand million. A thousand million of the reasons why every day and night men put out to sea in all weathers to earn their living. A thousand million reasons why lifeboatmen are needed as much as they are. We at Birds Eye would like to voice our appreciation of the lifeboatmen. We are proud of our long association with them.

182 ness to serve include officials of the them as much as half a pint of beer each. United States Embassy, leading service The number of RNLI services to chiefs ( David H. Bagley, pleasure craft last year was high, amoun- Commander - in - Chief U.S. Naval ting to 63% of the 1688 launches by Forces, Europe, is among them), repre- inshore lifeboats and 46% of launches sentatives of oil interests, banking, the by offshore lifeboats. By far the com- press and commerce generally. Frank monest reason for calling upon the Goodhue, Vice-President of the National services of lifeboats was machinery City Bank, and Bruce Mitchell, Vice- failure. Out of 251 services to pleasure President and Manager of the Bank of craft by offshore lifeboats when vessels America in London, have agreed to act were saved, 127 were to the aid of boats as honorary treasurers and an account whose engines had failed. has been opened at the Bank of America at 27-29 Walbrook, London, EC4. Fire at Southern! British citizens who have agreed to The disastrous fire which wrecked serve on the appeal committee include Southend Pier on the evening of July 29 two former Prime Ministers, Edward and which destroyed the Coastguard Heath and Sir , the First station caused the RNLI less immediate Sea Lord and the Chief of the Air Staff damage than had been feared. The two as well as former ambassadors, leading inshore lifeboats, an Atlantic 21 and a NOTES OF industrialists and well known RNLI 16' D class boat, which are kept on figures such as the Duke of Atholl, the pier were launched while the fire THE QUARTER Raymond Baxter and Vice-Admiral Sir was raging. They helped the fire brigade Peter Compston. throughout the night and on the Details of the progress of the appeal following day, as did the Sheerness will be announced in future numbers of lifeboat which regularly transported by the Editor THE LIFEBOAT. men and equipment. At 1.30 am the inshore lifeboats answered an emergency call which proved to be a false alarm. Rarity of salvage The lifeboat house was not seriously TO MARK THE FRIENDSHIP and mutual The old belief that RNLI crews damaged but it happened that plans had goodwill shown during the bicentennial regularly claim salvage is effectively been made to install a permanent celebrations of the American Declara- dispelled by a detailed summary of lifeboat exhibition in the boathouse on tion of Independence a number of services by RNLI lifeboats to pleasure the day following the fire. Characteris- leading Americans in Britain have craft last year. Offshore and inshore tically the Southend branch decided to decided to appeal to their fellow citizens lifeboats were launched to the help of press ahead with the setting up of the to provide a new Waveney lifeboat for pleasure craft 1,604 times in all. The exhibition with as little delay as possible. the RNLI. Their choice of a lifeboat is value of the boats they saved is estimated gratifying evidence of the esteem in to have exceeded £2 million yet only five Mumbles Memorial which the RNLI is so widely held. salvage claims in all were put forward A memorial window is to be placed in Perhaps the best known of the Ameri- by crews. The total amount received in the parish church of All Saints, Oyster- cans who have agreed to serve on settlement is not known, but if divided mouth, to the memory of eight men the committee is Douglas Fairbanks. among lifeboatmen generally it would who gave their lives nearly 30 years ago. Others who have signified their willing- be extremely unlikely that it would buy They were the crew of The Mumbles lifeboat who put out on April 23, 1947, On July 6 HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, visited three Scottish lifeboat stations: in storm force winds rising to a hurri- Invergordon and Macduff, both established in 1974, and Buckle, established in I860. At each the cane to go to the help of the steamer Duke inspected the lifeboat and met lifeboatmen, their families and station officials and he is seen Samtampa. The whole lifeboat crew were in this picture, at Buckie, shaking hands with Kevin Philip, son of Assistant Motor Mechanic lost. The coxswain, William John Gordon Philip (extreme right); introducing them is Coxswain George Wood. Gammon, was a gold medallist who had photograph by courtesy of W. F. Johnston won his award for the rescue of the 42 crew from a Canadian frigate three years earlier. The lifeboat which replaced the one lost at the time of the disaster bore William Gammon's name.

New lifeboat societies Bermuda's first lifeboat was formally named Deborah B on Sunday, May 9. She came from New Zealand and was presented by the Hon. Dudley Butter- field, whose wife named the boat. On the evening following the naming ceremony she was called out to a fishing boat which had run out of fuel. The wife of the owner of the fishing boat had notified the police as she had not realised that the Bermuda Search and Rescue Institute had come into being. Captain Sir David Tibbits, who was in Bermuda at the time of the naming ceremony, represented the RNLI, which has been in close touch with N. Lishman, Secretary of the Bermuda Search and Rescue Institute, who was a delegate 183 to the Twelfth International Lifeboat Deborah B, Bermuda Conference at Helsinki in 1975. Search and Rescue The RNLI has also received a letter Institute's first lifeboat from J. M. Kooijman of the Citizens is a 15' GRP Hamilton jet-propelled open launch Rescue Organisation of the Netherlands from New Zealand. On Antilles, whose headquarters are in service around Bermuda Curacao, stating that funds are being she will be operating in raised to purchase equipment for a new waters beset with coral rescue institute. This institute will, the reefs and shallows: she letter stated, be 'drawn after the lines of draws less than a foot. your prestigious organisation and both Dutch counterparts'. The new institute hopes to obtain at 40' utility-boat from the United States and is planning to purchase an Atlantic 21ILB. Pressure of space From time to time we are asked why fewer accounts of services by lifeboats appear in THE LIFEBOAT today than was opportunity was then taken to change our space, and while it is our firm policy the case ten, twenty or more years the nature of the journal, a process to pay due attention to the many out- earlier. At one time this journal which has continued steadily. Our aim standing services carried out by life- consisted largely of a historical record now is to produce a high quality boats we find it impossible to record all of the actual services carried out by magazine of interest to all who care for services in any detail. This is a cause for lifeboats, but with the huge increase in the lifeboat service, both crew members regret, but we have to make the choice the number of calls which occurred in and those who are actively engaged in between an attractive magazine with a the 1960s, largely because of the pleasure the fund-raising branches and guilds, wide and growing circulation and some- boat explosion, it became impossible as well as the growing number of thing approximating to the old historical to maintain this record within the members of Shoreline. record. We hope our readers agree that confines of a quarterly journal. The Today we find continual pressure on we are making the right choice.

The AGM and Presentation of Awards Royal Festival Hall TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1977

(Left) The future Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Arun lifeboat hull building at Halmatic, Havant. During a visit in April, (I. to r.) C. G. Dove, Chief Designer, Halmatic, showed the new boat to Major-General R. A. Pigot, president of the Isle of Wight Lifeboat Board, L. W. Noton, honorary secretary, Yarmouth, and Coxswain David Kennett. Yarmouth lifeboat appeal has already reached nearly £10,000. photograph by courtesy of The News, Portsmouth

(Below) Members ofHuddersfield ladies' lifeboat luncheon club visited Flamborough this summer to take part with members of Flamborough ladies' guild and luncheon club in a memorial service to the late Mrs Mabel Greenhalgh, first chairman of Huddersfield ladies' guild and founder chairman of its luncheon club. Mrs. Greenhalgh died in 1960; her family owned the land on which Flamborough lifeboat station is built. photograph by courtesy of Dennis Dobson

At the South East District Conference George A. Hodgkins (r.), vice-president ofReigate and Redhill branch, presented a cheque for £10,000 to Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Compston, KCB, chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, watched by the branch chairman, F. Carl Seager, MBE. The gift, together with one from Lions International South East District, will be used to provide an Atlantic 21 and her boathouse at Brighton. She will be named Lions International District 105SE. A station branch committee has been formed at Brighton and a free berth in the new marina has been given to the RNLI by Brighton Marina Company. photograph by courtesy of Kent and Sussex Courier 184 Calshot Coastguard recorded the Two of the crew would drag the boat wind to be 140°T, gale force 8 gusting at while the third man remained aboard times to severe gale force 9. It was high to give help as required. The two crew water; visibility about five nautical hauling were frequently up to their miles. It was bitterly cold with an air armpits in water and at times out of their temperature of I°F below zero. Gales depth, having to be pulled on board by from the south east had been blowing the third member of the crew. continuously for the previous 24 hours. At 2345 Peter King, Christopher By 2226 Ernest William and Elizabeth Smith and John Street had dragged the Ellen Hinde had covered the mile boarding boat up to the grounded distance between her moorings and the Boston whaler where both occupants entrance to Ashlett Creek and anchored. were found to be extremely cold and Calshot Coastguard mobile ashore in numb. The two Hamble crew members the area recorded wind direction east were taken safely aboard the inflatable, south east, 44 knots (force 9). the whaler abandoned, and at 2351, the At 2240, not without difficulty in the journey to rejoin Calshot lifeboat begun. South Eastern Division prevailing weather, the boarding boat set Once again, until the channel was off from the lifeboat under power from reached, the three Calshot crew members Boarding boat rescue her 6 hp outboard with Crew Members drove and hauled the boarding boat Peter King, Christopher Smith and over the undulating marsh of the from saltings John Street, aboard. Coxswain Mayor saltings. Once into deeper water, course REQUESTING THE LAUNCHING of Calshot had flares placed aboard the inflatable was set for Ernest William and Elizabeth lifeboat at 2207 on Thursday, January before allowing her to leave but, still Ellen Hinde, lying off the creek entrance 29, HM Coastguard told the honorary concerned about the lack of radio at anchor. As soon as she was clear of secretary that at 2054 a red flare had communication, asked that Calshot the little amount of lee provided by the been reported in Ashlett Creek and. in mobile should advise the lifeboat creek the boarding boat was taking view of the very shallow water in this immediately the inflatable was first head seas continuously and was full marsh area, Hamble Rescue, one of the sighted and then send regular reports. most of the time so that all aboard were several independent rescue units opera- The south-easterly sea was breaking up to their waists in water. The wind ting in the Solent, had been asked to across the marshes which appeared one was estimated to be east south east force help. Their inshore rescue boat, a mass of white water both from the land 8 to 9 with 5 to 7 foot seas. Boston whaler, launched from Hamble and from seaward. Having located the By 0030 five very cold and numb men and set course for Ashlett Creek, but, as entrance to Ashlett Creek the boarding had laid the boarding boat alongside the a result of the severe weather, had boat went up the channel and reached lifeboat and had been helped below difficulty in finding the channel in the the first casualty at about 2300, where a . where blankets and hot drinks awaited creek and when first one and then both man was transferred to the RNLI them. All were so exhausted that they engines failed she was, at 2201, driven inflatable and landed ashore to the had been unable to climb aboard the ashore on to the saltings. Coastguard Land Rover at Ashlett lifeboat unaided. The 6 hp Evinrude Thus, at 2207, the Ashlett Creek area Quay at 2320. boarding boat engine had given un- contained two separate boats in diffi- At 2325 the boarding boat left failing service even on the return across culty with a total of three people in Ashlett Quay to start the search for the the marshes when it was partially under jeopardy. Hamble inshore rescue boat. At about water at times. Calshot crew were called out by 2330 the second casualty was sighted Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen 'Weeper' and the 40' Keith Nelson aground on the marshes some several Hinde with the boarding boat in tow lifeboat Ernest William and Elizabeth hundred yards off the main channel. The set course for her moorings, which were Ellen Hinde slipped her moorings at tide had now started to ebb and it was reached at 0115. Five minutes later the 2220 and ran north towards Ashlett clear that the Hamble boat would be Hamble Rescue crew had been taken Creek, towing Calshot's 15' 6" RFD marooned on the marshes all night in ashore and were in the care of the inflatable boarding boat. Coxswain sub-zero temperatures. Coastguard. James Mayor had decided before slip- The next 15 minutes were the most For this service the bronze medal for ping that because of the shallow marshy difficult of the service. The area com- gallantry was awarded to Crew Mem- nature of the area the lifeboat would not prises numerous banks and gullies, so bers Peter J. King, Christopher J. be able to get close enough to effect a that the boarding boat was constantly Smith and John A. Street. Medal rescue direct or by breeches ; any grounding. For most of the two to three service certificates have been presented chance of success depended on the use of hundred yards the crew took it in turns to Coxswain James A. Mayor, Second the almost draftless inflatable dinghy. to drag the boat over the mud banks. Coxswain James W. M. Collis, Motor Mechanic Samuel L. Tanner and Crew Member Raymond Scholes.

