/olume XLVIII Number 483 The Lifeboat ournal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Spring 1983 30p Help yourself.... and the R.N.L.I. Special rates on loans to buy what you want- now! Every loan a RNLI member takes out, under a special arrangement with Mercantile Credit Company Limited, means a welcome donation to the R.N.L.I. funds. And you help your- self, too, because the loan will be arranged at attractive rates. Confidential Personal Loans all arranged by post, are included in the arrangement, in addition to the complete range of plans to help with the purchase of boats of all kinds. With a Personal Loan you can go out and buy what you want, where you want... now, without waiting. Your loan will come to you directly as a personal cheque so you can enjoy all the benefits of paying cash when you make your purchase. You can apply for unsecured loans from £200 to £7,500* repaying by equal monthly sums, over periods between 1 and 5 years which you choose. But please note that advances up to 80% of the purchase price are normally available on motor cars and the repayment period is limited to a maximum of 3 years. Typical example: Amount borrowed £2,000; repaid by 36 monthly instalments of £78.06; total amount payable £2,810.16; APR 26.5%. To obtain full details of our RNLI supporters loan facilities, tick the appropriate box, and complete and post the coupon. No stamp is needed.

*Of course there is no upper limit to the amount you can apply for, but on loans in excess of £7,500 you may be aske<•dn provide security in the form of guarantee or other charge

To, Mr. L. Fraser, Mercantile Credit Company Limited. FREEPOST, P.O. Box 75, London WC2B 5XA. (\'0 stamp reared.,

Please Send me details Of: (Please tick appropriate box.) l am a member FREEPOST Personal Loans Sailing Loans ofRNI.1 SEND FOR k Name DETAILS NOW. Address PnstroHe WE PROMISE A Dhone No. T wish to horroW/ fplpnw Vale amount SPEEDY ANSWER. A I Mercantile Credit if possible) I Fast friendly finance 17181 Royal National Lifeboat Institution^ WestQuay R7a™"" THE LIFEBOAT

Spring 1983

Contents ^0^0^ ,82

Lifeboat Services 184

XL VIII LongService Awards 191

40J The naming Of the 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat RNLB Princess of Wales by HRH The Princess of Wales 192

Eleven Years On ... a look at the Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat by Chairman: some of those who know her well 193 THE DUKE OF ATHOI.I. Boat Shows: London and Birmingham 199 Director and Secretary: REAR ADMIRAL W. J. GRAHAM. CB MM Letters -. 200

