Lifeboat Institution Volume 52 Number 515 The
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Journal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Volume 52 Number 515 The LifeboaSpring 1991 Bronze medal and Vellum services t Lifeboat Saturdays centenary i On passage in a Mersey Drinking Tea Saves Lives! BOAT] BOAT TEA '•« ^ TEA BAGSc No, this is not a new medical discovery. But it is true, because every time an 80-tea bag packet of Lifeboat Tea is sold, four pence is contributed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. And every time a 125g packet of loose tea is sold, two pence is donated. As for the life-reviving effects of Lifeboat Tea on the drinker, that fact was never in question. Warnford Tea Unit Bl, Townsend Estate, 7 Portland Close, Houghton Regis, Beds. Tel: 0582 664440 Fax: 0582 664405 Available in larger Sainsbury's and RNLI shops, please telephone for direct delivery from our factory. The Spring 1991 Lifeboat RNLI News 38 What's happening in and around the Institution Royal National Lifeboat Services 40 Notable launches around the coast Lifeboat Membership News 46 Institution News for Shoreline and Storm Force members Contents Governors and Life Governors Past and Present 47 Volume 52 From THE LIFEBOAT of 100 years ago, and one of today's lifeboatmen Number 515 On Passage 48 Chairman: Mike Floyd joins a crew taking their new Mersey to her station MICHAEL VERNON Your Letters 51 Director and Secretary: On all aspects of lifeboats and related subjects LT CDR BRIAN MILES RD FNI RNR Ceremonies 52 Naming and dedication ceremonies around the country Editor: MIKE FLOYD Bookshelf 54 Some recent publications reviewed Headquarters: Royal National Lifeboat Institution, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. Round the Houses 55 Frank Kilroy looks at the roots of RNLI fund raising Telephone Poole (0202) 671133 Telex 41328. London Offices: Mabel's Return 57 Royal National Lifeboat Institution, 202 Tony Purnell talks to David Cowper about his voyages in an ex-lifeboat Lambeth Road, London SE1 7JW. Telephone Lifeboat Services 58 071-928 5742 (Enquiries and Fundraising) List of services for August, September and October 1990 071-928 4236 (Public Relations) 071-928 5743 (Central London Awards 61 Committee) to Coxswains, crews and shorehelpers Advertisement Manager: PETER HOLNESS The Fundraisers 62 Royal National Lifeboat Institution, West How some of the RNLI's income is raised Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. Telephone Poole (0202) 671133 People and Places 67 Telex 41328 Around and about the RNLI Next Issue: The Summer issue of THE Subscription: Ayear'ssubscriptionforfour COVER PICTURE LIFEBOAT will appear in July 1991, and news issues costs £5.00, including postage, but by Mike Floyd items should be received by Friday, 24 May those who are entitled to receive THE LIFE- Salcombe's Tyne class lifeboat The 1991. BOAT free of charge will continue to do so. All material submitted for consideration Overseas subscriptions depend on the cost Baltic Exchange II crosses Salcombe with a view to publication should be ad- of postage to the country concerned. Write to bar while on exercise with the new St dressed to The Editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal the RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset Ives' Mersey class. The Mersey was on National Lifeboat Institution, West Quay BH15 1HZ. passage to her station, and the exercise Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. part of the working-up routine. See Photographs intended for return should be 'On Passage', page 48 of this issue. accompanied by a stamped, addressed enve- Printed by the Friary Press, Bridport Road, lope. Dorchester, Dorset 37 EWS EWS Open Days The Open Days at the RNLI's New members of the Committee of Management Poole Headquarters and Depot, Three new members were co-opted on to the and spirit merchants and is a/so chairman of which were postponed from last Institution's Committee of Management at its the National Development Corporation, year due to building work, have meeting on 22 November 1990, Ron Neil, Ireland's public venture capital companv. He been scheduled for August. Richard Burrows and Eric Freeman. became a member of the Institution's Estab- Both sites, including the new Ron Neil, the BBC's Managing Director of lishment Committee in 1989. building, will be open on Friday Regional Broadcasting has a long association Eric Freeman, who lives in Christchurch, 2 August and Saturday 3 with the RNLI, dating back to his time as a Dorset, wax chairman of'Galbrailhs until August from 1000 to 1800, and television reporter in Aberdeen, where he retiring in 1987 and was a/so director of the arrangements are in hand to covered the Longhope disaster in 1969. Mr Baltic Exchange from 1981 to 1986. He is a make the event even more Neil joined the RNLI's Public