Scotland North Division

Calshot: (I. to r.) Crew Crew of five rescued Members John Street, ABERDEEN LIFEBOAT, the 52' Bamett Christopher Smith and Ramsay-Dyce, slipped her moorings at Peter King with the in- 1854 on Friday, March 12, and headed flatable boarding boat in for Aberdeen Bay, after information which they rescued three had been received from HM Coastguard men from Ashlett Creek that MFV Karemma was broken down on the night of January outside the harbour. 29. Winds were gale The weather was overcast and clear force 8 gusting to severe with a south-easterly wind force 7. Very gale force 9, the tem- perature below zero. rough, heavy seas were breaking in photograph by Aberdeen Bay and the tide was two courtesy of Southern hours after low water. Evening Echo Ramsay-Dyce cleared the harbour 185 North Western Division Canoes caught out WHILE ON EXERCISE, on Saturday May 15, Beaumaris ILB Blue Peter II learned, at 1350, that a group of 20 canoeists from the Nelson Outdoor Pursuit Centre at Llanfair were out in the Menai Straits opposite Moel-y-Don and had been overtaken by bad weather. Eight canoes had capsized. A safety boat was in attendance but could not fully deal with the situation. A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley had been alerted. There was a south-westerly gale blowing. The tide was running against the wind, resulting in steep, 6' waves with breaking crests. Visibility was moderate and it was raining. Three canoeists were picked up and taken on board the ILB and one of the Karemma ashore after her crew of five had been taken off by the 52' Barnett lifeboat Ramsay- capsized canoes was taken in tow to Dyce on her last service at Aberdeen . . . Port Dinorwic where the survivors were photograph by courtesy of Aberdeen Journals landed. The ILB returned to the scene and breakwaters at 1858, her engine speeds cleared astern. It was 1930 and Karemma continued to search, when it was learned being adjusted frequently as she felt her was about three cables east of the that another survivor had been rescued way through the seas; throughout the dance hall. by a local boat. The remaining canoes service Acting Coxswain Charles Begg Ramsay-Dyce headed south and east had been lashed together to form rafts manned the helm and Motor Mechanic to gain sea room before streaming her and had made their way ashore. Ian Jack manned the engine controls, drogue to re-enter harbour through the The ILB eventually returned to her the whole crew working as a perfect very confused cross sea and swell. She station and was re-housed at 1830. team. berthed at her mooring with all five A donation to branch funds was Karemma had no steerage and survivors aboard at 2010 after what was received from the Nelson Outdoor although she had been using engines to be her last service at Aberdeen before Pursuit Centre. astern to try to combat drift she had been being replaced on station by the 54' driven north and west by the wind and Arun lifeboat BP Forties. Western Division was slowly being driven towards the For this service, carried out quickly beach. A tug, Sea Trojan, trying to and efficiently with great courage, the Capsized motor salvage Karemma, had gone alongside bronze medal for gallantry was awarded to put a line aboard, but she had rolled • to Second Coxswain Charles Begg. The cruiser and damaged the MFV and the line had thanks of the Institution inscribed on AT 1150 ON FEBRUARY 22, Skipper Tony parted. When the lifeboat reached the vellum were awarded to Motor Mecha- Meyler, on board MFV Western Seas casualty at 1913 the tug was lying off. nic Ian Jack and medal service certifi- lying alongside in Aberystwyth Harbour, By this time Karemma was about four cates were presented to Assistant was told by Peter Kokelaar that the cables due east of the pavilion and Mechanic George Walker and Crew motor cruiser Annabel II had just heading west. As the lifeboat ap- Members William Cowper, Andrew capsized in heavy surf near the harbour proached, the MFV crew first asked for a Walker and Francis Cruickshank. entrance. Aberystwyth ILB was tempo- towline to be passed, but agreed to abandon ship when the nearness of the . . . First service of Aberdeen's new lifeboat, the 54' Arun BP Forties, on July 28, was to Peter- surf was pointed out. head fishing boat Westerdale, which reported flooding in her engine room. BP Forties reached With skilful use of helm and engines Westerdale, 38 miles offshore east of Aberdeen, within two hours, transferred a heavy pump to the lifeboat went alongside, port side to the fishing boat in afresh to strong wind and choppy sea and then escorted her back to harbour. starboard quarter. Two survivors were quickly taken off before a steep, rolling sea first drove the casualty down on to the lifeboat and then separated the two vessels, filling the wheelhouse of the lifeboat and rushing into the after cabin. At this time flood tide against wind was steepening the heavy seas and causing the tops to roll, the effect being magnified by the ever-nearing beach. By skilful manoeuvring Ramsay-Dyce was again brought alongside Karemma in the same position as before, a rope was passed from the casualty and made fast to the lifeboat's bow and two more survivors taken off. Once again a sea forced Karemma down on to Ramsay- Dyce before rolling her away, breaking the rope and separating the two boats. The lifeboat was brought alongside a third time; the fifth and last survivor was taken aboard and Ramsay-Dyce then 186 rarily off service and it had been arranged headed westward into the sea and began adrift and being swept north-eastwards by the station that Western Seas should to tow Annabel II into deeper water but, on the ebb tide. act as standby boat for emergencies. shortly after the tow started, Tony It was cloudy with good visibility, a Telling his crew to prepare his boat Meyler was suddenly forced to increase moderate to fresh south-westerly breeze for sea, Skipper Meyler ran up on to speed to maintain steerage way as an was blowing and the sea was choppy the promenade to ascertain the position exceptionally high breaking wave swept when, at 1632, the 37' Oakley lifeboat of the casualty; she was lying upside- down on to Western Seas. The sudden The Doctors was launched. She set off at down in a very heavy ground swell and increase in tension on the tow line tore full speed as the casualty was by now surf with her bows pointing south west, the pulpit rail off Annabel H's foredeck. heading for The Brigs. about 150 yards west north west of the Alan Blair, still attached to the line, At 1714 the lifeboat came up with the end of the north harbour arm and was dragged through the water and casualty, a Mirror dinghy with two setting north-eastwards into shallow became fouled by the pulpit rail. people on board. Both people and boat water. Survivors could not be seen and, Western Seas was stopped, Keith Stone were taken on board the lifeboat, which knowing the vessel's layout, Tony slacked away on the tow line and Alan returned to her moorings at 1830. She Meyler assumed that her crew must be Blair was able to release himself from was re-housed at 2028. trapped in the wheelhouse. Western Seas the line. With the line inboard, Tony sailed at 1153 with seven men on board, Meyler took Western Seas in a round all but one of them ILB crew members. turn to port and hove to about 30 feet North Eastern Division The wind was offshore, south east off the casualty. A lifebelt attached to a force 5, and a very heavy ground swell, line was thrown to Alan Blair who was Engine failed 12 to 14 feet high, was sweeping clear trying to swim towards the fishing vessel. MEMBERS OF REDCAR ILB CREW, Standing over the south harbour arm. Visibility He was pulled back on board Western Seas at 1210, having been in the water by in the boathouse on Thursday was good and the sky overcast. It was morning, June 10, sighted, at 1000, a about three quarters of an hour before for about 13 minutes at an estimated sea temperature of 46°F. red flare beyond Saltscar Buoy some high water, and the tidal stream was three miles east of the ILB station. setting north north east at about 1 knot. Western Seas stood off into calmer waters and it was the unanimous opinion The ILB was launched at 1005 in a On arrival at the harbour entrance, of all on board that, with the casualty a near gale blowing from the west south Annabel II was seen, rising and falling drifting north-eastwards towards the west. Visibility was good. Reaching the on the ground swell, about 60 yards beach, there was little they could do, casualty, High Hopes, at 1012 she found from the north arm and still drifting and that there was very little chance of that the motorboat's engine had failed to the north east. Alan Blair, a volunteer finding anyone alive in Annabel II. and her anchor was dragging. She was crew member and senior inshore life- Returning to harbour at 1224 the drifting seawards. One of her crew was boatman at Aberystwyth, having offered taken on board the ILB but the other to swim on a line to the casualty to crew of Western Seas went straight to the beach to help recover the casualty, which. two remained in High Hopes while she attempt an underwater search, Tony was almost ashore. She was pulled into was taken in tow to Redcar beach. Meyler approached Annabel II and hove the spent surf at 1230 and righted. Her The ILB returned to her station and to about 80 to 90 feet to seaward of her, was re-housed at 1200. Wearing his ordinary clothing and an cabin was found to be smashed and two bodies were recovered and placed into RNLI lifejacket, Alan Blair entered the water attached to a 2" polypropylene the care of a local hospital surgeon and rope. He was tended from the stern of ambulance crew. The wrecked boat was Western Division Western Seas by Keith Stone, joint secured to the promenade railings and owner of the fishing vessel and her left to dry out as the tide fell away. Fire regular crew and also an ILB crew For this service the bronze medal for HM COASTGUARD INFORMED the honorary member. gallantry was awarded to Senior Crew secretary of Cardigan ILB station at Alan Blair, hampered by his clothing, Member Alan Blair. The thanks of the 1224 on Wednesday, June 16, that a lifejacket and heavy surf, succeeded in Institution inscribed on vellum have vessel was on fire four miles north of reaching the casualty and banged on the been accorded to Tony Meyler, skipper Cardigan Head. There was moderate up-turned hull, but there was no of MFV Western Seas and ILB crew visibility and a light westerly breeze. response. The time was 1200; more than member, and medal service certificates The sea was choppy and the tide was at ten minutes had passed since the capsize. presented to Keith Stone, crew of two hours ebb, when, at 1233, the ILB Regardless of his own safety, Alan Blair Western Seas and ILB crew member, was launched. She reached the casualty, surface dived three or four times in an Leonard Gurnett, deputy launching the converted fishing vessel Suandra, effort to see if the crew were trapped authority Aberystwyth, Crew Members some 12 minutes later and found that her beneath the boat, but visibility was poor Tommy Ridgeway and Graham crew of two had taken to their dinghy in the confused and shallow water. The Edwards, and Robert Lewis, a volun- as Suandra had on board some 800 violent movement of the boat prevented teer. gallons of fuel and numerous diving air him from swimming under it. He cylinders and there was a serious risk of continually banged the hull in the hope explosion. that the crew were trapped in an air Scotland South Division The two men were taken on board the space. ILB and the explosion hazard was Using the bight of his safety line, Adrift on ebb tide reported to the Coastguard, who asked Alan Blair tried to secure it to the fore- TWO SAILING DINGHIES capsized off the ILB to keep well clear of the blazing deck cleat of the up-turned boat, but Crail Harbour were reported to the boat but to remain in the vicinity to was prevented from doing so by the rise honorary secretary of Anstruther life- warn off shipping. and fall and breaking surf. He eventu- boat station by HM Coastguard at 1524 Meanwhile, a helicopter had been ally succeeded in securing the line to the on Saturday, May 8. A local rescue boat alerted and the New Quay 37' Oakley boat's pulpit rail and passed the signal had been asked to go out and the call lifeboat Birds Eye had been launched, to Western Seas to start towing. The was a forewarning. The lifeboat crew at 1255, and was on her way to relieve time was 1205. were alerted, but at 1530 the emergency the ILB. The boom defence vessel Tony Meyler estimated that there was was cancelled and the crew stood down. Uplifter was also on her way and on only about four feet of water beneath At 1605 the Coastguard telephoned arrival at 1314 began dealing with the his boat when in the trough of the ground again, requesting the launch of the fire. swell, and was relieved to receive the lifeboat as the rescue boat had broken Birds Eye arrived at 1330, the two signal to start towing. Western Seas was down and one of the dinghies was still survivors were transferred to her and 187 she remained in the vicinity until 1545, being the lighter of the two rescue boats, and rolling heavily. The wind was by which time the fire had been extin- was asked to rendezvous with the ILB southerly, blowing at gale force, the sea guished. The ILB returned to Cardigan and effect the rescue of the three was rough and it was low water. The where she was re-housed at 1540. stranded people, all elderly, and take lifeboat had great difficulty in ap- The owner of Suandra borrowed two them to Itchenor, leaving the ILB to proaching the casualty owing to the pumps from Uplifter and, with the help continue the search for the crew of the shallow water and reefs and did in fact of two of the lifeboat's crew, these were capsized dinghy. touch bottom, slightly damaging one of manned while the boat was being towed After landing these three people at her propellers. by Birds Eye to New Quay. Itchenor, the HISRrO inflatable re- Eventually a towline was made fast On arrival, at 1840, Suandra was turned to the scene and towed the and at 2310, after several attempts, beached and her crew put ashore. The capsized dinghy to West Wittering, Grace Paterson Ritchie succeeded in lifeboat was eventually re-housed at where she was registered. They also refloating Marianne Bodker and escorted 0030 on June 17. tried, without success, to obtain infor- her into Kirkwall, where the fishing mation about her owner. The Coast- vessel was examined by a diver for guard later found out that her crew of possible damage. The lifeboat returned three had been picked up by a passing to her moorings at 0045 on March 6. South Eastern Division boat, but meanwhile the search had A donation was made to the Institu- continued. tion by the fishing vessel's insurance Near gale in Two further events intervened at this brokers. time. A large day cruiser, Merry Dancer, Chichester Harbour had run into rough water over Chiches- Western Division A CAPSIZED SAILING DINGHY with child- ter Bar and had been dismasted. This ren and an adult in the water, sighted at incident was 'under control' but needed the entrance to Emsworth Channel some Engine broken down 'checking out'. ON TUESDAY, MAY 11, HM Coastguard five miles from Hayling Island ILB The second incident was a capsized station, was reported to the honorary informed the honorary secretary of sailing dinghy with two crew clinging to Tenby lifeboat station at 1337 that a secretary by HM Coastguard at 1412 on her which was being swept out on the Friday, May 14. motor yacht, Jondee of Saundersfoot, strong tidal outfall towards the very was in trouble 300-400 yards off There was a near gale blowing from rough sea off West Wittering. The the south west, the sea was moderate Lydstep Head, some five miles west of honorary secretary decided that the the lifeboat station. Her engine had and there was a full spring tide ebbing at dinghy's crew were in the greater danger the main area of operations. As the broken down and she was dragging her and diverted the ILB to her, sending the anchor. weather and sea were so forbidding, the HISRrO inflatable to Merry Dancer. ILB station was already manned. There was a moderate south-westerly The ILB finally picked up the breeze and the tide was four hours Within a minute the ILB was launched dinghy's crew of two, cut clear the and ten minutes later found the capsized flood. Had Jondee continued to drag buckled mast and gear and returned all her anchor she almost certainly would dinghy, from a sailing school, with to Hayling Island Sailing Club. The three children and an elderly man, who have been wrecked on Lydstep Head, HISRrO boat escorted Merry Dancer to where heavy surf was breaking. She had had been keeping the situation under the calmer waters of the harbour. control, clinging to the hull. Conditions a crew of two and eleven other people on Both rescue boats returned to their board. were far from easy with strong winds station and were re-housed at 1740. against the ebb tide, but they were all The 46' 9" Watson lifeboat Henry taken on board and landed, none the Comber Brown was launched at 1347, closed the casualty at 1415 and took her worse, at Emsworth Quay. Ireland Division Meanwhile, a helicopter which had in tow to Saundeisfoot, where they been called to the scene reported a arrived at 1515. The lifeboat then capsize in an isolated position some Broken mast returned to her station and was re- seven miles off in Thorney Channel. No A RED BAY CREW MEMBER, N. Murray, housed at 1630. crew were evident. As the ILB was so far saw from his home a sailing dinghy in off and already occupied, the Hayling trouble on Saturday, June 12. He South Western Division Island Sea Rescue and Research Organi- informed the deputy launching authority sation (HISRrO) inflatable rescue boat and the call out was signalled at 1915. On edge of surf was launched. She reached the scene of The ILB launched three minutes later A DORY IN TROUBLE just outside (he surf the capsized dinghy in about five and set course for the dinghy, two miles at Polzeath, six miles west of Port Isaac minutes and, finding no sign of the crew, south east of the station. The wind was lifeboat station, was reported to the began a search. westerly, strong force 6 gusting to near honorary secretary by HM Coastguard Having landed the crew of the first gale force 7. The dinghy, with a three- at 1751 on Sunday, May 30. capsize, the ILB was making full speed man crew, was found to have her mast It was overcast with visibility about for this new incident when she came broken in three places. She was towed four miles. There was a fresh south- upon the sailing school's attendance back to the slipway. The ILB was re- south-westerly breeze, the sea was boat towing in the first dinghy. Just at housed at 1950. moderate and the tide was at five hours this moment, the attendance boat had flood when, at 1754, Port Isaac ILB her propeller fouled by a rope, but the was launched. She came up with the ILB's swimmer soon had it cut free, Scotland North Division casualty, the 13' dory Yukkie with two enabling the boat to go on her way with people on board, at 1818. Meanwhile her tow. Danish fishing vessel the yacht Mandriella, which had gone The ILB continued on her course to to Yukkie's assistance, found herself in the scene of the second incident, where aground difficulties as her steering linkage had her crew saw three people on an KIRKWALL COASTGUARD fired maroons parted. isolated sandbank; not, as it happened, to alert the lifeboat at 2045 on Friday, There was a heavy swell running and from the abandoned sailing dinghy but March 5, having seen a fishing vessel, both boats were within minutes of being from a cruiser which had grounded and Marianne Bodker of Denmark, ashore enveloped in the surf. Fortunately had been towed off by another craft— on Coubister Skerries. another vessel, Tri-Star of Padstow, was they had gone over the side to lighten The 70' Clyde lifeboat Grace Pater son in the vicinity and went to the help of and push their boat off and had been Ritchie set out at 2055 and found Mandriella, taking her in tow and left behind. The HISRrO inflatable, Marianne Bodker aground, pounding leaving the ILB free to take Yukkie in 188 tow. Both boats were towed to Rock went alongside and took on board the circumstances the standby was can- where their crews were landed. The crew of seven, although, after some celled at 1450. ILB returned to her station and was discussion with his captain, the engineer Some two hours later word was re-housed at 1949. rejoined his ship. received that the cargo vessel had Second Coxswain Robert Corran weighed anchor and was sailing east- went on board and having persuaded the wards. captain to accept an offer of help, acted At 1615 R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 North Western Division as pilot when, at 1502, Ivy made her launched in a south-west-by-west strong way to Douglas Bay. Meanwhile the breeze with a rough sea and poor Escort lifeboat headed for station with six visibility and escorted Ivy until, at 1659, A CARGO VESSEL, Ivy, taking water and crew members from Ivy on board; they Ramsey lifeboat took over. She returned listing 15 miles south of Douglas Head, were landed at Douglas at 1539 before to station at 1735. was reported to the honorary secretary R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 took customs of Douglas lifeboat station by HM officials out to the cargo vessel and Coastguard at 0900 on Saturday, retrieved the second coxswain. After January 3, and at 0920 the 46' 9" Watson giving all the help she could, the lifeboat Eastern Division lifeboat R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 left the cargo vessel at 1708 and returned launched in a north-west gale with rough to station at 1810. On service 11 hours sea and good visibility. It was three Next morning, at 0915 on Sunday, ON MONDAY, MAY 31, HM Coastguard hours to low water. January 4, the Coastguard informed the informed the honorary secretary of The lifeboat came up with Ivy at 1034 honorary secretary that, as the weather lifeboat station that a cabin and started to escort her to a safe was deteriorating and Ivy was at anchor cruiser had broken down in a position anchorage in Douglas Bay; but, only in Douglas Bay with only two crew on some three to four miles south east of the three miles from shore, the cargo vessel board, her captain should be advised to lifeboat station; she was drifting towards changed course and headed out to sea. move to a safer anchorage in Ramsey the Goodwins and needed help. An The lifeboat followed and when the Bay. The captain disagreed and refused accompanying cabin cruiser was unable cargo vessel stopped engines four miles to move. to close her because she was too near south east of Douglas Head, Coxswain At 1315, in view of the weather the sandbanks. John Griffiths persuaded her captain to conditions, the lifeboat was placed on There was a gentle to moderate west- accept an escort to safe anchorage. standby. The rest of the crew of the north-westerly breeze, the sea was Two-and-a-half miles from shore, how- cargo vessel, who were still ashore, did choppy and it was low water. Visibility ever, Ivy again stopped engines. not wish to rejoin their ship, but the was poor with misty rain. At 1300 Ivy lowered her ship's captain still refused to move. As there At 1816 the 37' 6" Rother lifeboat lifeboat and R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 was little the lifeboat could do in the Hampshire Rose was launched. She set

Douglas lifeboat, the 46' 9" Watson R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1, which kept watch over cargo vessel Ivy, taking water and listing, on January 3 and 4, is seen here launching to the aid of the pleasure boat White Rose at 1945 on Monday, July 28, 1975. On reaching White Rose at 2000 it was learnt that the machinery defect which had caused the trouble had been put right, and the lifeboat escorted her back to harbour. photograph by courtesy of Stanley Hughes

189 Guide Friendship //returned to station and was re-housed at 1748, the whole action from receipt of the first informa- tion to re-housing lasting only eight minutes. The prompt action of Eastney ILB had helped to save the baby's life.

Ireland Division Fishing boat sinks ROSSLARE HARBOUR PORT AUTHORITY informed the deputy launching authority at 2220 on Saturday, June 19, that MFV Hopeful with two men on board was taking water and sinking rapidly in a position about two miles north west of the lifeboat station. The sea was calm and the tide two hours before high water when, at 2235, the 48' 6" Solent lifeboat R. Hope Roberts left her moorings. She came up with the casualty ten minutes later and immediately took on board the crew of Plymouth: 44' Waveney lifeboat Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse II lying alongside the two. An attempt was made to tow yacht Roy Fra Masnedo of Falmouth, after towing the 94-ton ex-Baltic trader safely into Hopeful, but by this time she was Millbay Docks from one mile south of Burgh Island on the night of May 1 and 2. The wind was north-north-easterly, fresh to strong and the sea rough. Second Coxswain F. E. Jago was in awash and after a very short tow she command during what was a long and difficult tow. sank. photograph by courtesy of Patrick Marshall The lifeboat, with the two survivors on board, returned to her station and was re-moored at 2355. course for the casualty but on the way Hampshire Rose eventually returned received a radio call from the Coast- to her station at Walmer at 0520 on Scotland North Division guard saying that another cabin cruiser Tuesday, June 1, having been on service in the vicinity of East Goodwin Light- for over 11 hours. vessel was making water badly and Dinghy adrift in needed help. Coxswain Bruce Brown told the Coastguard that he would close South Eastern Division strong breeze the first casualty, take off her crew, THE HONORARY SECRETARY Of ThurSO anchor her in a safe position and then Immediate help lifeboat station saw a dinghy in difficul- go on to the East Goodwins area. ties in Thurso Bay with a small motor A REQUEST FROM HM COASTGUARD to boat trying to tow her towards Scrabster At 1850 Hampshire Rose was along- evacuate a severely scalded baby from but making little headway. Both boats side the first casualty, a 22' cabin cruiser Hayling Island was received at Eastney were drifting east towards the Spur of Phase II. Her crew of three were taken ILB boathouse at 1740 on Sunday, Murkle. It was 1620 on Saturday, aboard the lifeboat but considerable June 27. The duty crew immediately June 12. difficulty was experienced in anchoring launched the Atlantic 21 Guide Friend- With good visibility, a moderate to her due to damage forward and lack of ship II and embarked the baby, mother strong south-westerly breeze gusting to cable length. However, the lifeboat crew and a member of the Havant Ambulance near gale force 7, a choppy sea and a did the best they could and then, as Service. All three were landed at flood tide, the 48' 6" Solent lifeboat there was not enough water for them to Eastney beach at 1744 where an The Three Sisters was launched at 1635. steam directly north-eastwards to the ambulance was waiting to rush the She came up with the casualty, the , made a detour round South mother and her injured baby to the Calliper. Royal Hospital under police escort. (continued on page 213) The lightvessel was reached at 2100 and the 36' cabin cruiser Raven was found made fast astern, her sole occu- Eastney's two ILBs on exercise: Atlantic 21 Guide Friendship II (/.) crewed by (I. to r.) Helms- pant exhausted with pumping and man William Hawkins, Dennis Faro and Kenneth George with Operational Swimmer Colin bailing. The lifeboat crew helped with Beeston, and D Class ILB crewed by Stephen Alexander and James Peplow with Operational the pumping out and eventually Raven Swimmer Graham Jewell photograph by courtesy of Peter Bradley was taken in tow around Goodwin Knoll and into Harbour. Meanwhile, the Coastguard had des- patched a local boat to tow Phase II into Dover but, because of poor visibility in fog and misty rain, she could not be found. Coxswain Brown left Ramsgate and made for the southern Downs to search for her and, with the help of the Coastguards, a radar echo was spotted off Kingsdown. Continuing on course * 4 the lifeboat found this to be the missing Ml.] Phase II, dragging her anchor. With some difficulty a towline was made fast and Ramsgate Harbour was reached in safety. 190 The naming of

Lady of Lancashire

FLEETWOOD'S NEW 44' WAVENEY LIFEBOAT

by

HRH The Duke of Kent

PRESIDENT OF THE RNLI

A LARGE CROWD lined the seafront at current Fleetwood coxswain, David An example, the Duke concluded, of the Fleetwood to see HRH The Duke of Kent Scott, 27 a few days before, is the goodwill fostered by the cause of name the new lifeboat. The early RNLI's youngest coxswain. lifesaving at sea around the world. evening sun was bright, and a force 7 Following the interdenominational With the bottle of champagne duly wind gave the 44' Waveney class Lady of service, the Duke of Kent said that it smashed over the lifeboat's bows., the Lancashire a chance to show how she was always a pleasure to name a new Duke embarked for a short trip in the tackles the sort of seas often encountered lifeboat, and referred to the generosity Wyre Channel. Protective clothing was on service. and modesty of the anonymous donor, donned as the lifeboat raced through the Welcoming the Duke of Kent, both described as a Lancashire businessman rough water, and it was not difficult to the Fleetwood branch chairman, F. M. (who was believed to be present). imagine her on rather more urgent Hardman, and honorary secretary R. T. The Duke of Kent took this oppor- business.—A.H.G. Willoughby, were clearly delighted that tunity to make public the bold new a member of the Royal Family was to fund-raising venture referred to on carry out the first lifeboat naming at the page 183. A number of leading Ameri- station since 1939; it was particularly cans in Britain, he stated, are planning pleasurable that the man who was an appeal to their fellow citizens to coxswain at that time, Jeffrey Wright, a provide a lifeboat to mark the friendship holder of the RNLI's silver medal, was and mutual goodwill shown during the present for the naming. By contrast, the celebrations of America's bicentenary.

photographs by courtesy of J. P. Morris

(right) David Jones, divisional organiser (north west) introduced members of Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys ladies' guilds to the Duke of Kent, who also met the crew and their wives and branch officials before (left) naming Lady of Lancashire.