Here and There 201

Down to the last detail: a model of RNLB Ruby and Arthur Reed 203

Some Ways of Raising Money 204

Editor: „, .. _.„., Sh relme 2 9 JOANDAV,ES ° °

Awards to Coxswains, Crews and Shore Helpers 210 Headquarters: .,Rova, • l „ Nationar, l j Lifeboar> i tT ^ Institutionr> i-. ,Lifeboa ... , t „Services . , cSeptember»u/~,», Octobeu r anjd MNovembe u r mo198o2 i21n3 West Quay Road. Poole, Dorset BH1TT 3 y 1HZ (Telephone Poole (0202) 671133). Telex: 41328. Books 215 London Offices: Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Index to Advertisers 216 202 Lambeth Road. London SE1 7JW (Telephone 01-928 4236). Editorial: All material submitted for Advertisements: All advertising enquiries consideration with a view to publication should be addressed to Dyson Advertis- in the journal should be addressed to ing Services, PO Box 9, Godalming. the editor, THE LIFEBOAT, Royal Nation- Surrey (Telephone Godalming (04868) al Lifeboat Institution, West Quay 23675). Road, Poole. Dorset BH15 1HZ (Tele- phone Poole (0202) 671133). Photo- Subscription: A year's subscription of graphs intended for return should be four issues costs £3.00, including post- accompanied by a stamped and addres- age, but those who are entitled to sed envelope. receive THE LIFEBOAT free of charge will continue to do so. Overseas sub- COVER PICTURE scriptions depend on the cost of postage Next issue: the Summer issue of THE to the country concerned. Write to The 44ft Wavenev lifeboat Khami exercising LIFEBOAT will appear in July and news RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset with a Sea King helicopter from RAF Col- BH15 1HZ. tishall. When the picture was taken, by items should be sent by the end of Richard J. Wilson, Khami was on station at April. News items for the Autumn Great Yarmouth and Gorleslon; she is now in issue should be sent in by the end of Printers: The Friary Press, Grove Trad- the Relief Fleet. July. ing Estate, Dorchester, Dorset. 181 Return to Mablethorpe Since 1963 lifeboats under 10 metres, When HRH The Duke of Edinburgh including the Atlantic 21 rigid inflat- visited Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea ables, the 18ft 6in McLachlans. the D on February 4 to examine the coastal class inflatables and the Dell Quay defences it was a renewal of an ac- Dories, have launched on service more quaintance which had begun when he than 26.000 times and have rescued had come to these resorts with Her nearly 12,0(K) people. Majesty The Queen a few days after the East Coast floods of 1953. While at Inspector's lifeboat Mablethorpe this February His Royal Girvan's new 33ft Brede class lifeboat Highness called briefly at the lifeboat has been provided by a legacy from Mrs station where he met branch officials Elizabeth Vaux in memory of her hus- and members of the crew. band Cdr Philip Vaux, DSC RN, who served as chief inspector of the RNLI Twentieth anniversary from 1939-1951; the legacy is also in The opening of this year's summer memory of their son Lt-Cdr M. P. season marks the twentieth anniversary Vaux. DSC RN. Present and past lifeboat of the introduction in 1963 of the D inspectors were invited to make dona- class inflatable lifeboat, the first of the tions to provide a piece of equipment NOTES OF fast, modern lifeboats under 10 metres for the lifeboat and have funded the in length to enter the RNLI fleet. compass, also paying for its fitting and THE QUARTER During the summer months of 1963, first adjustment. starting in May, D class inflatables were placed at Aberystwyth. Gorleston. Three great supporters FOR LIFEBOAT PEOPLE 1982 was a very full Redcar, Wells, Mudeford. Southwold, The winter months have unhappily year. The Institution's lifeboats were West Mersea and Whitstable, and a seen the death of three men who, called out more than 3,000 times and new page had been turned in the history between them, have given very many the number of lives rescued was the of lifesaving at sea. These little life- years of much valued service to the highest in the past seven years: 1,244. boats, the smallest in the Institution's Institution as members of the Commit- These figures are provisional as more fleet, can be launched quickly off the tee of Management. service returns have still to be added. beach and are particularly fitted to Captain the Hon V. M. Wyndham- Fund raising reached new heights and respond to 'holiday incidents'; their Quin, RN, who died on February 27, £16 million was raised during the year. numbers grew fast and in summertime joined the Committee of Management It seems that a slightly increased surplus there are now 92 of them on station in 1939 and served on it for 44 years, was achieved but this must be balanced round the coast, doing excellent work— right up to the time of his death at the anainst future commitments such as the of these, 25 remain on station all the age of 92. He was deputy chairman of building programme of the new 47ft year round. the Committee of Management from Tyne class lifeboats which, at current 1956 to 1964 and chairman from 1964 to prices, cost £430,000 each. 1968. Captain Wyndham-Quin, who was elected a vice-president in 1956, Thanks from Danish Prince served at one time or another on all the Last January HRH Prince Henrik, standing committees and was chairman Prince Consort of Denmark made pri- of the Operations Committee from 1954 vate visits to the lifeboat stations at to 1964. His daughter, Pamela, Lady Barra and Islay to present plaques to Egremont, is President of the Ladies' crews in recognition of their efforts in Lifeboat Guild. 1979 to rescue the crew of the Danish Captain Valentine Wyndham-Quin ship Lone Dania. Both lifeboats, a 52ft served at sea in the Royal Navy in both Barnett and 50ft Thames, were capsized the first and second world wars and was by huge seas in winds gusting up to four times mentioned in despatches; hurricane force; both righted successful- The late Captain the Hon V. M. Wyndham- from 1944 to 1947 he was naval attache ly without any serious injuries to the Quin, RN, chairman of the Institution from at Buenos Aires. After joining the crew and returned safely to station. 1956 to RNLI's Committee of Management, Captain Wyndham-Quin always took great interest in the well-being of crew members; he made it his personal con- cern to find out about their problems at first hand and frequently took passage in lifeboats on delivery trips round different parts of the coast. Towards the end of 1982, on Decem- ber 3, the death occured of Rear- Admiral K. St B. Collins. Rear-Admiral