Relations member of Llovds a Freeman of the Citv of interesting than in the past. Committee in 1988. London and a Livervman of the Worshipful As usual all aspects of the Richard Burrows of Dublin combines his Company of Shipwrights. He has been a Open Days, including limited chief executive post at Irish Distillers with member of the RNLI Search and Rescue parking, will be free, providing chairmanship of Edward Dillon and Co, wine Committee since 1987. all supporters and their families with the opportunity of an inexpensive day out. Open Days provide an Showtime success Individuals and family groups excellent opportunity for The RNLI's presence at the will not need to make any pre- branches and guilds and lifeboat were signed up, both figures a London International Boat vious arrangements, but larger stations to organise a trip to little down on 1990 but still im- Show in January proved to be organised parties may like to Poole. Why not hire a coach pressive in an uncertain very successful make contact in advance to and bring a large party of economic climate. National Boat Shows donated ensure smooth running. supporters, or come by train to As usual there were several the space and the Institution Poole station, just three minutes presentations to the Institution, was able to present a stand walk from the RNLI buildings? on the pool and on the stand. Newspoint which celebrated the 100th an- STOP PRESS Among these were the Royal niversary of street collections Moving on Subject to operational require- Bank of Scotland, which added and looked forward to the boat Times change, and any or- ments it is. hoped to have a £113.000 to the proceeds of its house modernisation pro- ganisation which offers an Mersey and at least one other Access promotion (and there is gramme - with the dummy efficient service must move All-weather lifeboat on show. an application form inserted in with them. In the latest two boathouse split into two to rep- An Atlantic 21 capsize/righting this journal for those who do issues of the journal alone we resent 1891 and 1991. display is planned and the train- not already have an 'affinity' have reported the opening of More than £57.000 was ing centre will be open for the Access card), Barclaycard with new lifeboat stations, the ex- banked during the ten days, and tension of the RNLI's cover- first time. a further £50,000 from its age to 50 miles from the coast, although souvenirs .sales were Profiles scheme, and the Bingo the development of two new The indefatigable Chelsea Pensioners slightly down on 1990 the Association with a splendid fast lifeboats and the introduc- collected a staggering £12,000 at the collecting boxes brought in London Boat Show. From left to right: £237,541. tion of Inshore lifeboats at Robert Moy, Bert Spurdin, George almost double the previous The RNLI also made use of additional stations. Now, as Woolf, Dave Law and Doug Young. year's total - no less than the occasion to make its own the last of the traditional life- Behind them are John Race (left) £ 15,291.07. Of this a staggering boats near the end of their and John Ovans (right) from the presentations. A large crowd £12,000 was collected by the service lives we are looking Teesmouth station during their 'watch' watched PR committee still further into the future. at the show. Peter Holness (centre) the five indefatigable Chelsea Pen- chairman and well-known RNLI's Corporate Fund Raising Man- sioners. There may be those who ager was celebrating his last boat show broadcaster Raymond Baxter regret the pace of change and with the RNLI, he retires this year after In addition 903 new members present the Institution's Public who regret the passing of so attending 21 London shows. and 110 Storm Force members Relations Awards to four much history. But, while the Institution is very conscious of people or organisations which its traditions it must always be have helped the RNLI: Border even more aware of its future, TV for a half-hour documentary and be ready to offer the serv- on the RNLI, Volvo for their ice required today and in the sponsorship of the RNLI's latest future. It is a sobering thought film. Beckett Newspapers for that even now our firm plans their support of the Shoreham take us well into the next cen- tury - and our thoughts extend Lifeboat Apppeal and Ken still further. Griffin who provided a five- Society changes and tech- minute promotional video for nology marches on. But while the Institution at no cost. some cherished aspects of the Champagne de Courcy RNLI may disappear, its spirit chipped-in with bottles of Mary and its effectiveness will al- Rose champagne to add to these ways remain. awards and on other occasions. 38 xNEWs NEWS FAB progress The hull and deck assembly of the prototype 14m Fast Afloat Boat (FAB 4) was lifted into William Osborne's yard at Lit- tlehampton, Sussex, on 1 Febru- ary for Fitting out.