SERVICES AND LIVES SAVED BY OFFSHORE AND INSHORE LIFEBOATS January 1,1976 to July 31,1976: Services 1,197; lives saved 476 THE STATION FLEET (as at 31/7/76) 133 offshore lifeboats 123 inshore lifeboats operating in the summer 47 inshore lifeboats operating in the winter LIVES RESCUED 101,441 from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to July 31, 1976

191 In all respects ready for sea

SURVEY AND MAINTENANCE OF THE OFFSHORE FLEET by Joan Davies Photographs by A. Pyner SPEAKING AT the annual general meeting straight from the builder's yard.' That is to cordage and nuts and bolts. There is of the RNLI last April, Major-General the standard at which everyone is aiming a 24-hour telephone watch at depot Ralph Farrant, Chairman of the Com- because an efficient boat will be a trim which prides itself that it can deliver mittee of Management, made it quite boat. every 'demand' to a lifeboat station in clear that, whatever economies might a matter of hours. The technical be necessary in these days of inflation, On station organisation on the coast of DEs, the first responsibility of the Institution At each offshore lifeboat station there DSLs and EEs backed up by head is to keep its active and relief fleets in is a station motor mechanic who is 'on office operational staff and depot and Al operational order. This is an area in call' at any hour of any day in the year. at all times in close liaison with the which there can be no compromise. Care of the boat's machinery is his main surveyor of lifeboats (operations), Frank When a lifeboat puts to sea on service responsibility; while he also holds a Futcher, the surveyor of lifeboats she has—and must have—her crew's watching brief for hull and electronics (maintenance), George Berry, and the full confidence; much may be demanded and checks to see that all is in good surveyor of machinery, Selwyn Ewart, of her and of them. Her hull must be in working order, in these departments he at Poole headquarters, results in boats good heart to meet whatever fury would not normally undertake anything being off service for a minimum amount awaits her; her engines must be running but the simplest repair. of time. with the smooth power needed to drive His machinery maintenance schedule Apart from calls to deal with emer- her through high sea or respond to is built up from items listed in the gencies, each member of the coastal whatever manoeuvres may be called for manufacturers' handbooks. In arranging organisation makes periodic visits to in dangerous waters; her fittings must his day-to-day programme of work he each station in his area and, while his be strong enough to withstand excep- has a fair amount of flexibility, but the examination is focussed primarily on tional strain, with every moving part RNLI does require that all engines must those aspects for which he is directly free to move, every part that should be be started and run for some time at responsible, all act as members of a immoveable standing fast; electrics must least once a week. This routine is closely knit team to ensure that all function without question, albeit in the possible even with housed or beached functions of the boat are maintained in inimical world of damp air and salt boats because lifeboats have an enclosed first class working order. water; equipment must be ready to water cooling system; at sea the inter- hand for sure use on a tossing, wave- nally circulating fresh water would Periodic survey swept deck. itself be cooled by trunked sea water, If day-by-day care on station with, As anyone who has any experience of but this fresh water can hold down when necessary, emergency work is the small boats will know, there is no short -engine temperature on its own for the foreground of the maintenance pattern, cut to this happy state of affairs, it is duration of the weekly trial run. Such it is set against a background of only achieved as a result of continuous routine precautions as battery charging periodic survey—inspection, partial sur- thought, hard work and, inevitably, will also, of course, come within the vey or complete survey—when a lifeboat expense. So, what does it mean for the motor mechanic's sphere. is withdrawn from service for more RNLI? In terms of hard cash, £370,300 Supervision of machinery and elec- searching overhaul. Replaced on station a year; and that figure is rising steeply trical work is the immediate responsi- by a lifeboat from the relief fleet, she with the rise in the cost of living, and it bility of the district engineer, helped by will be taken to one of the 30-odd does not take into account the main- his fleet mechanics. The RNLI has eight commercial yards round the coast of tenance of 'docking' aids—slipway and district engineers (DEs), five in Eng- Great Britain and Ireland which regu- winch, tractor and carriage, boarding land, two in Scotland and one in Ireland, larly—and usually traditionally—under- boat and ground tackle—all of which each assisted by two fleet mechanics take work for the RNLI. must be above reproach. (FMs). For work on the hull, there are It has been found from experience In terms of labour it means systematic eight district surveyors of lifeboats that for housed boats, provided routine and sustained effort, and a pattern has (DSLs) who cover the same districts as examinations at station result in satis- been evolved of day-by-day mainten- the DEs, and there are also five elec- factory reports, it is realistic to plan for ance and periodic survey which ensures tronic engineers (EEs). If a boat is a partial survey once in four years and the regular surveillance of all parts of a damaged or there is malfunction, the a complete survey once in eight years. boat necessary if the high standard appropriate DE, DSL or EE goes at For boats kept afloat or on open expected is to be achieved. once to the station and is usually able, beaches, however, arrangements are It all starts at the station. Walk into on the spot, to make the necessary made for an inspection each year, the any lifeboat house and you will see a repair. However, should the boat have second annual check including some boat that is cherished. It is her crew's suffered such damage that she has to be opening up; after four years a partial pride to keep her in good heart: clean- sent to a yard, or if a complete replace- survey will be held and after eight years ing, greasing, oiling, touching up ment of damaged equipment is necessary, a complete survey. varnish, polishing, whipping rope- the DSL, EE or, for machinery, DE will One of the great strengths of the ends ... It was not chance that, speaking make the necessary arrangements. coastal organisation is its continuity: a of the GRP 54' Arun class lifeboat which The RNLI depot, which has this motor mechanic will probably see out had made the passage to Helsinki for year moved from Boreham Wood to his full service at one station; DSL or last year's International Lifeboat Con- Poole, has its own machine shop, DE may well spend the whole of his ference, General Farrant could say: inspection department and riggers' and RNLI working life in one area; in 'When she was shown to delegates . . . carpenters' shops as well as holding normal circumstances a lifeboat will she aroused considerable interest and spares for each class of boat, ranging return to the same yard for each admiration because she looked as though from main engines through anchors, inspection and survey, each repair or she had been shipped under wraps rudders, valves, sidelights and shackles alteration. The men know their boats. 192 They know them intimately because There is the low-geared, planned work: together with yachts and fishing boats, they have seen the hull opened up, the regular visits to boatyards and to will be found, hauled out, at least one engines and electrics stripped down; they stations—he is as familiar a figure at lifeboat. Both have that undefinable have worked on them; they know their the one as at the other. At the former boatyard atmosphere of peace, content- history, their individual characteristics; he will be calling to oversee work on ment and craftsmanship which speaks they know any points which need par- boats undergoing survey, repair or with confidence of good work. ticular vigilance. Boat and engines alteration; at the latter, not only will At these two yards, early this summer, become old friends. he be looking over the boat and dis- were three lifeboats which between them That is a very brief outline of a very cussing any problems with the station illustrate well the whole spectrum of long story, so long that it would be mechanic, but he may also need to survey. impossible to tell it all here. Perhaps, inspect moorings or the boat's carriage, however, we can at least open a few for which he is also responsible. pages by spending a little while with At any moment, however, day or Inspection one of the Institution's longest serving night, weekday or weekend, the un- Dover's 44' steel fast afloat Waveney district surveyors, Herbert Larter, and expected may be superimposed on this lifeboat Friendly Forester was at Card- visiting with him one or two of the ordered pattern, calling for an im- nells for inspection and painting. She is yards working on lifeboats. His territory mediate change into top gear. An the boat which, last December, went out is on the east coast of —his emergency call from a station . . . to help the coaster Primrose and, during home country, for he was born at perhaps a lifeboat damaged on service. a six-hour service in hurricane force Burnham-on-Crouch and served his At once, as DSL, he is on his way to winds, was twice laid on her beam ends; apprenticeship there. In the 28 years of assess the situation, see her through her coxswain, Arthur Liddon, was his service the bounds of his area have repairs and get her back on service as awarded the silver medal for gallantry. changed from time to time, stretching quickly as possible. On arrival at the yard for inspection, at one period from Skegness in the north Of course, life being what it is, if all loose equipment is removed. Then down to Selsey in the south and taking there is one emergency call it is more the DSL (being from the south-east in the for good measure. than likely that there will be another, district Friendly Forester comes under He has worked as far north as Runswick particularly in bad weather. During the the surveillance of Richard Belchamber) and as far west as Yarmouth, Isle of great Channel gale of July 28 and 29, makes a thorough examination of all Wight. Now his responsibility runs 1956, Herbert Larter received urgent visible surfaces and fittings; he would from Skegness to Walmer. Always, calls from no less than five stations: not ask for further opening up unless however, his area has covered essentially Dover, Shoreham, Selsey, Bembridge he were to find signs of trouble. Any the same ground, and his relationship and Yarmouth. worn or damaged parts are rubbed with the old Ramgsate lifeboat, the The emergency dealt with, it is back down, made ready and protected from 46' 9" Watson Michael and Lily Davis, once more to the planned programme; sun, rain, frost and salt water with for instance, is a good example of that back to see how work is progressing at. paint and varnish. Her bottom is continuity about which we were talking such boatyards as, say, Cardnell scrubbed and coated with fresh anti- earlier: Herbert Larter was there to Brothers at Maylandsea on the River fouling to prevent the growth of weed take over responsibility for her sur- Blackwater, or Ian Brown at Row- and barnacles which would rob her of veillance when she went on station from hedge on the Colne, another of the her vital speed through the water; less the builders' yard in 1953, and he quiet rivers of Essex. Both are family growth can be expected on the bottom oversaw her maintenance throughout her businesses, now in the second genera- of a boat which lies in the polluted operational life at Ramsgate until she tion, where, at almost any time of year, waters of a harbour such as Dover than was replaced this summer by a 44' there would be on a boat lying in clean, Waveney lifeboat. Would there be any open water and, when she was hauled question that could be asked about her out this year, Friendly Forester was structure or history he could not remarkably clean (Fig. 1). No •barnacles answer? Surely not. Going back even maybe, but the marks left by mullet further, while working as a boatbuilder mouths sucking minute growth from at Sussex Shipbuilding Co. of Shoreham, her bottom are a reminder that a life- he helped build the 46' Watson lifeboat boat is not alone in her element. Henry Blogg; when he joined the Nor is she immune from natural RNLI she was stationed at Cromer and forces within herself. The wasted sacri- so within his competence—and there ficial anodes below her waterline are a she remained until withdrawn to the reminder that a lifeboat must be relief fleet in 1966. protected from a potential danger Like all coastal staff, Herbert Larter inevitably built into her hull: the lives his life in, as it were, two gears. danger of electric currents and electro- lytic action. On an afloat boat the anodes will need changing every year— Fig. 2: Even a child's but more of that later. hollow ball, acting as a The extent of the wear to which a buoyant scupper valve, boat moored afloat and in service in all will, in time, make its weathers is subjected is well illustrated impression on steel. by just one tiny point on Friendly Forester: To prevent backwash on to her decks, the Waveney's scuppers are fitted with a simple hollow rubber Fig.l: There was little ball—just such as a child would play growth of weeds or with—which will float up with each Barnacles on Friendly wave, closing the way to incoming Forester when she was water. After nine years on station, it is hauled out this year, but possible on Friendly Forester to detect Herbert Larter, district surveyor lifeboats (E), indentations in the steel made by the recognises the familiar constant movement of these lightweight, marks left by questing resilient, children's toys (Fig. 2). mullet mouths. Friendly Forester's machinery would 193 have received from DE(SE), David She is another boat which took part in a Noyce, the same sort of checking over service for which the silver medal for as the DSL had given her hull, with a gallantry was given last year; her visual inspection of all external glands, coxswain, Frank Bloom, received the readily accessible bearings, piping and award for the service to Tsunami in electrical connections, clearances and strong gale force winds last September. adjustments and any external wearing Edian Courtauld was at Cardnells for surfaces. All areas susceptible to cor- partial survey and, at the same time, rosion are subjected to close scrutiny. installation of an air bag (an operation Lubricating oil is changed and so are described in the autumn 1975 issue of oil and fuel filters, while fuel injectors THE LIFEBOAT). It is the RNLI's policy are replaced. to make this kind of structural alteration It is usual for the overhaul of life- to a boat while she is in for survey boat engines to be undertaken by fleet whenever possible. Fig. 5: New sacrificial anodes are fitted to mechanics under the supervision of the At partial survey a great deal more afloat boats each year. The wastage caused district engineer; they may have under opening up is undertaken and this is a by electrolytic action can be seen by comparing new anode with old one just taken off Edian their care any of the ten different makes time when DSL, DE and EE will learn Courtauld: Ji/6 of metal had been eroded in of marine diesel engine fitted in the much about the boat. All buoyancy air twelve months at sea. RNLI fleet, and there will be different cases (Figs. 3 and 4) and all pieces of sizes and variations of each. Specialized equipment in way of structural members knowledge—and tools—are needed. are removed so that the DSL can check cell is set up, with the baser metal DEs and FMs are also, of course, that the hull is in good heart with no acting as anode, the nobler metal as responsible for the outboard engines of sign of rot or damage. Some ironwork cathode and the water as electrolyte; the inshore lifeboat stations in their may need re-galvanising by this time. current flows from the anode to the districts. Some fastenings will be drawn to check cathode and, its energy thus sapped, the that they have not been affected by baser metal gradually wastes away. It is Partial Survey electrolytic action, which, unless great easy to see how relevant all this is to a In the same shed as Friendly Forester care is taken, can be one of the main boat. If, for instance, she should have a at CardnelPs yard was Walton and sources of deterioration in a boat, brass propeller and unprotected iron Frinton's 46' 9" wood Watson lifeboat causing erosion of metal and 'nail pintles on her rudder, the pintles and Edian Courtauld, the only lifeboat in sickness' in wood. the wood round them would be in the RNLI's fleet smaller than a 70' Salt water is a good conductor of jeopardy. Clyde to lie at moorings in the open sea electricity. Put into it two dissimilar The electric current set up in this without the protection of a harbour. metals and the equivalent of a battery way, although small, is very real. In a test made on Michael and Lily Davis, Fig. 3: Buoyancy air cases, lying at moorings in Ramsgate Harbour, each shaped to fit and marked a recordable current was noted passing with its position, are taken through her; all electrical equipment on out when opening up the hull board had been switched off for two for examination at partial days. and complete survey . . . The first elementary safeguard is to avoid as far as possible the proximity of dissimilar metals; fittings and their fixings should 'match', brass fittings being fixed with brass screws or bolts, Fig.4:.. . and stowed on one stainless steel fittings with stainless steel side. Edian Courtauld, her fixings and so on.Thesecondsafeguardin decks stripped for action, a simple situation is to fit plates of base was at Cardnell Brothers for metal, such as zinc, in danger spots, so partial survey. Her new air bag has already been fitted that it is this sacrificial plate which is to her after cabin top. wasted rather than a vital part of the boat. The problem is aggravated by the introduction into a boat of electrical and electronic equipment and the power needed to run it. Any stray currents will be trying to find their way to earth through the sea and, unless 'tamed', will make for the most direct hull fitting or fastening, turning it into the equivalent of a cell anode and despoiling it in passage. Fortunately, these currents can be tamed and the EE ensures that each piece of electrical equipment carried in a lifeboat is earthed in such a way that the current can only flow away through one of the special sacrificial anodes, made by M. G. Duff and Part- ners, fitted to her hull. It is an area which demands continual vigilance. Edian Courtauld was the original boat on which the RNLI experimented with sacrificial anodes. Lying as she does in clean, open water, she is subject to greater electrolytic action than most lifeboats, just as she is subject to greater marine growth. At first, ten anodes were