Barra Island: HRH Prince Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, presents a plat/ue to Coxswain John Macneil in recognition of the efforts to rescue the crew of Lone Dania made b\ Barra's 52ft Burnett lifeboat R. A. Colby Cuhhin No 3. With them are Mr H. N. Morrison, branch honorary secretary (r), and members of the crew. Prince Henrik also presented a similar plaque to Islay lifeboat station. photograph by courtesy of Reg Allan and Stornoway Gazelle Collins joined the Committee of Man- Fund contributes towards their mainte- tinual production ever since and now agement in 1955 and served until 1960, nance and towards the rewards to their has a circulation of over 100,000. Your ex-officio as Hydrographer of the Navy. crews. The latest Civil Service lifeboat journal brings you news of all aspects of He rejoined the Committee of Man- is stationed at Portrush; she is a 52ft the lifeboat service and also carries agement in 1964 as a co-opted member Arun named after Richard Evans, for- souvenir and Christmas card brochures, and continued until his resignation in mer coxswain of Moelfre lifeboat, who lottery tickets and special notices. By 1972. He served on several of the RNLI was twice awarded the gold medal for careful management, increases in the standing committees and was at one gallantry. production costs of the journal have time chairman of the General Purposes been kept to a minimum, but postage and Publicity Committee. Variety Club charges have increased considerably. Also at the end of last year, on On December 9, 1982, HRH The The subscription is therefore being December 23, the death occurred of Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, raised to £3 a year. This is a commercial Commodore J. G. Young, RNR. Com- attended a lunch given by the Variety rate designed to make a profit and the modore Young was co-opted to the Club of Great Britain and received a actual costs of producing and distribut- Committee of Management in 1978 and cheque for £6,000. The Variety Club, ing the journal of Shoreline members, was a serving member. He was current- which always supports children with its branches, guilds and stations are lower. ly a member of the Executive and the charitable activities, has for a number The cover price of the journal is also Finance Committees. of years contributed to the RNLI's fund being increased, to 30p, again to make for children of lifeboatmen lost on profit on individual sales. Meanwhile, Penlee investigation service. In his speech the Duke thanked the traditional standards will be main- The Department of Trade's formal the Variety Club who, in spite of their tained and we hope you will continue to investigation into the loss of the Penlee lighthearted approach, took the task of enjoy THE LIFEBOAT. lifeboat Solomon Browne and MV Union helping others very seriously. Star began in Penzance on March 14. A Postcode change report on the investigation will be given Your journal The post code of the RNLI's Scottish in the next issue of THE LIFEBOAT, in the THE LIFEBOAT is the oldest house office has been changed. The full summer. journal in Britain, having been estab- address is now 26 Rutland Square, lished in 1852 when the cover price was Edinburgh, EH1 2RL. Telephone num- New Year Honours a penny-halfpenny. It has been in con- ber: 031-229 2206. Among the awards announced in the New Year Honours list were: Off the Cornish coast: The Lizard-Cadgwith's 52ft Barnett lifeboat The Duke of Cornwall (Civil QBE Service No 33) on exercise with a Wessex helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose. Donald George Eric Kent, General photograph by courtesy of RNAS Culdrose Manager, Blyth Harbour Commission. Mr Kent has been chairman of Blyth station branch since 1969, after serving on the committee from the early 1960s. MBE Denis William Lupton Leslie, chair- man, Penlee station branch. Dr Leslie has been a member of Penlee station branch committee and also honorary medical adviser since 1950; he became vice-chairman in 1969 and chairman in 1973. Dr Leslie was awarded the RNLI's silver badge in 1972 and the gold badge in 1982. Mrs Marion Trewhella Richards Pearce. For service to the community of St Ives. Among her services to the community Mrs Pearce was honorary secretary of St Ives ladies' lifeboat guild from 1932 to 1937 and again from 1945 until 1967 when she became chairman. Mrs Pearce was awarded the RNLI's gold badge in 1958 and a bar to the gold badge in 1970; she became an honorary life governor of the Institution in 1982.