194 fitted to her hull, but with experience Fig. 6: Bob Stock, who these have been reduced to one large more than 36 years ago and five small ones. The work they do is was awarded the bronze well illustrated by Fig. 5, in which can medal for his part in a be seen a new 8| Ib anode which is to service which took Dover lifeboat into minefields, be fitted in way of Edian Courtauld's adjusts the tappets on one keel, and the old one which has just of Edian Courtauld's been removed. The old anode weighs twin Ford Barracuda only 31 b: 5$ Ib of metal has been engines. eroded in a year. In looking after her hull, Herbert Larter and the crew of Edian Courtauld

most closely on an Oakley, both at partial and complete survey, is the Fig. 7: To provide the double bottom under the engine room extra amps needed to run which holds the ballast tanks. When the Valentine Wyndham- boat goes afloat she takes in water Quin's new radar, Fleet ballast, and there is little chance that the Mechanic Steven Bet son water will be clear. Clacton being in fitted an alternator to the Thames Estuary, for Valentine each of her twin Parson Wyndham-Quinn the problem is silt; Porbeagle engines. She further north, at Skegness, Herbert was at Ian Browns for Larter knows the problem will be sand. complete survey. Valentine Wyndham-Quin's twin have another, simpler but equally 70 years of age, Bob Stock still comes Parson Porbeagle engines had already persistent problem. Turnstones have back part time so that the RNLI has been removed (Fig. 7) to an immaculate chosen to roost in her cockpit and will the benefit of his lifetime's experience of workshop where Fleet Mechanic Steven not be deterred. When she leaves her lifeboat engines. Betson was engaged not only in the moorings these little, protected birds exhaustive overhaul sketched out above, move over to the boarding boat and Complete survey which would have been planned with wait . . . Clacton-on-Sea's 37' wooden, housed, the DE, but also in the fitting of an At partial survey the work on the Oakley lifeboat, Valentine Wyndham- alternator to each engine to provide the engines takes in all items listed for the Quin, was at Ian Browns for complete extra amps needed to run the new radar. inspection check over, and then probes survey and also for the fitting of radar There will be new wiring to do, and the further. Cylinder heads are removed (see page 196). She was hauled out in radar display to fit in the wheel-house, and the cylinders are decarbonised and what was the old Lower Yard of and all this new electrical equipment measured for wear and ovality; any Rowhedge Ironworks, a firm which in will have to be earthed to an anode. parts felt to be suspect are stripped, its day had built four lifeboats. One of Two engines on a workshop floor. examined and repaired. Fuel, cooling these lifeboats was taken virtually off Each weighs 9 cwt. Soon they will be and wiring systems are all checked, as the stocks to go to the beaches of back on board, bolted to the bearers are fuel tanks, electric starters, dynamos, Dunkirk; paid for by the Girl Guide on the engine room floor. If the lifeboat alternators and fan motors. Association, she was later to be stationed were to capsize they would be suspended Working on Edian Courtauld's twin at Cadgwith and named Guide of for the few seconds it took her to right Ford Barracuda diesel engines was an Dunkirk. herself. The bolts, four of them to each unique member of the RNLI organisa- Complete survey involves a full engine, would carry the weight. Their tion: C. R. T. 'Bob' Stock (Fig. 6). Bob opening up of the boat; all air cases, strength must be beyond question and Stock became assistant motor mechanic main engines, auxiliaries and the they would always be renewed long at Clacton-on-Sea under Coxswain majority of fittings and equipment are before they could have lost their virtue. Charlie Ellis in 1929; after a short spell removed so that all structure is open to That is just one example of a compara- at Dover he returned to Clacton as examination, probing, test-boring or tively small member which plays a very motor mechanic in 1940 and in 1945 whatever else is considered necessary to important part; just one of many details was appointed a travelling (fleet) mech- prove the integrity of the structure or which must be checked. It is a long anic. While at Dover, Bob Stock had determine the extent of repairs required. story . . . been one of the crew of the motor Apart from the unavoidable fact that Survey and repainting complete, air lifeboat Sir William Hillary which on she has aged, the boat, after having cases, engines and fittings are all November 26, 1939, under the com- undergone a complete survey, should be methodically reassembled on board; mand of Coxswain Colin H. Bryant, every bit as sound as a new boat. The fittings bedded down in a sealant, a went to the help of HM trawler Blackburn main and auxiliary machinery is usually touch of grease to lubricate each screw, Rovers whose propeller was fouled and stripped down completely and parts wiring carefully insulated, connections whose anchor would not hold. In a full skimmed, repaired or renewed as found watertighted. All work will be checked, south-west gale and very rough sea Sir necessary. tested and finally passed by DSL or DE William Hillary followed Blackburn The smaller the boat, the harder she before the lifeboat is launched from the Rovers into minefields, took off her is to maintain. The recesses of the hull yard. Following a partial or complete secret papers and gear and her crew of are more difficult to penetrate, and it is survey the divisional inspector of life- 16, turned into the gale and for three most important that they should be boats will carry out a pass-out trial hours fought her way back to Dover. penetrated and cleaned because the at sea. off the contractors' yard to Coxswain Bryant was awarded the smaller the dark corner the easier it is ensure the boat is in a satisfactory silver medal for gallantry; four bronze for damp-retaining dust and silt to build condition operationally, and then she medals were awarded, one of them to up. That is how dry rot can set in. will return to her station, in all respects Motor Mechanic Bob Stock. Now over One area which the DSL will inspect ready for future service. 195 The wire tautens ...... pulling her over ...... release . . .

ANOTHER MILESTONE on the path of life- sufficient for the electronic equipment RIGHTING boat development was passed in May of the day but possibly not so for the this year when Frank Pen/old Marshall, future. Drawing upon the experience the 37' Oakley stationed at St Ives, the gained in larger lifeboats, the mechanical TRIALS first of her class to be fitted with radar, problems involved in the fitting of high successfully passed righting trials and output alternators with integral diode went back on station complete with this rectification were investigated and new equipment. solved, the first 37' Oakley to be fitted Of the first 37' Oakley At the time the 37' Oakley lifeboats being the St Ives boat. When the Oakley were being built, from the late 1950s to class developed into the Rother, this Lifeboat to be fitted the early 1970s, there was no radar unit improvement in power supply was made suitable for installation on this carried further with larger generators with radar type of boat; those available were not and a matching battery system. Con- light enough, nor were they capable of currently a new generation of solid state being folded for boathouse stowage, and lightweight radar units had appeared on practically all Oakley lifeboats have the market. The majority of these were Frank Pen/old Marshall been housed. still not suitable for the harsh environ- Also, the earlier boats of the class had ment of a lifeboat's deck but, with the ST IVES only a limited generator capacity, co-operation of the manufacturers, two

YEAR IN, YEAR OUT, the RNLI receives from a number of Gifts in kind. . . companies free supplies of goods for use in lifeboats; gifts which are greatly appreciated both for their intrinsic value and for the underlying continuity of support which they exemplify. All the Institution's marine engines, for instance, are lubricated with oil supplied by Alexander Duckham and Co. (who also thoughtfully include tubes of a hand cleanser); stern tube lubricants come from B. R. Vickers and Son; sparking plugs from Champion; oil coolers and the spares to go with them from E. J. Bowman. There is steel, too, hexagon and round bar from Plainer Halesowen. Emergency stores for lifeboat crews on service and for survivors are not forgotten. Martell brandy comes in quart bottles from Matthew Clark, to be decanted into the smaller bottles shown in the accompanying picture. In the Edward Dillon and Co. make gifts of rum. Cigarettes: for UK stations, two packets of 20 are sealed in foil by Gallaghers (on right of picture), while in the Republic of Ireland supplies come from P. J. Carroll and Co. Cadburys, Rowntrees and Cadbury Fry (Ireland) send chocolate for the lifeboats. Cadburys also give individual packets of Marvel dried milk, and all perishable goods are packed into tins at Depot, ready to go on board. In the Republic of Ireland biscuits are given by Irish Biscuits and W. J. Jacob and Co.; for many years Associated Biscuits and United Biscuits did the same for UK lifeboats, but because of the high cost of distribution biscuits are now obtained locally by each station. These are just some examples of the gifts in kind on which the lifeboat service can rely, and for which it is most grateful. 196 . . . and within seconds . . . . . she comes. were modified for lifeboat use, the first communications equipment was drawn tabernacled tripod mast which has about available, the EMI Electrascan, being up. A special version of the Decca 050 twice the strength fore and aft as installed in Rother class lifeboats. radar was selected to replace the EMI athwartships; should the radar be hit These advances meant that the unit which had gone out of production. by a head sea it will stand, but should problem of fitting radar to the Oakley Frank Penfold Marshall, the St Ives the boat roll over and capsize in shallow boats could be re-examined. Both 37' boat, was selected for the first fitting as water it will fracture. The hinging classes of lifeboat have upper limits of her survey was the next in the class, aluminium pins are all undercut for weight (because of carriage and tractor being undertaken at Mashford Brothers, shearing to avoid the possibility of limitation), dimensions (dictated by Cremyll. damage to the engine room super- boathouse dimensions) and stability of Tank tests of the watertight integrity structure on which the mast is mounted. the lifeboat. It was also necessary to of the radome were jointly conducted by' The mast folds forward and down into look closely into the effect of the extra Decca and the Siebe Gorman laboratory the forward cockpit for boathouse buoyancy of the radome scanner on the at Chessington, the radome being sub- stowage and can be quickly erected self-righting ability of the boat. merged under a 12' head of water. After after the boat launches. Careful checking of all these points the small modification of adding addi- Since the first successful tests radar showed that it was possible to fit radar tional fastenings to the radome flanges has been fitted to Clacton-on-Sea life- retrospectively to most of the 37' a radar was prepared and sent to Mash- boat, at Ian Browns of Rowhedge for Oakley lifeboats and a programme for fords in time for mounting on the St complete survey (see page 195), and the radar fitting as well as updating of other Ives boat. The radome is mounted on a programme is under way.

Y ply and solid mahogany. Working navigation lights are included. Model Lifeboats The 52' Barnett Joseph Hiram Chad- THREE SCALE WORKING MODEL lifeboats by Roi Spurrell of Beckenham and has wick, Galway Bay, (centre) was modelled meet on the water; each is radio been launched into the sea alongside the by David Reed of Crofton Park, controlled, powered by twin 6v electric real Mabel E. Holland during Dungeness London, in her original form. Built to motors; each is painted in authentic lifeboat week. She is 1 : 1 scale, LOA 42" 16th scale, LOA 40", the hull is of two RNLI colours; and each has been made and the hull is constructed of double layers of mahogany planks laid on |" by a Lifeboat Enthusiast. diagonal planking using 2mm ply on mahogany ply bulkheads. The deck is The model of the 42' Watson Mabel \" marine ply bulkheads with \" x \" 2 mm marine ply and the main super- E. Holland, Dungeness, (left) was built mahogany ribs. The superstructure is structure is a combination of mahogany planking and marine ply. She carries navigation and deck flood lights. The model of the 48' 6" Oakley Ruby and Arthur Reed, Cromer, (right) was built by Brian King of Weybridge, to whom we are indebted for the photo- graph of the three boats. Hull, deck and most of the superstructure are of GRP ; just the wheelhouse is of 2 mm marine ply. The radar scanner revolves with the aid of a small electric motor and gearing reduces the revolutions to the correct scale speed. For the fittings of these meticulous models, copper, brass, perspex, obechie, plastic, steel, aluminium and balsa have all been brought into use. All these models play their part in fund raising for the lifeboat service. 197 TRINITY HOUSE

AN ANCIENT FOUNDATION, LOOKING AHEAD

FOR MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED YEARS administrative officer, control the day- major English permanently the Corporation of Trinity House, with to-day affairs of Trinity House. In under its control, owing to the practice its headquarters on , London, addition there are a number of honorary of the Crown of issuing patents or has been concerned with the safety of Elder Brethren selected by invitation, grants of lighthouses to private indivi- shipping, the progress of navigation in recognition of their distinguished duals who, on payment of a rent, had and the welfare of seamen. Despite its services. the right to collect the tolls. These venerable age, Trinity House has always The 'head' of the Corporation is the private lights, as may be imagined, kept its eyes firmly on the future. At Master, a title dating back to the varied in efficiency and it was not until present, together with the other light- original charter of 1514. By Charter of 1836 that Trinity House was empowered house and hydrographic authorities of James I provision was made for the to buy them out, at a cost (aided by a north west Europe, as well as those of appointment of a Master's Deputy, a loan from the state) of nearly many more distant nations, it is pre- title which today is reserved for the £1,200,000. paring to embark on the massive task Chairman of the Board. The present Trinity House now has the sole of implementing an imaginative, sim- Master is HRH Prince Philip, and the power of erecting lights for general plified international buoyage system— Deputy Master, who is also an ex- navigation and the service is responsible Maritime Buoyage System A, which is officio member of the Committee of for fixed and floating seamarks, visual, described on page 200 and illustrated Management of the RNLI, is Captain audible and electronic aids to naviga- on the back cover of this issue. Perhaps, Miles Buckley Wingate. tion. Within its area of jurisdiction therefore, now is the time to look at The first known record of Trinity there are 93 lighthouses, 22 light vessels both the long and distinguished history House is that relating to its incorpora- on station and nearly 700 buoys, over and the present work of this unique tion in 1514. It is clear that there was half of which are lighted. Although maritime organisation. at that time an association or guild of some local and harbour authorities The service provided by Trinity House shipmen and mariners of a semi- maintain sea marks within their own falls into three main functions. It is: religious character with benevolent port limits, these are regularly inspected (i) The general authority objects, which some historians say was by Trinity House and the sanction of for England, , the Channel founded by Archbishop Stephen Lang- the Corporation must be obtained Islands, and , responsible ton in the thirteenth century. The before any changes can be made. for providing such aids to naviga- association had certainly been long Trinity House is also responsible for tion as lighthouses, light vessels, enough established to own a hall and dealing with wrecks around the coast of buoys and beacons. almshouses at and of sufficient England and Wales with the exception (ii) The principal pilotage authority in importance to apply for and receive a of those occurring within local port the with res- charter from Henry VIII. limits and wrecks of HM ships. ponsibility for London and 40 On May 20, 1514, the The present day powers of Trinity other districts, including such ports as Southampton, Milford Haven authorised 'oure trewe and faithfull House stem in the main from the and Falmouth. subjects, Shipmen and Mariners of this Merchant Shipping Act 1894, and the (iii) It is also a charitable organisation our Realm of England' in honour of the service is financed from for the relief of mariners and their most blessed trinitie and Saint Clement which are levied at every port in the dependants, and has built homes Confessor, to 'begyn of new and erecte United Kingdom and the Republic of and a hospital for former merchant and establish a Guild or Brotherhood Ireland and are based on the net service officers and their depen- perpetually of themselves or other registered tonnage of the vessel. Local dants at Walmer, in Kent. persons, as well men as women, Customs officers act as agents for the As a Corporate Body, Trinity House whatsoever they be in the parish collection of dues and the fund, which is still retains its traditional titles which Church of Deptford Stronde in our administered by the Department of are as venerable as those of the Livery County of Kent'. Trade, is used to finance the three Companies and Guilds of the City of General Lighthouse Authorities. London, although they are now reserved Lighthouses, light vessels and buoys For administration the coasts of mainly for ceremonial occasions. The In the reign of , Trinity England and Wales are divided into a members of the Corporation are divided House acquired its Grant of Arms number of districts each under the into two main categories: Elder and (1573), and also authority to erect sea- charge of a superintendent and having Younger Brethren. marks. In 1594, the Lord High Admiral its own store or depot and maintenance The Younger Brethren, who number surrendered to Her Majesty the rights of staff. There is a fleet of six lighthouse about 300, are master mariners or beaconage, buoyage and ballastage tenders of about 1,500 gross tons, five senior naval officers of high professional vested in him with the recommendation, operational and one in reserve. All the distinction. It is from this pool of which was adopted, that these be operational tenders have two full crews, nautical experience that the ten members bestowed upon Trinity House. The each crew working 14 days on board of the Board are appointed, each with rights of beaconage included, of course, followed by 14 days free from duty. the life title of Elder Brother, who lighthouses, although a long interval The vessels are used for the relief and together with the Secretary, the chief elapsed before the Corporation had all supply of light vessels and offshore 198 lighthouses, the servicing of buoys and Ireland have ahead of them in the next selected, the candidate pilot has at his beacons, the location and marking of few years. own expense to accompany fully quali- wrecks and for towing light vessels Lighted buoys burn dissolved acety- fied pilots on their trips for a period of which have no propulsion of their own lene, and in addition to the light, some three to six months, depending on his to and from station. Two tenders are buoys carry sound devices such as bells, previous experience of the area. After based at , the main coastal whistles and sometimes small electric completing his qualifying trip, the depot for the west coast, and three fog signals; most are fitted with radar candidate is examined by a member of tenders and the reserve tender are reflectors. Electric lighting and plastic the Board and if satisfactory, issued based at , the main coastal construction are two of the changes with his licence as a third class pilot. depot for the east coast; their areas of likely to take place in buoy development Even then it will take four more years responsibility meet on the south coast over the next decade or so. and two more examinations before he is at the Isle of Wight, the east coast tenders The Corporation is also responsible able to pilot ships of every size. also servicing aids to navigation in the for marking routes for specific purposes In districts other than London, the Channel Islands. such as for deep draft vessels within its powers and duties of Trinity House are The Corporation's main workshops, area of jurisdiction, whenever justified exercised and performed by a committee where skilled men are employed in the and necessary. For example, the two appointed for each district. servicing, maintenance and, sometimes, way traffic separation in the English Fast launches and ancillary craft form making of equipment, are at Blackwall, Channel/Strait of Dover through which the fleet of pilot cutters. One major in London. With the continual object of some 400 ships pass a day. The routes development in the running of the improving seamarks, Trinity House have been marked and are maintained pilotage service has been the replace- keeps well abreast of technological jointly by Trinity House and the ment of the pilot cruising cutters, where advances and much headway has been French lighthouse service. possible, by fast shore-based launches made in the development of light backed up by new shore communication sources and fog signals. New equipment Pilotage centres. The first replacement scheme is tested and evaluated at a research The history of Trinity House as a took place in 1957 when the cutter station at Dungeness. pilotage authority has taken a straight- stationed at the Needles entrance to Each of the large fleet of light vessels forward course. The Charter of 1514 Southampton was replaced by fast stationed at important navigational gave Trinity House general powers to launches based at Totland. Fast launches positions around the coasts of England regulate pilotage and in 1604 James I have since been introduced at Folke- and Wales has a crew of five men. conferred on it rights concerning the stone, Harwich and Ryde. The only These light vessels are expensive to compulstory pilotage of shipping and remaining cruising cutter station main- build and maintain and so Trinity the exclusive right to license pilots in the tained by Trinity House is that at the House has embarked on an ambitious . The Trinity House Out- Sunk which marks the northern programme of replacing some of them port Pilotage Districts were established approach to the London Pilotage by other devices: by towers standing on by George III in 1808, but it is clear district and is used for providing a the sea bed such as those at Royal that many of them had existed long ' pilotage service for ships bound to and Sovereign and Inner Dowsing; by high before that time. from London. Its position is such that focal plane buoys, as at Gorton, Mid The Corporation licenses but does not the shore station/fast launch operation Barrow and Barrow Deep; and by large employ the pilots; they are self- would be impracticable to introduce. automatic navigation buoys (LANBYS) employed. Like the lighthouse service, the Tradition and evolution go hand in as at Morecombe Bay, Owers and pilotage service is entirely self suppor- hand in the story of Trinity House, and Lynn Well. ting and receives no government funds. for more information about its latest Buoys also play a vital and major Its income is derived from a levy on service to navigation, turn the page. role in safeguarding the seas. Trinity pilots' earnings, dues paid by vessels for House has maintained unlighted buoys shipping and landing pilots, and from for over 300 years, but it was not until licence fees. 1880 that a lighted buoy was first used. There are about 800 Trinity House Today all buoys in the service are of pilots of whom about 500 are in the mild steel or wrought iron and vary in London district. To qualify, a London diameter from 5' to 12' and weight pilot must be of British nationality, anything from three to 12 tons, without physically fit, possess a foreign-going moorings; which, perhaps, gives some master mariner's certificate and have idea of the sheer physical magnitude of had eight years' experience as a watch- the task which Trinity House and the keeping officer and be under the age of lighthouse authorities of Scotland and 35. Having been interviewed and

(Left) Alderney Lighthouse, in the Channel Islands. Light- houses, light vessels (below) and pilotage (above) all come within the province of Trinity House. photographs by courtesy of (above) James Manning, and (below) East Anglian Daily Times

199 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTHOUSE AUTHORITIES Maritime Buoyage System A A COMBINED CARDINAL AND LATERAL SYSTEM, RED TO PORT

To be introduced in North West European and many other waters by stages, starting April 1977

FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR work will begin Board (Scotland and the ) should be kept, when the time comes, for on the introduction around our coasts and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, changes from the traditional direction of of a new buoyage system, Maritime have all been deeply concerned in this buoyage. A diagram showing the new Buoyage System A (MBS A), which will operation; the Chairman and Secretary conventional direction of buoyage which not only have all the merits of logic and of the IALA buoyage technical committee will apply round these islands is also simplicity but also the advantage of are both members of Trinity House, given on the back cover of this journal. general acceptance. It is being adopted Captain J. E. Bury, a member of the It is important to note that on the east throughout North West Europe, so that Board, and N. F. Matthews, Chief of coast, north of Orfordness, buoys will within a few years, in this area, there will Administration, respectively. be laid out in a completely opposite be just one common buoyage system Perhaps, before talking about the new direction from at present; they are laid where up to now there have been no less system itself, it would be as well to look out now from north to south, in the than seven. Many other nations, includ- at the proposed timing of its introduc- main stream of the flood tide; in future ing those around the Mediterranean and tion round these islands, shown in a they will be laid out south to north, in some African maritime states, will also diagram on this page. Stage 1 will be accordance with the new clockwise be adopting MBS A. If not universal, it undertaken in 1977, starting in April; round-Europe buoyage direction. will indeed be truly international. stage 2 in 1978; stage 3 in 1979; stage 4 But to return to the marks themselves. It is not perhaps surprising that in the in 1980; and stage 5, the greater part of Their good sense is something which years of developing sea trade different the Baltic, not shown in the diagram, soon becomes apparent. The number of ways of marking navigable channels and 1981. It is a massive undertaking. For variables is reduced, and the new marks off-lying dangers should have grown Trinity House 260 buoys will be involved have features built into their design up. The marks were there for the benefit in stage 1 alone. Not only will it mean which are in themselves aids to memory. of the coastal shipping of their own some alteration to every established The topmark of each is clear, individual country. But now the world has grown buoy except for solid red port hand and will be very easy to see; those at sea closer; power and speed have made buoys with red lights, but the whole will be 3 feet across and those in estuaries distances relatively shorter; the time operation can only be done in conjunc- 2 feet. Starboard hand lateral marks will has come, and the climate of opinion is tion with the publication of new charts be green (except possibly where a right, for international agreement on a prepared by the Hydrographer to the channel runs so close to land that green common policy. Navy. buoys would be lost against turf or At the request of the Inter-Govern- Maritime Buoyage System A is a meadowland, when black would be mental Maritime Consultative Organiza- combined cardinal and lateral system retained). Day and night presentation tion (IMCO) the International Associa- (red to port) and provides five different will be the same, red buoys having red tion of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) types of mark: lateral, cardinal, isolated lights, green buoys green lights, yellow tackled the problem of rationalisation. danger, safe water and special marks, all buoys yellow lights, and the three types After much discussion between light- of which are illustrated on the back of mark which will have white lights house and hydrographic authorities of cover of this journal. (cardinal, safe water and isolated danger many nations, IALA presented its new These marks will be used in conjunc- marks) each having their own distinctive schemes MBS A and MBS B (for nations tion with a conventional direction of rhythms. such as America which do not wish to buoyage which in rivers and estuaries conform to the lateral marks of MBS A) will continue to be from seaward Lateral marks: Used in conjunction with to IMCO which, on March 24 this year, inwards, but at sea will in general follow a conventional direction of buoyage, gave the schemes its approval. a clockwise direction around continental generally for well defined channels. These Our own three lighthouse authorities, land masses. These directions will be marks indicate the port and starboard Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse shown on charts, and a careful watch sides of the route to be followed: Port hand: Colour red Shape (buoys) can or spar Topmark (if any) single red can Light (when fitted) colour, red: rhythm, any MALIN HEAD TO Starboard hand: RMINNS OF ISLAY Colour green Si" BRITISH Shape (buoys) conical or spar ISLES Topmark (if any) single green cone, IALA Maritime Buoy- point up age System A imple- Light (when fitted) colour, green: mentation target 1977- rhythm, any 1980. Stage 1, starting If marks at the sides of a channel are next April, will be numbered or lettered, the numbering or bounded to the west by OLD HEAD Of KINJALI lettering will follow the conventional TO longitude 0°, the Green- LAT. 47*5O'N direction of buoyage. LOHS. OS' 30'W wich Meridian, to the south by latitude 50° 20' N and to the north by Cardinal marks: The four quadrants s latitude 52°10'N; it will (north, east, south and west) are take in the Straits of bounded by the true bearings NW-NE, : ( Dover and the Thames NE-SE, SE-SW, SW-NW taken from the 30° Estuary. point of interest, or danger. A cardinal 200 marks is named after the quadrant in these include centre line marks and mid- which it is placed and indicates that it channel marks. Such a mark may also Obituary should be passed to the named side of be used as an alternative to a cardinal the mark. It may be used, for example, With deep regret we announce the or lateral mark to indicate a landfall. following deaths: to indicate that the deepest water in that Topmark (if any) single red sphere area is on the named side of the mark, or Colour red and white vertical to indicate the safe side on which to stripes April pass a danger (such as rocks, or a sand- Shape spherical, pillar with Dr Robert Rees Prytherch, a lifelong bank or wreck); it may also be used to spherical topmark or supporter of the RNLI who had been draw attention to a feature in a channel spar honorary medical adviser at Criccieth such as a bend or a junction, a bifurca- Light (when fitted) colour, white: since 1956 and chairman of the station rhythm, isophase, branch for many years. He was awarded tion or the end of a shoal: occulting or one long flash every 10 the silver badge in 1966. North cardinal mark: seconds Topmark 2 black cones, one June above the other, Special marks: Indicate a special area or Philip Hodgson, JP, honorary secre- points upward feature, such as spoil ground, or a cable tary of Filey lifeboat station for 13 Colour black above yellow or pipe line. When a navigator sees a years. Tireless and dedicated, he enjoyed Shape pillar or spar special mark, in fact, it tells him that he Light (when fitted) colour, white: the warm regard and respect of must look for further information on his coxswain, crew and all who worked rhythm, very quick chart or in other nautical documents. flashing (VQF) or for the station. Topmark (if any) single yellow X shape Eric Hudson, district engineer quick flashing (QF) Colour yellow Shape optional but not (eastern). Mr Hudson joined (he In- East cardinal mark: conflicting with stitution as motor mechanic at Sunder- Topmark 2 black cones, one navigational marks land in 1946, became a travelling above the other, base Light (when fitted) colour, yellow: mechanic in Scotland in 1950 and had to base rhythm, any, other been district engineer in the south east Colour black with a single than those described broad horizontal or east since 1967. for cardinal, isolated yellow band danger or safe water Shape pillar or spar August marks. Light (when fitted) colour, white: Mrs O. E. Lloyd-Jones, who joined rhythm, VQF (3) or Wherever possible, the shape of yellow buoy chosen would be in character with Llandudno ladies' guild in 1944, became QF (3) its position. For instance, a yellow can honorary treasurer in 1947 and vice- would be chosen for a port hand mark, a president in 1973. In that year she was South cardinal mark: conical yellow buoy for a starboard hand awarded a gold badge for her long and Topmark 2 black cones, one mark. valued voluntary service. above the other, Oliver Warner, the distinguished points downward New dangers: Newly discovered hazards Colour yellow above black naval historian who was the author of not yet indicated in nautical documents: The Life-boat Service, a history of the Shape pillar or spar naturally occuring obstructions such as Light (when fitted) colour, white: RNLI from 1824-1974, written to com- rhythm, VQF (6) + sandbanks or rocks, or man-made memorate the 150th anniversary of the long flash or QF (6) dangers such as wrecks. New dangers Institution. + long flash will be marked in accordance with the George Parsons, who served in The general rules, using in the main cardinal Mumbles lifeboat crew for 36 years and, West cardinal mark: marks, although others would be used Topmark 2 black cones, one more recently, has been head launcher where appropriate. If a danger is for the boat. He was assistant mechanic above the olher, particularly grave, at least one of the point to point from 1952 to 1957. Colour yellow with a single marks will be duplicated: the duplicate broad horizontal mark would be identical to its partner. black band This article is only intended as an Practical thanks Shape pillar or spar introduction to Maritime Buoyage When Huddersfield ladies' guild this Light (when fitted) colour, white: rhythm, VQF (9) or System A, and should only be taken as year broke its standing flag day target OF (9) that. Fuller information will, of course, of £1,000 by raising £1,155, two of its It will be seen that the rhythm of cardinal be promulgated through the normal collectors were young people who, with mark lights follows the pattern of a clock navigational publications. MBS A will be their dog, had been rescued by Flam- face: north, 12 o'clock, continuous flash- the central feature of Trinity House's borough lifeboat; they had been ing; east, 3 o'clock, three flashes; south, stand at next year's Boat Show at Earls stranded on rocks in the face of an 6 o'clock, six flashes (with a long flash to Court, so from January 6-16 there will incoming tide, the young man with a make quite sure it is not miscounted and be an ideal opportunity of obtaining broken knee. mistaken for east or west); west, 9 o'clock, explanations at first hand. nine flashes. Isolated danger marks: Erected on, or Used postage stamps moored on or above, an isolated danger The understatement B. Smale, who collects used stamps which has navigable water all around it. for the RNLI, has moved from Chester. Topmark 2 black spheres, one of the year. .. He now lives at 17 Station Road, Oke- hampton, Devon, and parcels of stamps above the other Seen by David Rees, a New Quay Colour black with one or should be addressed to him there. more broad hori- crew member, in a western newspaper on zontal red bands July 28: Shape pillar or spar Two holidaymakers spotted clinging to a Light (when fitted) colour, white: capsized dinghy off Tenby yesterday were Sea Rhine founders rhythm, group back on dry land in just 13 minutes after In the summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT flashing (2) an Olympic-speed launch by Borth in- we published a letter of thanks to the shore lifeboat crew. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat Safe water marks: Indicating that there Well, they only had to come, what... crew from Douglas Sewell; we apologise is navigable water all round the mark; 90 miles? for mis-spelling his name. 201 over 31,000, if this operation were member, might there not be someone successful there would be funds enough else you know who would like to join? to put a new Rother class lifeboat on the We will gladly send extra forms and give stocks. you any other help you need. The response began by return of post. Our normal staff is doing its best to Our normal intake of new members rose take the great increase of work in its by 100%. There were donations: any- stride; if there should be any delay in thing from £1 to £250. One member, correspondence we hope you will under- Mrs E. Roberts, quickly organised a stand and forgive us. Shoreline coffee morning and sent us the results— As we told you in the summer issue of £30—towards the new boat. Within a THE LIFEBOAT, we plan to follow the few days a fiftieth of the cost had story of RNLB Shoreline right through already come in. her building, trials, naming and service. Section Perhaps, however, the most encourag- So, we are starting at the beginning and, ing aspect of these early days has been on the opposite page you will find an the number of members who have article on the plans of the 37'6" Rother WE HOPE ALL SHORELINE MEMBERS have written asking for more enrolment class lifeboat. enjoyed the fine summer. It would seem forms. Some have asked for ten or twelve, * * * difficult not to have enjoyed the sun- to give to friends; some requests have shine, even though our thoughts have Before the Shoreline appeal was been for enough forms to send out to announced, Mr M. Silver of Newton been very much with the members of every member of a yacht club. It looks fire services all over the country and Mearns, Glasgow, had started on a as though the stream which has already recruitment drive of his own, holding a with those of our members concerned started could turn into a flood. And, of in agriculture or other occupations sherry morning at his home on March 28 course, we shall need a flood if the with the express purpose of encouraging badly affected by the drought. remaining 49/50ths are to be raised. The * * * his friends to join. As a result he signed start has been magnificent. Your quick, on many new members and was able to Now—news of our own future life- spontaneous generosity has given us the hand in £90 to the Glasgow branch boat, RNLB Shoreline. The keel will be confidence that success will be achieved. office. Mr Silver is now planning another laid in the next few weeks: that is the Please keep up the good work; if we such party. How splendid! All strength measure of the wonderful response we are to win the privilege of naming a to his good work! have received to the appeal launched lifeboat Shoreline we must maintain the * * * with the last issue of THE LIFEBOAT. Each start that has been made, and we are member was asked to introduce at least depending on your continuing efforts. Just at this exciting time, my period one new member; with our numbers Even if you have recruited your new of office as membership secretary is regrettably reaching its end, and I shall be returning to my original sphere of work, connected with the operational side of the Institution. Thank you for your kind letters and for all your help. My successor will be Peter Holness, whom some of you may already know Prepare to cast off forward! as he has been organising secretary for Paul Richard Wilkinson, of South London area for the past six High Wycombe, is only just years. I am sure that he will enjoy the a year old, but has all the same happy association with our ingredients of an old sea members which has been my pleasure dog. He loves boats, and anything to do with them; so these last few years.—G. R. 'BOB' his family, who call him the WALTON, Membership secretary, RNLI sea pup, have enrolled him West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 as a member of Shoreline. lHZ(Tel. Poole 71133)

To: SHORELINE, RNLI, WEST QUAY ROAD, POOLE, DORSET, BH15 1HZ. I should like to be a part of such a worthwhile voluntary cause by becoming a SHORELINE member of the lifeboat service and joining the Institution as : A Life Member and Life Governor: minimum donation £60, Below are the various including journal items you are entitled to A Member and Governor: minimum annual subscription £10, wear or fly as a member including journal of SHORELINE: An Offshore Member: minimum annual subscription £3, Members' tie (Terylene) £1 .50 including journal Lady's brooch £0.50 Metal car badge £1 .55 Pair of cuff-links £1.75 8 "hoist flag £1.25 SHORELINE LIFEBOAT 12" hoist flag £2.00 Dinghy burgee £1.25

Total subscription Insignia payment

Sf oreliiie Giro number is 294 7056 NAME It'nchie P.Ojchequelcash for £ Date Signature

202 Building a Rother Class Lifeboat PART I:THE PLANS

KNOWLEDGE OF SHIPS AND THE SEA, of for the crew. This modified Oakley was design and engineering brought to bear, re-named the Rother. with imagination, on the problems A full set of working plans is made posed in the reconciling of requirements up of many sheets of detailed drawings, with limitations; calculations; drawings but it is only possible here to reproduce —of profile, section and plan—building one or two key examples; a deck plan up on flat sheets of paper a three- and centreline elevation and two dimensional form; large scale drawings sections, numbered so that their posi- of detail; and more calculation. . . . tions can be located on the full length That is naval architecture, its end result plans. Section 6 is looking aft at the the design of a boat and the working main watertight bulkhead from inside plans from which she will be built. the engine room. Section 7 looks Very often one design will grow forward from the steering position to naturally out of another; meeting new the outside of the same bulkhead; note requirements; building in improvements radio and D/F loop to port and the suggested by experience or made compass binnacle under the coxswain's possible by development of available eye forward. Note, too, buoyancy blocks materials and equipment. In just such a beneath the wheelhouse sole and in its way the 37' 6" Rother lifeboat grew roof, and the beginning of the run aft out of the 37' Oakley. The 37' Oakley of the propeller tunnels. was the first modern lifeboat with a So much can be learnt from even one self-righting capability, achieved by the view. The elevation shows not only the transference of water ballast from main layout of foredeck, cabin, engine beneath the engine room to a righting room, wheelhouse and after deck, but tank under the port deck. Later, also such detail as how the radar on the modifications were made to give the after end of the wheelhouse roof and boat enough inherent buoyancy for the mast, forward, pivot down so that self righting without the need for water the Rother can be housed; a look at the ballast transference. The superstructure, deck plan shows that the mast is in fact LOA 37'6" (11.4 m) now of aluminium alloy, was extended a tripod. From different views of the- Beam 11'6" (3.5 m) Draft 37" (I.I m) over the forward well, and a wheel- same detail a rounded picture can be Displacement, loaded 13 tons house, open at the after end but carrying built up. For instance, the propeller Engines Twin 52 hp diesel buoyancy blocks in its roof, was added. shafts can be seen in both sections 6 and Maximum speed 8 knots Other advantages gained were a forward 7 and in the elevation. Range at maximum speed 154 nautical miles cabin for survivors and more protection (To be continued) Crew 7

203 Around the coast

SECOND OF THE STEEL HULLED 18 knot fast afloat Thames class lifeboats, Elizabeth Ann, 50-002, recently com- pleted her first comparative trials with the prototype, 50-001, and with an Arun class boat, 52-02. Although only light to moderate weather conditions were encountered, 50-002 compared well with both of her running mates. The main improvements are a bow modification, which reduces wetness, and a better layout for the crew cabin. Some further small modifications remain to be evaluated in heavy weather after which, all being well, the experimental GRP bow will be replaced by a steel Elizabeth Ann, 50-002, seen astern of Sir William Arnold, 52-02, at Guernsey in August. structure. photograph by courtesy of Brian Green

On the very hot, sunny day of June 6, Mrs Irene Carrington, wife of After naming West Mersea's new Atlantic 21 Alexander Duckham the president of the St Ives, Huntingdonshire, Rotary Club, named the on July 1, another brilliant summer day, and unveiling an inscribed new D class ILB for Wells station Spirit of Rotary, pouring champagne plaque, R. A. G. Joseph, marketing director of Duckhams (I.) with over her bows. The St Ives branch of the Rotary Club had raised the S. R. Page, publicity manager, went aboard for a trip afloat. The gift money for the replacement boat in the short space often months, and of this ILB commemorated both Duckhams 75th anniversary and the a number of their members travelled to Wells to be present at the 150th anniversary, in 1974, of the RNLI. From the time she went on ceremony. station at West Mersea at the beginning of April until mid July, photograph by courtesy of RNLI Enthusiasts Society, Alexander Duckham had launched on service 25 times and rescued Cromer and District Research Group. 19 lives. photograph by courtesy of Alexander Duckham

Anniversaries: Three stations, Arklow, an inshore lifeboat—since the lifeboat Blyth and Dungeness, are, this year, station was closed in 1934. The gala, celebrating their 150th anniversaries, helped by BP Forties' presence and a and one, Eyemouth, its centenary. As joint display by the ILB and HM Coast- part of the celebrations at Dungeness a guard, raised £1,700. collection of oil paintings of its * * * coxswains was unveiled by Lady Norton, Horton and Port Eynon has, in the past a member of the Committee of Manage- 12 months, been provided with a latest ment, on July 18. The paintings are model radio for the boat and a part of a special display at The Britannia magnificent steel flag pole, together inn, which includes a scroll listing crews with a crosstree and an aerial which from 1915 to the present day and a makes monitoring over a wide area pictorial history of Dungeness lifeboats possible. After many months of hard and their rescues. work, overcoming problems, the station The Marquis of Normanby, CBE, Lord * * * has also a water supply. All these Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and a member Aberdeen lifeboat, the 54' Arun BP additions are the result of the generosity of the Committee of Management, presented Forties, visited Stonehaven in early of the station's supporters, whose help Coxswain William Sheader, Scarborough, with the BEM awarded to him in the New Year August at the time of Stonehaven ladies' is practical as well as financial: laying a Honours List at Mulgrave Castle, , guild annual gala. She was the first water pipe from main road to station, on June 26. offshore lifeboat to come to this Kin- for instance, and installing the 2J-ton photograph by courtesy of Dennis Dobson cardineshire harbour—which now has pole from which the RNLI flag flies. 204 (Some