Loyal friends The Civil Service and Post Office Lifeboat Fund, the RNLI's oldest and most loyal contributor, raised a splen- did £124,867 for the lifeboats in 1982; and it is not the first time it has reached, and passed, £100,000. The Fund came into being as long ago as 1866. In the intervening years it has provided no less than 41 lifeboats rang- ing from pulling and sailing boats in the early days to the 70ft Clyde Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No 35), which was provided in the Fund's hundredth anniversary year, 1966. In addition to the original cost of the lifeboats, the 183 straight across to warn her; in this cross- with great skill in the large, breaking ing through rough water Crew Member seas, Helmsman Brown passed the tow Jones fell on to the port lifting eye and across to the Watson lifeboat. During was slightly injured. Before the Atlantic the tow the elder of the two yachtsmen 21 could reach Ocea, however, the had recovered and so it was decided to yacht broached in a large sea, gybed transfer them both to Lytham-St Annes violently and appeared to lose control. lifeboat for the difficult passage into the It was 1445 when the Atlantic came Ribble. It took seven approaches by up with Ocea. There were two men on New Brighton Atlantic before the two board, the elder of whom was ex- yachtsmen and Crew Member Jones hausted, and, in the prevailing condi- were all taken off Ocea. Then, after two tions Helmsman Brown thought it attempts, the two yachtsmen were safe- would be too dangerous to try to take ly transferred to Lytham lifeboat; it was them off. He took the lifeboat in and on an operation which called for great skill the second approach Crew Member from both crews. Jones managed to jump on to Ocea. He The whole manoeuvre was completed found that the yacht was indeed not by 1800. The Watson lifeboat Sir God- West Division answering her helm; her steering gear frey Baring then took Ocea into the had failed and so it was decided to take Ribble and placed her on moorings and Steering failure her in tow. Survivor lifejackets were put her crew ashore; she was back on passed over for the yachtsmen and then her moorings and once again ready for LIVERPOOL COASTGUARD informed the two paddles to help steer Ocea. service by 1945. New Brighton Atlantic honorary secretary of New Brighton With the yacht in tow, Helmsman 21 lifeboat Blenwatch rendezvoused lifeboat station at 1400 on Sunday Au- Brown did not think it wise either to with Hoylake's Rother lifeboat Mary gust 29, 1982, that the yacht Ocea was cross Taylors Bank or to head into the Gabriel at 1815 and was escorted back acting in an erratic manner and seas to try to go round the bank. He to the main channel leading into the appeared to be in difficulties just north decided to keep the sea on his quarter River Mersey. Mary Gabriel then re- of Great Burbo Bank. The Coastguard and head for Southport. A bucket was turned to Hoylake and was recovered had been alerted by another yacht, streamed from the yacht as a makeshift and once again ready for service at Whiteout, which was standing by, main- sea anchor to prevent a tendency to 2115. Blenwatch returned to New taining communications on VHP radio sheer to port and the tow started at Brighton and was rehoused and ready and sending regular reports. Maroons 1450. A Coastguard mobile followed for service at 2035. were fired and at 1410 New Brighton's the progress of the tow from the shore For this service the bronze medal was Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat and recommended that Hoylake lifeboat awarded to Helmsman Edward B. Blenwatch was launched on service be launched to stand by. So, at 1550, Brown of New Brighton and the thanks manned by Helmsman Edward 'Bev' Hoylake's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Mary of the Institution inscribed on vellum Brown and Crew Members Michael Gabriel was launched on service under were accorded to Crew Member Jones, Dale Kaye and Tom Baker. the command of Coxswain John Michael Jones; medal service certifi- A fresh breeze, force 5, was blowing McDermott and course was shaped for cates were presented to Crew Members from the south south west. The sea was the position of the tow. Dale Kaye and Tom Baker. Letters slight with waves of three to four feet; it Meanwhile, New Brighton Atlantic, signed by Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy was three-quarters of an hour before with Ocea in tow, was heading towards director, expressing the Institution's low water and there was a small ebb Southport at about 2 to 3 knots, with appreciation to the crews of Hoylake running. Visibility was five miles. the wind freshening all the time. Oppo- and Lytham-St Annes lifeboats were After launching, Helmsman Brown site Birkdale a large cresting wave sent respectively to Coxswain John set course to pass west of Great Burbo knocked the yacht on to her beam ends. McDermott and Coxswain Arthur Wig- Bank so that he could approach Ocea The sea anchor made with a bucket was nall. from the seaward end of the main chan- lost and another had to be contrived be- nel. The Coastguard were now told by fore the tow could continue. Whiteout that Ocea was in the main Hearing from the Coastguard that South West Division channel and that, although the Coast- conditions at Southport were impos- guard had asked that she return to the sible, Helmsman Brown decided to Yacht on rocks River Mersey in company with White- head for the estuary of the Ribble. Even out, she appeared to be continuing her then, he thought that the seas would be A RADIO MESSAGE at 0924 on Thursday sail. Nevertheless, with the wind too bad for the Atlantic to attempt the July 15, 1982, reported that a yacht was freshening and the tide starting to flood, river entrance with her tow, and so he aground in the area of the Western Car- Helmsman Brown decided to make sure asked that Lytham-St Annes lifeboat racks, three miles west of St Ives. The that all was well. should launch. honorary secretary of St Ives lifeboat On seeing the Atlantic 21 lifeboat The relief 46ft 9in Watson lifeboat Sir station immediately assembled crew for approaching the scene of action, White- Godfrey Baring, on temporary duty at the D class inflatable lifeboat and put out headed back down the main channel Lytham-St Annes, slipped her moorings the 37ft Oakley lifeboat on standby. to make for shelter. The breeze, still at 1714 under the command of Cox- The morning was overcast with a light from south south west, had increased to swain Arthur Wignall and set out to to gentle breeze, force 2 to 3, blowing strong, force 6, gusting to near gale, rendezvous with New Brighton Atlantic from the north west. It was 2V2 hours force 7. Generally the seas were eight to off Wall End Buoy at the entrance to before high water neaps. ten foot high but in the shallow water the Ribble. While waiting for Sir God- The D class lifeboat launched on ser- over the banks wind and tide were frey Baring, Helmsman Brown main- vice at 0927, manned by Helmsman Eric building up waves of 12 to 15 feet. The tained steerage way heading into the Ward and Crew Members Thomas tide was now flooding to the south east seas. The waves were now 15 to 20 feet Cocking, Jnr, and John Stevens, and at about 2 to 3 knots. high and some of them were breaking. course was set close inshore so that the Ocea was sighted across the other Lifeboat and tow were dropped heavily casualty would be reached as quickly as side of the main channel over the revet- into several troughs and at times the possible. While on passage Helmsman ment wall, heading east towards Taylors lifeboat crew could see right under Ward spoke by radio with St Ives fishing Bank and some very rough water. Ocea's hull. vessels in the area and was told that a Helmsman Brown knew that she was Sir Godfrey Baring arrived off Wall liferaft, which appeared to be occupied, running into trouble and headed End Buoy at 1730 and, manoeuvring could be seen inshore of the yacht. 184 Arriving at 0952, the inflatable life- line so that her propeller could be dry suits and re-launched at 1142. From boat found the yacht Ladybird just west changed. The anchor had dragged in- 1201 to 1235 the inflatable lifeboat re- of Whicker Point; she was broadside to side the surf line but was holding. newed her search along the coastline in the shore and aground, bows westward, Although the boat was swamped three company with the Oakley lifeboat, with only her foresail still hoisted. Her times during the propeller change, the fishing vessels and a Sea King helicopter liferaft was lying close by to the south task was successfully completed. With which had taken over from the Wessex. east, hard into the steep, rocky her new propeller, the inflatable