Their stint done: a nine-year-old and his dog who, on June 9, with 274 other pupils of St Peter's Church of England Junior School, Harborne, Birmingham, helped to raise £1,200 for the RNLI on a sponsored walk round Harborne Cricket Club field—five circuits for the younger, eight for the older The chairman of Saintfield branch, children. Belfast, has written a history of the parish which is being sold in connection (Right) Fifty minutes of sponsored silence with the bicentenary of the re-building for the five to eleven-year-olds at Grendon of its church and, as an appreciation of Road Junior School, Birmingham, raised his work, the Select Vestry has given £50 £252.08 for the lifeboat service. to the Saintfield branch of the RNLI. As well as recording local history, the photographs by courtesy of Birmingham booklet, Saintfield Parish Under the Evening Mail Microscope, includes details of village life in the past 200 years. Dorset Brass Quire, enrolled in The seventh Elmore Angling Festival Shoreline, has sent a donation of £30.05, in aid of lifeboat funds was held at Lee- the proceeds from outdoor concerts in on-the-Solent on Sunday, April 4. This the Scilly Isles. Most was raised by a year's festival raised more than £1,300, floating concert in St Mary's Harbour, taking the grand total for the seven Management, £8,000 towards the cost the brass group playing aboard a years to over £5,000. About 1,000 anglers of the new ILB house at Eastney. This pleasure boat to an audience on the sea- fished from 11 am to 4 pm. During the money had come from numerous events, front. Handel's Water Music was weigh-in Eric Pearman, vice-chairman including last year's Elmore Angling included in the programme. The second of Eastney lifeboat station appeal Festival. Leslie Crowther presented the concert was given close by Bishop Rock committee and chairman of Gosport prizes to the anglers. Lighthouse. Can this be the furthest west branch, presented to Mrs Georgina Grangemouth branch, which has concert in England ? Keen, a member of the Committee of raised over £2,000 in two years, recently organised an RNLI art competition in which more than 300 children took part. Several of the winners came from Moray Middle School, some of whose pupils have since raised £1.65 for the lifeboat service with a hamster tote. Twenty small numbered boxes, each with a little food in it, were placed round a run, and Miss E. M. Lloyd-Jones a Ip ticket was sold for each number; organising secretary, the hamster, Topsy, put in the run, ran Scotland, presents prizes for the RNLI art com- around and then into a box and the petition arranged by person who had the corresponding Grangemouth branch for ticket won 5p. local schoolchildren. The Reigate and Redhill branch raised 300 and more pictures more than £3,000 in 1975 for the second and models submitted year in succession. More than 30 schools were judged by Frank Donnan. in the area have seen the film 'Let Not photograph by the Deep Swallow Me Up', made for courtesy of the Inner London Education Authority. The Falkirk Herald It was met with great enthusiasm and Studios during Surrey appeal week the children 205 gave some £200 pocket money, while Broadway ladies guild is lucky that Herne Bay branch held a sponsored £1,000 worth of souvenirs was sold to its honorary treasurer, Mrs J. Morris, beach clearance on April 10, ready for pupils through school staff and the lives in a lovely Cotswold house, Dere- Easter. The clearing was done by Anne branch chairman, F. Carl Seager, MBE. ham House, Willersey, and is also a Sutherland, daughter of the honorary Some time ago, each of the 12 member of Chipping Campden Flower secretary, and her friends, who raised members of Masham ladies' guild Club. The club decorated Dereham £120 for the RNLI. committee, in the heart of the Yorkshire House over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, moving in on the Friday and Following their initial sponsored walk Dales, was given 25p token money—£3 on behalf of the lifeboat service last in all. Each was asked, starting with her putting flower arrangements into six bedrooms, four bathrooms, four recep- year, when £180 was raised, the Hull token, to make as much as possible, and Wykehykers undertook a further at their recent AGM the money raised tion rooms and the kitchen. Coffee and tea were served and after three days sponsored Lyke Wake Walk, from was counted; it totalled just over £58. Ravenscar to Osmotherley, on Sunday, The treasurer, by baking bread, had £150 had been raised which, by Mrs Morris's wish, was donated to the RNLI. April 11. The 42-mile crossing was turned her original 25p into £24. completed by 21 of the 24 starters in an Stockport crew of lifeboat auxiliaries The top juniors (11 years old) of St average time of 17 J hours, and £200 was put up their flag day collection this James Junior School, Whitehaven, raised. The youngest walker was Allison spring by 50% with a total of £786: no Cumbria, presented a special assembly Carter, aged 11. less than 18,000 coins! The result was on June 22 based on a project on achieved by 13 collectors, one of whom, Workington lifeboat. Afterwards the A voluntary collection among children the secretary Wallace Lister Barber, did honorary treasurer of Whitehaven in the second year of Great Cornard two shifts of eight hours. branch, Mrs Morris, was presented with Middle School in Suffolk resulted in a a cheque for £267 raised by the children cheque for £5.65 for the lifeboat service. with a sponsored spelling bee. The effort was promoted by Mrs Bell, one of Harpenden ladies' guild, formed in the teachers whose father is the auxiliary June 1974, has raised since then nearly coastguard, and encouragement and £2,500 for Walton and Frinton lifeboats help was given by Bob McLoughlin, a with cheese and wine evenings, barbecues senior crew member of St Bees ILB. and other fund-raising events. Last May, 29 members visited Walton and Frinton where they were welcomed aboard the lifeboat by Sir James and Lady Barker and by members of the lifeboat crew. Sir James is president of both the local branch and Harpenden branch. Shoreham's lifeboat week, organised jointly by Shoreham lifeboat society and Shoreham Harbour ladies' guild, realised a record £1,000, nearly a 25% advance on 1975. The climax of the week was a tour of the town by Shoreham Harbour Mrs Beryl Robertson of Alfred Terrace The' two—and only—members of the ILB; the parade was led by the band of Walton, Essex, helped by her mother Mrs Georgian branch, Cliff Jardine, landlord of TS Fearless of the Nautical Training Win Garratt, collected 150 Ib of stamps from the George Hotel, Beaconsfield, and his friend Corps. The cadets, who gave a splendid friends and local shops during the past year Sandy Bailey have raised il,500 for the life- display, came to help the RNLI at their realising £40 which she gave to the RNLI. boat service in two years with dinner-boxing Mrs Robertson is still collecting stamps and and pro-am golf tournaments outside the town; own expense, even though they are welcomes contributions. they have more events planned. desperately trying to raise funds to re- photograph by courtesy of photograph by courtesy of build their own headquarters, destroyed East Essex Gazette The Bucks Free Press recently by fire.

(Below) Once a week (whenever the weather allows) Mrs Joan Bagley, honorary secretary of Totnes branch, sets up shop in the private forecourt of Kingsbridge Inn, with the kind permission of the owner Philip Potter, or at the town summer Elizabethan Market, selling books: paperback lOp, hard-covered books 20p. By June this year £52 had been taken. photograph by courtesy of Howell Evans

(Above) There were 129 participants, from all over Sussex, in a five-mile sponsored swim in the River Adur at Shoreham last March. It was organised by the Brighton branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club, and the £2,048.30 raised in a single morning was donated to the memorial fund for John Fox, coxswain of Shoreham lifeboat, who died on New Year's Eve. The aim of the fund is a radar for Shoreham lifeboat.

206 More people than ever before attended the coffee morning organised by Mrs Diana Wells at her home in Sawbridge- worth on Friday, June 11, and a record sum of £812 was raised. Nearly £100 of this money was donated by friends in memory of Mrs Wells' husband, Sewell, who had worked with great dedication for the lifeboat service. The children of the Lower School at Pershore High School decided, through their school council, to support the RNLI during the last school year. Each form organised its own effort, such as sponsored walks, selling home-made sweets or jumble sales. Raffles were held and souvenirs sold. No less than £289 was raised. At an evening party held on May 12 at Kettlethorpe Hall, near Saxilby, by courtesy of Judge and Mrs Daly Lewis, an auction of paintings was conducted by J. H. Evans of J. Hunter and Sons, (Above) Leeds appeal committee organised a Auctioneers and Valuers, helped charity greyhound meeting at Elland Road by Wilson Millington as the clerk. Stadium on May 6. Various firms in the city Fifteen original paintings were put up sponsored the eight races, to £100 each, and a very successful and enjoyable occasion for sale and realised £287. One water- yielded about £1,300. The photograph, taken colour was donated by Cecil Thornton, before racing, shows Miss Leeds Lifeboat, two miniature watercolours by his wife, Judith Vtley, with members of the appeal Marion Thornton, and six watercolours committee and some of the dogs with their of sea and shore by Jason Partner; all kennel-maids. three artists, enthusiastic supporters of the RNLI, travelled to Saxilby to be present at the party. Three paintings were donated by Judge Daly Lewis and various other paintings and a pen and Leslie Crowther (I.) and Robert Keegan were ink drawing were given by local artists. two of the guests at the RNLI gala at Ash- With this most enjoyable evening, burton Park on July 3, which was also attended Lincoln ladies' guild raised £400. by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon. During the afternoon, opened by East Bridgford ladies' guild's terri- Leslie Crowther, more than 5,000 people tory is as far from the seas as is possible enjoyed entertainment by military bands and in England, between the Vale of Belvoir field displays by Sea Cadets and Scouts; these and the steep, wooded south bank of the included an assault course competition of ten Trent between Nottingham and Newark. Mrs V. Gambles, honorary secretary of obstacles won by a team of five boys from Croydon Sea Cadet Unit. There were side It is in this country that the guild has Bridlington ladies' guild, helps J. Ward hold both the monster Easter egg he gave to the shows manned by no fewer than 25 RNLI staged four sponsored walks which have guild to raffle and the resultant £80 cheque. South London branches and by such supporters brought in over £2,000. This year a The winner of the egg gave it to children in a as Round Tablers and Rotarians, as well as hundred walkers, including three local hospital, photograph by courtesy of static displays by the Royal Navy, Army, generations of one family, set out by Bridlington Free Press Royal Air Force, Fire Service, Ambulance lanes and footpaths along the edge of Brigade and commercial firms. The gross the Vale, then down to the river, where Rayners Lane branch set 30 streets receipts were £2,500. Nottingham Sea Cadets' rescue boat as their target for a sponsored inshore ferried them across to a picnic lunch lifeboat push on Saturday. June 5. The the boat was finally 're-housed' off provided by the guild and Bleasby 'launch' was at 0930 at The Glen and Torbay Avenue at 1500 and about £400 Women's Institute. A final six miles by mid-day successful passage had been had been raised. along the towpath, over Gunthorpe made through 15 streets. From 1300 to Since The Admiral Vernon at Tor- Bridge and up the hill again to East 1430 the ILB was 'moored' in the rington was taken over by Jack and Bridgford completed the 15-mile course. shopping centre, where great interest Joyce Boyd last June they have raised The walk earned more than £700 for the was shown in the boat and explanatory £750 for Appledore lifeboat; among RNLI. notice board. With an afternoon push other events, a chicken dinner is raffled every Saturday night. On July 24, Jack Boyd presented Captain Colin Lowry, COMPETITION RESULT chairman of Appledore branch, with a cheque for £466.68, the results of a life- Miss K. M. Brown of Harpenden thought boat week organised by himself and he was saying: Lawrence 'Lardo' Alexander, the 'Will you grasp the Shoreline ?' founder of the Torrington Cavaliers, which had included a Black and White This was deemed the best entry and wins Minstrel Show. With a house-to-house the prize of £5. We regret that no receipts collection and coffee morning organised have been sent owing to the cost of by Appledore ladies' guild and the postage. profits from Captain Lowry's souvenir stall, the week's final total was £612. 207 had immense respect I can now add sincere affection—for mums, sons, husbands, wives, the lot. Incidentally, my son's injury, from which he is now recovering, did not prevent him from retaining command of Letters... his boat. Until the time he was helped up the ladder on to the quay he was in complete command of the situation, and Re-count . . . experienced very strong winds which I merely acted on his orders. Thank you, In a branch house-to-house collection required us to reduce sail down, Shoreham.—MARY MACLEAN, Royal Air two boxes may, rarely, be found to eventually, to a storm jib. As the wind Force Yacht Club, Humble, Southampton. contain the same amount when opened, was south-easterly and so offshore I but how about this ? decided to make for Nefyn under motor At 0247 on Saturday, May 29, RLP, the Two collectors worked on the opposite and obtain shelter from the coast: the 41' Watson lifeboat temporarily on duty side of each road in their area, together, engine, however, refused to start, despite at Shoreham Harbour, launched to and on two consecutive evenings. On just having undergone an expensive investigate a red flare sighted two miles the third evening they took separate south of the harbour. Visibility was overhaul by professional engineers. moderate and there was a moderate roads, but were helped by a third Not wishing to make a landing during easterly breeze. She came up with the collector who worked with each of them darkness, I then decided to ride it out casualty, a Tango class trimaran, at 0320, in turn for half the time (and had his in deep water until daylight. We were took her in tow and brought her back to own box). unable to make headway during the Shoreham. As one of the crew of two had The two boxes concerned were night and owing to tide and wind were sustained a head injury the lifeboat consecutively numbered, and were issued being constantly swept north west. At radioed for an ambulance to meet them as to a husband and wife. 0732, with a further increase of wind they came ashore.—THE EDITOR. The amount found in each box by the strength forecast and my crew becoming treasurer (Lloyds Bank) was £15.7H. exhausted, I radioed for assistance. This Lifeboat 'houses' As branch secretary T questioned the message, though weak (the batteries Here's another way in which the totals on the chance that, with the same being low after the attempts to start the lifeboat service can be publicised by local surname, an amount had been put down engine), was picked up by Holyhead and people. At Gunfleet Secondary School, twice in error. Also, as one of the two Fishguard Coastguard. Anglesey Radio Frinton-on-Sea, the houses are named collectors concerned, I just did not broadcast a general call to all ships in after the local lifeboats. They have believe it. Do you? HONORARY the area. At about 1100 on May 24 the Courtauld House, named after the SECRETARY, Bodmin and District Branch, Shell tanker Lovellia was sighted and we Walton and Frinton lifeboat, RNLB High Bank, Love Lane, Bodmin, set off two orange smoke flares, which Edian Courtauld, Graham House after . she saw. The master of this ship kindly RNLB Margaret Graham at Harwich, and made a lee for us and informed Radio Wyndham House after RNLB Valentine Anglesey of our position, 11 miles south Twice saved Wyndham-Quin at Clacton. They have west of the Skerries. Will you please convey to the crews a fourth house called Trinity named Your Holyhead lifeboat reached us of the Beaumaris and Holyhead lifeboats after the Trinity House depot at Harwich. some hours later and at 1630 we were our very sincere thanks and appreciation Last summer the school had a new safely moored in Holyhead Harbour. for the services they rendered to myself extension built and they called this Please thank the coxswain and crew and three crew members on May 22 and Hillary after the founder of the RNLI, for their kindness in taking two members 24? After many years of sailing, my 25' Sir William Hillary, p. A. EDWARDS, of my crew aboard, one of them a lady, yacht Sabine was involved in two Farnham, 22 Kenilworth Road, Holland- and for the hospitality extended to them separate incidents which endangered on-Sea, Essex. while aboard. life. To the members of these two lifeboat The first incident occurred while crews we send our very grateful thanks Anglers in distress boarding the yacht, which was on moor- and hope sincerely we shall not require On behalf of the Firth of Clyde Sea ings three-quarters of a cable south east their services in the future. But it is nice Angling Association and all competitors of Beaumaris Pier; after four trips with to know that all ended well owing to the who took part on May 16 in the Clyde crew and provisions, on the last trip, help we received from the RNLI and Open Boat Championship at Helens- for reasons not yet ascertained, my those gallant lifeboat men. Their praise burgh, may I extend to you and your inflatable dinghy deflated causing the will be high in the yacht clubs we visit.— staff, in particular the officers active at outboard to fail. One crew member was B. EVANS, 46 Heyes Drive, Wallasey, Helensburgh, a most sincere apprecia- recovered by heaving line thrown from Mersey side, L45 8QW tion for the outstanding and prompt the yacht and hoisted aboard, but the service rendered to anglers in distress ? second member was blown by a strong May I also thank you for the prompt southerly wind, still in the dinghy, sea- Continuing kindness assistance of officers at the Helensburgh ward. Both were wearing inflatable My son and I were involved in a sail- station regarding notification to the lifejackets. ing accident off Shoreham Harbour early organisers of anglers stranded due to the A red flare was sent up at 0010. It is on Saturday, May 29. One reads daily of severe gales on the day of the champion- with admiration that I report that owing the rescues effected by the lifeboat ship? to the efficiency of your service at service, but I doubt if people realise the I would be indebted if you could Beaumaris, both crew member and kindness which continues after the convey our appreciation to everyone at dinghy were returned safely to Sabine rescued are safely ashore. Helensburgh. ALEX A. FORREST, Chairman at 0035. For a rescue involving launch- During the very trying period when Firth of Clyde Sea Angling Association, ing and search to be executed in just 25 my son was in hospital with a fractured 97 Cockles Loan, Renfrew. minutes takes some believing, but it is skull, individual members of the RNLI a fact: times were recorded and entries accommodated me, fed me, and never During the afternoon of Sunday, May 16, made in the log. gave my morale a chance to drop, though a sudden southerly gale caught out a The second incident occurred while all the ferrying and companionship number of small boat sailors and fishermen we were on passage from Beaumaris to involved must have made a nonsense of in the Gareloch. Helensburgh 1LB, with Abersoch when, with Bardsey Island their own bank holiday weekend plans. George Hulley, S. Massie and S. Douglas light bearing 175°T distance 7 miles, we To a service for which I have always (continued opposite) 208 R/T procedure changes THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE modifica- tions introduced in the new edition of the Handbook for Radio Operators should be noted: Control of distress traffic: The word 'PRUDENCE' (pronounced PRU-DONCE) has been introduced, thus following the pattern that French is used for distress pro-words. It indicates that the silence which has been imposed on a distress frequency (2182 kHz or channel 16) is no longer considered completely necessary even though the distress situation still exists, and that restricted working for urgent messages can be resumed. Complete silence can be re- imposed by the ship in distress or the station controlling the distress traffic with the words 'SEELONCE MAYDAY' (from the French again—silence and ni'aider), TWO LP RECORDS FOR THE RNLI or by another station deeming it neces- Members of the Orpheus Male sary with the words 'SEELONCE DISTRESS'. Choir of Rhos near Wrexham, When distress traffic has completely which this year has produced a ceased, normal working is resumed by record as a tribute to lifeboat- the words 'SEELONCE FEENEE' (the French men, visited Rhyl during the fini). summer and (above) were Urgency signal: The urgency signal welcomed aboard the lifeboat now consists of three repetitions of the by the crew and station officials. 'For those in peril' is an group of words 'PAN PAN' (this is also anthology of sacred music, sea derived from the French, panne meaning shanties and songs, English breakdown): e.g., 'PAN PAN . . . PAN and Welsh, with solos by John PAN . . . PAN PAN'. Williams and Walford Jones, 'Eternal Father' opens side 1. The director of music is John Accommodation Glyn Williams, LRAM ALCM, the ROUND ABOUT CHRISTMAS, thoughts pianist Anne Phillips, ALCM and George McArdle, ARCO, turn to summer holidays and from the the organist. Copies, price next issue of THE LIFEBOAT, winter i.1.95 plus 25p postage and 1976/77, a new heading will be intro- packing, from RNLI Welsh duced into the classified advertisement District Office, The Exchange, section: ACCOMMODATION. It may well Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, be that among our supporters are CFl 6ED. those who have hotel, guest house or For more than 30 years the bed and breakfast accommodation Lifeboat Mixed Voice Choir of available and who would welcome other Forest Row, Sussex, has sung lifeboat people as visitors—the pleasure carols at Christmas time for Popular Christmas Garols would surely be mutual. As a service to the RNLI and, in that time, has our members and supporters, a special raised more than £5,000. What price is offered of £6 for up to 50 words started as a small band of (including address and/or telephone singers has grown into an number); for longer insertions the experienced choir and its record of 18 carols is full of warmth normal price of 20p a word would and enthusiasm. Last Christmas apply for each word over 50. Each ad- Coxswain Joe Martin (seen on vertisement will be inserted in strict the sleeve, right) and Motor order of receipt. Those for which there is Mechanic Joe Shoesmith of not space in one issue will be carried over Hastings joined the choir for to the next, unless other instructions are an evening's carol singing. received. Please type or print your adver- Copies, price £2.10, including tisement and send it with a cheque or postage and packing, from postal order payable to the Royal RNLI South East District Office, 9 Union Square, The National Life-boat Institution, to the ad- Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, or vertisement manager at Dyson Advertis- from George Ralph (conductor), ing Services, P.O. Box 9, Godalming, Fairways, Blackwell Farm Surrey. Road, East Grinstead.