life- Nothing was found, however, and the shoreline and being pounded by rough boat could only attain about three search was called off. Both lifeboats re- seas. The low ground swell, hardly no- knots, so she was driven seaward, the turned to St Ives, arriving at 1315. ticeable in deeper water, was accentu- anchor was recovered and she cleared The body of the yachtsman was ated over the shallow rock-strewn area the surf line. washed up a fortnight later. around the yacht; there was a ten foot The helicopter used her downdraft to For this service a bar to his bronze rise and fall and constant white blow the liferaft clear of the rocks be- medal was awarded to Helmsman Eric water. fore a diver was lowered into it; he T. Ward and the thanks of the Institu- At just about the same time that the found it was empty. The diver was then tion inscribed on vellum were accorded D class inflatable lifeboat arrived on the lowered into the inflatable lifeboat to to Crew Members Thomas Cocking, scene, St Ives 37ft Oakley lifeboat make sure that all was well with the Jnr, and John Stevens. Frank Penfold Marshall was launched crew. on service. She was under command of Until St Ives 37ft Oakley lifeboat Coxswain Thomas Cocking. Frank Penfold Marshall arrived, at Scotland North Division The yacht's hull was only visible be- 1010, the inflatable lifeboat searched to tween crests. She appeared to be empty west and east of the casualty, outside Dragging in storm but, from movement of its canopy, it the surf line. With the arrival of Frank looked as though there could be some- Penfold Marshall to take up the search, A YACHT DRAGGING her anchor in North one inside the liferaft. An attempted the D class lifeboat accepted a tow to St Mouth, Out Skerries, 20 miles north approach between the shore and the Ives from FV Josephine. The tow started east of Lerwick lifeboat station, in stern of the yacht had to be abandoned at 1035 and St Ives was reached at 1110. Shetland, was reported to the deputy because it was too dangerous. A spare engine was fitted to the life- launching authority by Lerwick Coast- Helmsman Ward immediately de- boat, the crew put on dry clothing and guard at 0051 on Tuesday September cided that the only safe method of reaching the liferaft would be to anchor St Ives: The yacht Ladybird aground just west of Whicker Point and swamped by breaking and veer down. The anchor was drop- waves. St Ives 37ft Oakley lifeboat Frank Penfold Marshall and a helicopter from RNAS ped at the edge of the surf line and the Culdrose continue the search for the missing yachtsman while St Ives D class lifeboat, her anchor line was paid out as the inflat- propeller damaged, is towed back to station. For this service a bar to his bronze medal was able lifeboat came astern under her awarded to Helmsman Eric Ward. photograph by courtesy of W. Thomas outboard engine. As each crest approached, the anchor line was held secure so that the lifeboat remained sta- tionary, head to sea. Each time the boat took heavy water aboard, but she quick- ly cleared herself. Twice the lifeboat was lifted on to a rock, but the helmsman put the engine out of gear, waited for the boat to be carried clear and then re-engaged the engine to continue the astern approach to the yacht. On the second occasion Helmsman Ward was knocked from his controls and almost overboard by a heavy sea and the boat heeled right over. However, he quickly regained control and then brought the boat stern first to the yacht. While the lifeboat lay alongside Ladybird''-, deckhouse, which was awash, it was established that there was no one on board. The liferaft was about 25 feet further inshore. As the inflatable lifeboat left the yacht, she was again lifted on to a rock by a huge crest. The backwash did not carry her clear and she was left high and dry for about two minutes. The en- gine was out of gear but it could not be tilted because its skeg was jammed into a rock crevice. Crew Member Hocking hung over the bow and heaved on the anchor line as a crest approached. The boat came clear and once again ap- proached the yacht. Another attempt was made to reach the liferaft but the boat would not manoeuvre because the propeller blades were badly damaged. At this time a Wessex helicopter from RNAS Culdrose arrived and hovered a little to the west while the inflatable life- boat was heaved seaward on her anchor