Clynder, the other to Rosneath. Eighteen or because the weather made it too hazard- Letters other people were landed at Rhu Pier; they ous for the use of tenders. So, in all, 26 (from page 208) included members of fishing parties taken people were landed from craft in places as crew, was out on service for If hours. off one motor launch blown ashore at from mid-Gareloch to Helensburgh. First she towed to safety two fishing Helensburgh and another in Rhu Bay, as Sending on to us Mr Forrest's letter, dinghies, both with swamped outboard welt as the crews of six boats at moorings, George Paton, secretary of Glasgow branch engines and both with four people aboard; in varying degrees of danger and unable to added, 'It is so encouraging when people say one was taken to the weather shore at get ashore because tenders had been lost "Thank you"!'—THE EDITOR. 209 of the officers and seamen serving in the Royal Navy.' After war broke out in 1914 members of HM Coastguard fulfilled the role for which they had primarily been appointed, that of providing the neces- sary naval reserve, but as a result there was a deplorable shortage of people to carry out the other Coastguard duties. In practice the work tended to fall largely on the wives of Coastguard officers and on Sea Scouts. REVIEWS When the war came to an end the familiar departmental power struggle was resumed. The first Chief Inspector of Coastguard, Captain Vernon Rash- leigh, who seems to have had both a • The history of Britain's Coastguard aiity. The coastguards who tried to strong character and an effective turn of is an extraordinarily colourful one, and combat the smugglers had a hard and phrase, commented: 'It is unfortunate it is surprising that hitherto no full dangerous life, and Mr Webb quotes that there are to be found in the history of the service has been published. one old coastguard, who stated: 'It was Admiralty a certain number of naval The deficiency has now been made good enough to kill a horse and only a strong officers now holding minor adminis- by William Webb in an admirable work man could stand it'. trative posts who, without giving the entitled Coastguard! An Official History In depicting the struggle between the question mature thought, are voicing of HM Coastguard (HMSO, £4.95). The forces of law and order and the smugglers the opinion that on conclusion of Prince of Wales contributes a foreword, Mr Webb tends perhaps to exaggerate hostilities the Coastguard should not in which he recalls his own experiences the venality of the revenue officers and be given back to the Ministry'. The naval as an auxiliary coastguard when he was to give the Coastguard rather too much officers holding minor administrative at Gordonstoun School. credit for the part it played in bringing posts were defeated, and the Coastguard Not the least attraction of Mr Webb's smuggling to an end. Honest revenue in its modern form as a lifesaving book is the clear and uncomplicated officers did exist. One of them was organisation gradually came into being. style in which is is written. Research into William Arnold, the father of Dr Nevertheless, when the Coastguard once the Coastguard records has clearly been Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of again came under the control of the extensive and Mr Webb has benefited Rugby School, who receives only a brief Board of Trade in 1964 it had served both from earlier research carried out mention in Mr Webb's work. The real eight different ministries in 140 years. by the former Chief Inspector of Coast- destroyer of smuggling was of course the Readers of THE LIFEBOAT may reflect guard, Commander Peter Bartlett, and introduction of free trade, an event which how fortunate the RNLI has been to from information provided by a number Mr Webb passes over rather lightly. be spared all this juggling and disloca- of members of the service. In his treatment of the period when tion. Whether it could have avoided it, The history of HM Coastguard falls the Coastguard served mainly to supple- had the service ever come under state roughly into three periods. The first ment the manpower of the Royal Navy control, is an open question. began in 1822, when a Treasury minute Mr Webb seems to me very sound in his directed that 'the Preventive Service, judgment. The Coastguard has suffered The recent history of the Coastguard consisting of Preventive Water Guard, over the years more than it deserved is one which must command respect and Cruizers and Riding Officers' was to be from battles for power between various admiration, and Mr Webb does well to 'termed in future the Coast Guard'. This government departments. As Mr Webb call attention to the activities of a variety first period, during which the primary puts it, 'the Coastguards, in their long of individuals. One such was P. A. concern of the service was the fight history, seem to have been perpetually Woodford of the Sandown Rescue against smuggling, ended in 1856, when subjected to reviews by authority, which Company, who was awarded a long the Coastguard was placed under were intended to benefit or re-organise service medal. When this was conferred Admiralty control. For some 60 years the service and they have been shuttled on him in 1973 it was discovered that he the Coastguard existed mainly to provide about between one authority or another had rescued 22 people, four dogs, two a reserve for the Royal Navy. Only after willy-nilly'. Nevertheless, it was during sheep and a cat. the war of 1914-1918 was its principal the period of Admiralty control that the I find Mr Webb's treatment of the function officially acknowledged to be Coastguard developed the versatility and Coastguard's co-operation with other that of helping to save life. wide range of activity which have long services a little flimsy and much could The liveliest passages in Mr Webb's characterised the service. Coastguards with advantage have been written, for book are, understandably, concerned during these years operated the breeches example, on the importance of the with the story of the fight against buoy lifesaving apparatus, they launched introduction of helicopters for lifesaving smuggling. The activities of such their own boats to supplement the work purposes. There is also a regrettable notorious smugglers as the Hawkhurst of the lifeboats of the RNLI, they were mistake in Mr Webb's treatment of gang are duly recorded, but much other responsible for the administration of the rescue organisations in countries outside information of interest also emerges. Wild Birds Protection Act, and they had Britain. He states: 'In European For example Mr Webb quotes the to clean rare fish and send them to the countries search and rescue is carried Emperor Napoleon, while in exile on Natural History Museum in South out by the services with the assistance of Elba, stating that during the war with Kensington. support ships which are in attendance Britain 'all the information I received Mr Webb also pays a well deserved on their fishing fleets'. To the many from England came through the tribute to the work of the voluntary life- admirable voluntary lifeboat organisa- smugglers'. saving brigades and quotes to advantage tions in Europe this statement is likely The smugglers' organisation was Queen Victoria's son, the Duke of to seem strange. imaginative and effective, and to protect Edinburgh (Affie), who in his capacity There are some excellent photographs, them from the penalties which applied as Admiral Superintendent of Naval and as is so often the case with books to British citizens caught in the act, many Reserves said of the Coastguards: 'They published by the Stationery Office, the smugglers arranged to have their children are foremost at all wrecks, they are standard of printing is exceptionally born on the other side of the Channel so conspicuous at all our great watering high. It seems a pity therefore to find that they could acquire French nation- places, and are looked upon as examples SOS appearing as S.O.S. 210 The absence of a bibliography is also trated account of the history of a small overdone. Is it really necessary to include to be regretted in what must surely be community the authors do justice to the a picture of a cup of cocoa and a bar of for many years to come a standard work major part played by the lifeboats. One chocolate (page 165) to assist the reader of reference on the history of an impor- outstanding service, when 60 villagers, in the understanding of the text?—K.M. tant national service.—P.H. 25 of them women, had to wade waist deep into the sea to launch the lifeboat, • Three publications concerned with • Owning a Boat by Hugh Marriott took place in January 1922 during a Welsh maritime history, and in par- (Nautical Publishing Co., £4.85) is not south-easterly gale and a blinding snow- ticular with that of Gwynedd, have the first book which has been written storm. The lifeboat, which was named appeared recently. One, An Island's on the subject.' However, it must be one Lizzie Porter, was recently discovered Heritage by J. P. Morris, tells in great of the most authoritative and up-to-date, in the River Trent and is to be preserved and careful detail the story of 150 years written as it is by a man who is not only in perpetuity at St Katharine Yacht of lifesaving on Anglesey, from the a true devotee of sailing for pleasure but Haven, London.—P.H. placing of the first lifeboat on the island who also has at his fingertips a rich fund at Llanddwyn in 1826 up to the present of information and practical experience • 1975 saw the 100th anniversary of day. During those years Anglesey's life- of the problems and expenses which one of the most important of all boats have launched over 2,000 times confront a boatowner as seen from the Merchant Shipping Acts: that which and saved more than 3,100 lives. For yacht broker's office. These facts are introduced the load-line, or Plimsoll line rescues around the island's coast nine too often obscured by the rose-tinted as it has always been known. Samuel gold, 61 silver and 51 bronze medals spectacles assumed by those who first Plimsoll himself was known as 'the for gallantry have been awarded, hear the call of the sea. sailors' friend', and George Peters' including the gold, silver and bronze It is written in the breezy style which biography The Plimsoll Line (Barry medals awarded for the services to bespeaks an amusing sailing companion. Rose, £2.25) shows us a remarkable Hindlea in 1959 and Nafsiporos in 1966. I was delighted to encounter Old Harry's man, accurately described by one of his Each station, past and present, has its Law and its numerous corollaries with supporters as 'bold, earnest and rash'. chapter, several of them recalling the which I have been long acquainted Before the 1875 Act, it was easy pioneering work of the Rev. James although under a more familiar name! enough for corrupt shipowners to make Williams and his wife Frances. An Also the Hornblower Factor which profits from insurance claims on policies Island's Heritage, price 25p (postage makes one feel that it is slightly disgrace- as heavily overloaded as the ships and packing lOp) is available from the ful to talk about going downstairs to the themselves. A member of Parliament RNLI Welsh District Office, The kitchen in a boat. The author hints at from 1868 to 1880, Samuel Plimsoll Exchange, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff the pitfalls which accompany the applica- fought, for that is the best description, CF1 6ED. tion of the common vocabulary of sea- the owners of such 'coffin-ships', and Photographs of the Rev. James and men to yachting. I can support this; if goaded governments which were by Frances Williams and their son, the you are in any doubt, look at Reed's turns timid and stubborn. Even with the Rev. Owen Lloyd Williams, who was Almanac, page 854—Glossary of Plimsoll line embodied in law, it took 15 twice awarded the silver medal of the Nautical Terms: years further struggle to get the res- RNLI, appear among a selection of 'BEAR UP: To put the helm up, i.e. ponsibility given to the Board of Trade. nineteenth and twentieth century photo- keep further away from the wind.' Samuel Plimsoll was backed in his graphs reproduced in a delightful campaign by facts made available by booklet by Aled Eames entitled Ships I can almost hear Hugh Marriott's the RNLI, which had called attention conspiratorial laughter!—K.M. and Seamen of Gwynedd (Gwynedd to overladen and unseaworthy ships in Archives Service, County Offices, Caer- % or Holy Island, which THE LIFEBOAT in 1867, even before narfon LL55 1SH, £1). There are photo- was once one of the principal centres of Plimsoll took up the cause. When graphs of sailing ships, boatyards, learning and the arts in England and on money was collected in appreciation of ships' logs and a fine portrait gallery of whose rocky territory the presence of 311 his work, Plimsoll directed that it captains, their crews and sometimes different species of birds has been should be spent on a lifeboat. Accor- their families. recorded, is the subject of a new book in dingly, the Samuel Plimsoll lifeboat was Aled Eames, Lewis Lloyd, Bryn David and Charles's enterprising islands named by him at in 1876. It Parry and John Stubbs are the editors series: The Holy Island of Lindisfarne was a fitting tribute to a man who was of an ambitious new journal, Maritime and the Fame Islands by R. A. and D. B. born three weeks before the RNLI was Wales (Gwynedd Archives Service, Cartwright (£4.50). founded, and who did so much for the price £1.25), the aim of which is to bring Holy Island's period of greatest British seafarer.—A.H.G. together articles, notes and news reflect- distinction, when the famous illuminated ing the current interest in maritime Lindisfarne gospels were produced, • This is Sailboat Cruising by J. D. historical studies in Wales. Among an lasted for some 200 years before the Sleightholme (Nautical Publishing Co., impressive list of contributions to the Viking attacks in the late ninth century £4.85), a 168-page booklet, provides an first number of the journal is a paper forced the monks to retreat to the main- excellent primer which employs the entitled 'The Statutory Ship Registers of land, taking their gospels with them. strip-cartoon teaching technique for the the Welsh Ports' by Grahame Farr, Much of the later history of the island benefit of the boat owner who may be who needs no introduction to lifeboat has revolved round shipwrecks. daunted by the more traditional treatise people.—J.D. The authors have unearthed an on seamanship or navigation but who, interesting account of a fight which took without guidance, could be liable to run • Among other books received are place in 1643 between the minister of into trouble. The RNLI should be two with very different approaches to the parish and 'a gentleman dwelling correspondingly grateful to Des Sleight- essentially the same basic theme: the near the island', both of whom coveted holme and hope that his book has a quality of command at sea. One, a cask full of beaver hats which had been wide circulation. Command at Sea (Cassell, £4.95) is recovered from a wreck. The minister, it The instruction and advice contained by the late Oliver Warner and looks at was recorded, 'did sore wound the in the text is without exception sound great fighting admirals from Hawke gentleman'. The close association of all and the illustrations by Peter Milne to Nimitz. The other, Deep as the Sea the inhabitants with the sea was illus- are clearly the work of a competent (Eyre Methuen, £4.95) is a biography of trated by the fact that two successive draughtsman, although he shares a Admiral H. A. 'Bertie' Packer by his vicars acted as coxswain of the lifeboat weakness of this breed when it comes to wife, Joy; a story of one naval officer's in an emergency. portraying the human figure. career and his family's life, dedicated In their informative and well illus- If anything, the illustrations are to their four grandsons.—J.D. 211 FROM FAIREY... THREE KINDS OF LIFEBOATS FOR THREE KINDS OF CONDITIONS. All built to the highest standards. Standards that have made Fairey justifiably famous as lifeboat builders. All three have all weather capability, but each is uniquely suited to the task for which it has been designed.

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212 with three people on board, 40 yards Barra Island, Western Isles Lifeboat Services south of Freshwater Steps. Visibility March 8, April 21, May 3, 16 and 22. (from page 190} was about 50 yards but lifted a little Barry Dock, South Glamorgan shortly after Forrester was sighted. March 12, May 3, 5, 14, 20 and Enterprise dinghy Spirtle with one man 31 (3 times). on board, at 1648. The Pentland Firth As Forrester was not damaged and Bembridge, Isle of Wight Yacht Club's guard boat, The Mendi- could use one engine J. Reginald Corah May 6. cant, was still in attendance but was escorted her through the rock ledges to Bridlington, H umber side unable to make headway in the pre- open water and then to St Aldhelm's March 12, 20 and May 29. vailing conditions. Head where Calshot, Hampshire The Three Sisters took the dinghy in could be seen. March 14, 28, April 29 and May 15 (twice). Forrester's crew reported hearing an Campbeltown, Strathclyde tow and escorted The Mendicant to April 27. Scrabster, where they arrived at 1740. explosion to the south east some time after 2100 and so, having seen her Clacton-on-Sea, Essex The lifeboat then returned to her March 12. station and was re-housed at 1800. safely on her way, the lifeboat started to Clovelly, North Devon search to the south east. Nothing could May 30. Ireland Division be found and it was concluded that the Douglas, Isle of Man explosions heard were the lifeboat May 2 and 10. maroons; the search was called off at Dover, Kent From South Rock 0013 on Tuesday, June 15. /. Reginald April 5 and 18 (twice). COASTGUARD ORLOCH informed Cloug- Corah returned to station and was re- Dungeness, Kent hey/Portavogie lifeboat station at 1135 housed at 0130. April 4, May 22 and 31. on Monday, February 2, that the Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin captain of South Rock Lightvessel had May 15 and 25. had a heart attack. As it proved impos- Eastern Division , East Sussex sible to get a doctor to the harbour March 20 and April 30. Falmouth, Cornwall quickly, it was decided at 1204 to launch Fishing vessel sinking April 26. without a doctor, and the 41' Watson Filey, North Yorkshire lifeboat Glencoe, Glasgow cleared Porta- ORANGE SMOKE observed one mile east of March 5. vogie Harbour at 1205. The lifeboat Chapel Point and six miles north of the Fishguard, Dyfed arrived at South Rock at 1245, where lifeboat station was reported to Skegness May 23 and 26. the weather conditions were rough. The honorary secretary at 1557 on Tuesday, Flamborough, Humberside sick man was eventually taken on board June 29. May 9. and brought back to Portavogie where, In good visibility and with a light east- Fleetwood, Lancashire at 1330, he was landed into the care of north-easterly breeze, a slight sea and the March 17 and May 13. Galway Bay, Co. Galway an ambulance. tide at two hours flood, the Skegness April 19, 30 and May 28. ILB launched at 1604. Thirty minutes Girvan, Strathclyde Scotland South Division later she came up with the casualty, the April 10. fishing vessel Dolphin of Kings Lynn. Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk Hospital run Her engine had failed, she was taking March 5, April 23 and May 26. water and sinking. The crew of the ILB Harwich, Essex THE LOCAL DOCTOR asked Barra Island April 15, 23 and May 4. lifeboat to convey an urgent maternity boarded her and began baling but, realising they were fighting a losing Hastings, East Sussex case from Tangasdale to Lochboisdale, May 1 and 18. South Uist. It was 0425 on Monday, battle, asked for further help. Lady Lynn Hoij head, Gwynedd March 8. With good visibility, a fresh from Chapel launched with pumps on May 13 and 24. east-south-easterly breeze and a choppy board which were put into use until Howth, Co. Dublin sea, the 52' Barnett lifeboat Thomas Skegness lifeboat, the 37' Oakley April 4 and May 11. Forehead and Mary Rowse, on tempor- Charles Fred Grantham arrived and took Humber, Humberside ary relief duty at Barra Island, left her up the tow. The crew of the ILB remained March 7, April 1 and 21. on board Dolphin and continued pump- Kilmore, Co. Wexford moorings at 0505 and, with the woman March 24. on board, ran at full speed to Lochbois- ing and baling out throughout the passage. Dolphin's crew were exhausted Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway dale, where the woman was taken to May 16. having had little sleep the night before. hospital. Kirkwall, Highland The lifeboat returned to her station The ILB returned to her station and March 5 and April 23. and was on her moorings at 1030. was re-housed at 2140 having seen Lerwick, Highland Dolphin safely moored. March 11 and April 6. South Eastern Division Llandudno, Gwynedd May 17. Longhope, Highland Search in dense fog Services by Offshore May 12. A FLARE IN CHAPMAN'S POOL was reported Lowestoft, Suffolk to the deputy launching authority of Lifeboats March, April March 28, April 15, 24 and May 16. Swanage lifeboat station at 2130 on Lytham-St Anne's, Lancashire Monday, June 14. Visibility was clear and May, 1976 March 29. at the Coastguard lookout but there was Macduff, Grampian Aberdeen, Grampian May 5. a dense fog bank at sea level. Swanage March 12. lifeboat, the 37' 6" Rother J. Reginald Aith, Highland Mallaig, Highland Corah was placed on alert while the May 11. March 22 and May 18. Coastguard made further enquiries. At Angle, Dyfed Margate, Kent 2137 the emergency was confirmed. March 31 and April 11. March 21 and April 16 (twice). /. Reginald Corah launched at 2147 Anstruther, Tayside Moelfre, Gwynedd and drove into the spring flood tide. She May 8. March 21 and 30. was off St Aldhelm's Head at 2230 and Arklow, Co. Wicklow Montrose, Tayside April 17. May 24. found a dense fog bank in Chapman's Baltimore, Co. Cork Newcastle, Co. Down Pool. With the aid of her radar and echo May 7. March 10. sounder she began a search and at 2247 Barmouth, Gwynedd Padstow, Cornwall found the 35' motor cruiser Forrester, April 12 and May 2. March 12, 15 and April 9. 213 Penlee, Cornwall Arran, Strathclyde Minehead, Somerset May 1. May 29. May 20 (3 times). Peterhead, Grampian Atlantic College, South Glamorgan Moelfre, Gwynedd April 20 and May 17. March 17 and 28. April 17, May 15 and 30 (twice). Poole, Dorset Bangor, Co. Down Morecambe, Lancashire April 18 (twice), and 26. May 27. May 2. Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd Barmouth, Gwynedd Mudeford, Dorset May 2 and 16. May 30. March 22, April 10 and 16. Port St Mary, Isle-of-Man Barrow, Cumbria The Mumbles, West Glamorgan March 27. April 16 (twice), 22 and May 5. April 13. Ramsey, Isle-of-Man Beaumaris, Gwynedd New Brighton, Merseyside May 20. March 19, April 17, 21, May 1, 15, 16 April 25, 27 and May 2. Ramsgate, Kent and 22. New Quay, Dyfed March 3, April 17, 18 and May 21. Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland April 22, May 2, 16 and 31. Redcar, Cleveland April 17. Newquay, Cornwall May 23 and 25. Blackpool, Lancashire April 15 and 16. Rhyl, Clwyd March 13. North Sunderland, Northumberland May 20. Blyth, Northumberland April 18. St David's, Dyfed April 25. Oban, Strathclyde March 5. Berth, Dyfed April 5, 15 and May 20. St Ives, Cornwall April 19, 27 and May 23. Poole, Dorset March 18, 25, April 17, 21, May 11 and 12. Bridlington, Humberside March 7, April 11, 18 (twice), 22, May 19, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly April 3, 24 and May 13. 26 and 30. March 14. Broughty Ferry, Tayside Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan St Peter Port, Guernsey April 17 and May 8 (twice). May 30. March 22, 23, April 10 and May 18. Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex Port Isaac, Cornwall Salcombe, South Devon April 24 and 28. April 19 and 30 (twice). March 7 (twice). Burry Port, Dyfed Port Talbot, West Glamorgan Selsey, West Sussex May 12 and 16. May 28. May 3 and 30. Cardigan, Dyfed Queensferry, Forth Sennen Cove, Cornwall May 30. March 2, 23, May 2, 4, and 23. May 25. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex Ramsgate, Kent Sheerness, Kent April 11, 19 and May 16. April 14, 18, 28 and May 28. April 5, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 28, May 1, 15, Conway, Gwynedd Red Bay, Co. Antrim 20, 22 and 29. April 3 and 4. May 27. Sheringham, Norfolk Criccieth, Gwynedd Redcar, Cleveland April 3. April 21. April 9, 18 and 19. Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex Eastbourne, East Sussex Rye Harbour, East Sussex May 28. April 11. April 19 and May 11. Skegness, Lincolnshire Eastney, Hampshire St Abbs, Borders April 7. March 14, 28, April 17 (twice), 25, May 2, May 17. Stornoway, Western Isles 15 (twice), 17, 23, 30 and 31. St Agnes, Cornwall May 2. Eastney (D 530), Hampshire April 13 and 20. Stromness, Highland March 28, May 15, 17, 23 (twice), 25, 29, St Ives, Cornwall March 5. 30 (twice) and 31. April 19 (twice), May 9 and 29. Sunderland, Tyne and Wear Exmouth, South Devon Selsey, West Sussex May 29. April 18 (twice), 22, May 12 and 30. April 14, 19, May 3 and 29. Swanage, Dorset Filey, North Yorkshire Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex April 4, 16, 18 (twice), 22, May 2 and 3. April 4. April 9, 24 (twice), 25 May 19, and 30. Teesmouth, Cleveland Fleetwood, Lancashire Silloth, Cumbria May 30. April 17 and May 29. May 26. Tenby, Dyfed Flint, Clwyd Skegness, Lincolnshire May 11. April 26, May 2 and 13. April 21, May 16 and 30 (3 times) Thurso, Highland Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk Southwold, Suffolk March 14 and May 21. March 21, April 4 and 7. April 16, May 3 and 20. Torbay, South Devon Hartlepool, Cleveland Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway April 17, 18 and May 24. March 3, April 17, 25 (twice) and 30. April 16, May 19 and 24. Troon, Strathclyde Harwich, Essex Sunderland, Tyne and Wear April 12, 25 and May 1. April 1,2, 11, 18 and May 16. May 5 and 11. , Tyne and Wear Hastings, East Sussex Tenby, Dyfed May 16. April 8, 13, 19 (3 times), May 1 and 9. April 19, 20, May 12, 16, 23 and 30 Walmer, Kent Hayling Island, Hampshire (4 times). March 28, April 1, May 18 and 31 (twice). May 14 (4 times) and 29. Torbay, South Devon Weymouth, Dorset Helensburgh, Strathclyde April 13, 19, 21, May 8, 15, 23 and 25. March 5, 7, 10, 31, April 4 and 12. March 10, April 28 and May 16 (twice). Tramore, Co. Waterford Whitby, North Yorkshire Horton and Port Eynon, West Glamorgan May 14. March 12, 21 and 24. April 19 and May 9. Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd On Passage ON 1049 Howth, Dublin April 19 and 21. March 2. April 7 and May 8. Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear Kinghorn, Forth April 24 and May 16 (4 times). May 4 (twice) and 31. Walmer, Kent Kippford, Dumfries and Galloway April 19 and May 16. April 18 and 19. Services by Inshore Wells, Norfolk Largs, Strathclyde Lifeboats March, April March 27, April 18, 19, 21, May 2, 12 and April 18. 21 (twice). West Kirby, Merseyside and May, 1976 Littlehampton, West Sussex March 28, May 16 and 26. April 12, 20, 30, May 1 and 30. West Mersea, Essex Aberdovey, Gwynedd Llandudno, Gwynedd April 5, 16, 18, 23, 24 (3 times), 29, May 11, March 21, 24, April 17, 19 and 23. May 8 and 17. 15 (4 times), 16, 19, 23 and 29. Abersoch, Gwynedd Lyme Regis, Dorset Weston-super-Mare, Avon April 13. April 3, 21, May 2 and 30. April 9, 14 (twice), 15 (twice) and 31. Aberystwyth, Dyfed Margate, Kent Whitstable, Kent April 27 (twice). April 6, May 2, 11, 15 (twice) and 16. April 24. 214 Apart from the MERMAID Type 595-TP TURBO-PLUS Marine Diesel Engines being installed in the new WAVENEY Class R.N.L.I. 44ft Steel Lifeboats, twin MERMAID type 397 are currently being installed in a number of this type of ROTHER Class R.N.LI. Self-Righting Lifeboats now under construction at William Osborne Ltd of Littlehampton.

Mermaid Marine Engines Ltd Mermaid THAMES MARINA THAMES DITTON SURREY Telephone: 01-3986802

ONE OF THE WORLD'S THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT WE OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MOST POWERFUL IMPROVE ON LAST YEAR'S POPULAR FLASHLIGHTS SUCCESS Coptilar Ghii'>•• , (.^uoki A 12 L.P. of 18 IM CK il^xxi' iwi' IVfci- CNtr Christmas Carols recorded in Stereo by the FOREST ROW MIXED VOICE OYNALITE FLASHES LIFEBOAT CHOIR One of the world's most powerful flashlights, specially imported from the U.S.A. This six-cell RECORDS £2.10 each including p & p flashlight is 80,000 candle power made of strong plastic, and unconditionally guaranteed for one All proceeds t'o Lifeboat Funds year. This is an ideal outdoor light for every PLEASE ORDER EARLY TO AVOID purpose including signalling. As sold to, and DISAPPOINTMENT tested by the Royal National Life-boat Institi 'ion. Also approved by the Game Conservan-- Will To: RNLI, South East District, 9 Union Square, go to a depth of 30ft and remain 100/j; The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. proof. Please send me record(s). I enclose £6.00 (Batteries extra) cheque for made payable to the RNLI

Price includes VAT. Name Post and Packing 60p (UK only) Address.. A rllt to Dept. J

CDGBWELL 6r HAHJUBON L/TD wiT.i o LBW76

215 Index to Advertisers

Birds Eye Foods ... 182 TEDDY BEARS PICNIC Cogswell & Harrison Ltd 215 Evett Sailwear Ltd 212 When your organisation holds its next fund raising effort at a carnival, fete, donkey derby, boat show or similar activity you Fairey Marine Ltd 212 can make an additional £200 in a few hours by running a Functional Clothing Ltd. Inside Front Cover Teddy Bears Picnic. No financial risk as all stock is supplied at David Jolly (Tiller Master) 216 wholesale price on full sale or return, nothing to pay until Mermaid Marine Engines Ltd 215 after the event, then you pay for what you use, return the balance. Send for full details giving Club/Guild name and Neco Marine Ltd 212 status to: Old England Inside Back Cover RNLI (Edenbridge) Big Band Concert Inside Back Cover V. WEBSTER (DEPT LB) RNLI (Tunbridge Wells) Record Offer 215 BRINELL WAY Tiller Master (David Jolly) ... 216 HARFREYS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Waine Research Publications... 216 GREAT YARMOUTH V. Webster 216 NORFOLK NR3I OLU C. P. Witter Ltd 216

Model Artist, 20, Bridgefield, Farnham, catalogue. SWINNERTONS LTD., Dept. CLASSIFIEDS Surrey. LB, UNION STREET, WALSALL WS1 20p per word; Minimum 10 words 2HJ. FUND RAISING TROPHIES Advertising pencils, superb ballpens, combs, RACE SETS—MAINSAILS—DINGHIES SMALL VESSEL DELIVERIES diaries, each gold stamped Lifeboat name, —CUPS. W. & E. Astin, 7 Westerly Lane, TREVOR VINCETT Yacht Deliveries. etc., raise funds, quickly easily. Bran Tub Shelley, Huddersfleld. Kirkburton 2368. BoT Yachtmaster. Prompt professional Toys: samples from Northern Novelties, FOR ALL types of Trophy Cups, Medals, service by sea. Sail or power. Dartmouth Bradford BD1 3HE. Medallions, Shields and Statuettes, Sports Yacht Services. Mayors Avenue, Dart- Prizes, Fancy Goods, Carnival Hats, mouth, Devon. Tel: (080-43) 2035. Balloons, Novelties, Fund-raisers. All LIFEBOAT MINIATURE requirements for CHILDREN'S CHRIST- INSURANCE MODELS MAS PARTIES supplied. ALSO NOW FOR ALL INSURANCE, Phone, Call or Detailed custom-built replicas of individual AVAILABLE TO CLUB MEMBERS, Write J. A. Harrison (Brokers) Ltd, lifeboats, with crews, mounted on sea bases Lounge, Dining and Bedroom Suites, 'Security House', 160-161 Bromsgrove in miniature showcases. Similar to my well Carpets. All types of light fittings and Street, Birmingham B5 6NY. Telephone: known yacht and other sailing craft minia- shades, etc. ALL AT WHOLESALE 021-692 1245 (10 lines). For keenest rates, tures. Details: Brian Williams, Marine TRADE PRICES. Send for our 64-page service and security.

STEAM COASTERS THE ORIGINAL and TILLER MASTER Short Sea Traders AUTOMATIC STEERING on a COMPASS COURSE For craft up to 50ft. over 100lbs. thrust. Self-contained unit with simple 2-hole installation. Quickly disengaged, i amp. average drain. Ocean proved. £235 ex VAT

OSTAR 1976 S/ng/e handed transat/ont/c race Nine chose Tiller Masters— Four finished in first eight! DAVID JOLLY 3 Little Russel, Lytctrett Minster, Poole Dorset BH16 6JD. Tel.: 020 122 2142

WILD ROSE aground in the fiver Dee near Queensferry. The fast flowing tides sometime* lead to groundings but the vessels usually refloated on the next tide TOWING Regntered dimensions were 100.9'x 18.0'x B.B' Tonnage 104 gross. Built IS83. BRACKETS LARGE FORMAT ll| x 85. 14 Full page colour plates. 52 Shipyard plans from 1852 to 1963. Numerous sketches and photos. Over 70, 000 words describing 616 British coasters and more than 300 owners and builders are just some of the features. Approved by car manufacturers and issued with CONTENTS: Outline - Building steam coasters - The Engine Room fitting Instructions. Also shock absorbers - Early Steam Coasters - Clyde 'Puffers'. Engines - aft Coasters; stabiliser and couplings. one hatch, two hatches and three hatches. East Coast Colliers; Engines amidships - Big engines-aft colliers - Up-River Colliers (flat-irons). Coastal tankers. Owners and Trades. The rise of the steam coaster and its competition with sail and later motor ships Please save a little for the people who is also illustrated with anecdotes and comments of owners and crews. save a lot—give generously to the R.N.L./.

WAINE Research Mount Pleasant, Beamish Lane, C. P. WITTER LTD. CHESTER Tel. 0244-4II6< Publications Mbrightan, Wo//erhampton. VW7 3]].

Designed and Printed in Great Britain by Ditchling Press Ltd., Ditchling, Hassocks, Sussex ENGRAVED CRYSTAL GLASS LIFE BOAT Edenbridge Branch RNLI are TANKARDS presenting an evening of the

Profiles of some of RNLI's offshore fleet, strikingly engraved on haff or one pint Crystal Glass Tankards. Order individually or as sets, selecting the craft of your choice at the NEW VICTORIA THEATRE from the illustrations below. Wilton Road, London SW1 WHY NOT COLLECT A SET? FEATURING - * Syd Lawrence and his Orchestra 2 ARUN * The Chris Barber Band

* The Band of 3 OAKLEY 4 SOLENT HM Royal Marines School of Music, Deal (Director of Music: Lt.Col. P J. Neville, MVO, FRAM, RM.) on SATURDAY, MARCH 1Zth1977 5 BOTHER 6 WAVENEY at 7pm TICKETS: £3.50; £2.75; £2.00

Obtainable prior to January 2nd from 1/ pint size £4.95 1 pint size £5.95 H.W. SHIELDS, Hon. Sec. (01-709 0707 daytime) OR 2 RNLI South East District Office, (Tunbridge Price includes VAT, post and packing Wells 35000) Please clearly indicate quantity and reference From January 2nd, from New Victoria Theatre number and name when ordering. Cheques or Box Off ice (01-8280033) postal orders should be made payable to "Old England". Allow 21 days for delivery. Why not organise a ©to Cnglanb party- bring your 121 LONDON ROAD KNEBWORTH • HERTS friends! TELEPHONE: STEVENAGE 813431 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTHOUSE AUTHORITIES Maritime Buoyage System A To be introduced in N.W.Europe & many other waters by stages starting in April 1977 (For explanation see page 200)

LATERAL MARKS CARDINAL MARKS LATERAL MARKS PORT HAND STARBOARD HAN

NW

or or

Light (when fitted] white; rhythm, VQFyvorQF.

or or

Light (when Light (when fitted) white; fitted) white; rhythm, VQFOI rhythm, VQFI3) orQFO). or QF(3).

sw SE

Light (when fitted) white; rhythm Top mark (if anvl VQFI6) + LF orQF(6) + LF Top mark (if any) single red can. single green cone.point Light (when fitted) Light (when fitted) red, any rhythm. VQF: very quick flashing. QF: quick flashing. LF; long flash. green, any rhythm.

SAFE WATERMARKS ISOLATED DANGER MARKS CONVENTIONAL BUOYAGE DIRECTION

To be introduced concurrently o with IALA Buoyage System A,

or or

Top mark (if any) single led sphere. Light (when fitted) white; rhythm, group Light (when fitted) white; rhythm, isophase, flashing(2). occulting or long flashing.

SPECIAL MARKS

or or or

Top mark (if any) single yellow X shape. Shape, optional but not Direction of buoyage in rivers and estuaries Light (when fitted) yellow; rhythm, any,other than those conflicting with navigational will continue to be from seaward inwards. used for Cardinal, Isolated Danger or Safe Water Marks. marks.