185 21, 1982. The crew were assembled and at 0110 Lerwick's 52ft Arun lifeboat

Soldian slipped her moorings and FH2IWRG !CH13m7 cleared the harbour with Coxswain/ Mechanic Hewitt Clark in command. It was a very black night with visibil- • ity poor in torrential rain. A storm, 7 ^l" .KRRIES UGMTHOUSS force 10, was blowing from the south 0 J

186 to Thames Coastguard that he had re- return passage was made in extremely shining the searchlight on her to assess duced speed because of the deteriorat- rough conditions, taking nearly two the situation. The yacht was seen to be ing weather and because wind and spray hours, with the Sheerness Waveney rolling violently in the rough seas so were reducing visibility. As by this time escorting the Southend Atlantic 21. Coxswain Hawkins, worried about the the wind had risen to gale force, Both lifeboats reached Southend Pier at damage he could cause the smaller, live- Thames Coastguard began radio checks 2048 and the two fishermen were landed ly boat, decided to pass a tow without with the Atlantic every five minutes and to a waiting ambulance. Southend going alongside. The yachtsmen were advised the launch of Sheerness lifeboat Atlantic 21 was rehoused and once asked to try to pull inboard the sails and to help Southend lifeboat if required; again ready for service by 2107 and any trailing rope ends. The lifeboat then Sheerness 44ft Waveney lifeboat Helen Sheerness Waveney lifeboat returned to approached from the starboard quarter Turnbull slipped her moorings at 1803 station; she arrived at Sheerness at 2146 and passed down the starboard side tak- under the command of Coxswain/ and was refuelled and back on her ing care to clear the gyrating mast. Mechanic Robin W. Castle and set out moorings by 2215. Three times this manoeuvre was repe- across the Thames Estuary making For this service the bronze medal was ated; on each occasion a heaving line good speed. awarded to Helmsman Robert T. Fos- was thrown aboard but the two yachts- Meanwhile. Southend Atlantic con- sett of Southend-on-Sea lifeboat and men, now very tired, were unable to get tinued to make best possible speed to framed letters of thanks signed by the hold of it. A fourth attempt was made the casualty and at 1759 Mary was sight- Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institu- but one of the men went overboard as ed at anchor in a narrow gut to the west tion, were presented to Crew Members the yacht rolled and her handrails of Maplin Edge Buoy. She was being Simon P. Spratt and Mark A. Fossett. parted; he climbed back aboard as the tossed about in the breaking seas and A letter signed by Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, scene was lit by parachute flares. grounding in the troughs, and she was deputy director, expressing the Institu- At 0412 Coxswain Hawkins decided taking a lot of water on board. Helms- tion's appreciation to Coxswain/Mecha- that a lifeboatman would have to be put man Fossett, realising the danger of any nic Robin W. Castle and his crew was aboard the yacht to help. A fifth, and delay, spoke with her crew by radio and sent to Captain William I. Patterson, closer, approach was made and as the asked them to be ready to abandon ship honorary secretary of Sheerness life- two boats came together Crew Member immediately. boat station. Paul Carter jumped aboard; the two As Helmsman Robert Fossett made boats rolled and he was pinned momen- his approach towards Mary the Atlantic East Division tarily between the quarter rubber of the was broached by the seas and laid over lifeboat and the cabin of the yacht, on her starboard sponson several times. Damaged steering bruising his shoulder, before the life- However, Crew Members Mark Fossett boat pulled clear. A sixth approach was and Simon Spratt managed to snatch YARMOUTH COASTGUARD informed the made, the heaving line taken by Crew the two fishermen from Mary at the first honorary secretary of Great Yarmouth Member Carter, and then a tow line was attempt. The lifeboat was then driven and Gorleston lifeboat station at 0236 passed and made fast. clear of the casualty into deeper water on Monday May 3, 1982, that the yacht The tow began, at dead slow speed, and at 1808 Thames Coastguard were Seamist of Rhu had sustained damage to at 0445 and the lifeboat and yacht en- informed that both men were safely her steering gear two hours earlier on tered Yarmouth Harbour at 0730. The aboard the Atlantic. Scroby Sands, breaking her tiller. A yacht was moored and her crew landed The return passage to Southend was jury rig had been set up and the yacht's ashore. The lifeboat was back on her head to sea and, in the heavy breaking crew of two had thought that they could moorings, once again ready for service, waves, the lifeboat was pitching severe- ride it out until the tide turned. How- at 0915. ly. Concerned that there might be the ever, they were now beginning to be For this service the thanks of the In- possibility of capsizing. Helmsman Fos- affected by fatigue and the weather was stitution inscribed on vellum were sett stationed Crew Members Fossett deteriorating. accorded to Coxswain/Mechanic and Spratt in the bows to distribute the It was a clear night, although the sky Richard J. Hawkins and a framed letter weight more evenly. However, this was overcast. A gale, force 8, was blow- of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, proved to be extremely punishing for ing from north north east and the sea chairman of the Institution, was pre- the lifeboatmen and, as one of the was very rough. It was three hours be- sented to Crew Member Paul H. Car- fishermen, suffering from seasickness fore high water. ter. Vellum service certificates were and hypothermia, was becoming very The crew was assembled and at 0249 also presented to Acting Second Cox- weak, the engines were throttled back Great Yarmouth and Gorleston's 44ft swain John R. Baker, Emergency until there was just enough speed to Waveney lifeboat Barham slipped her Mechanic Leander Wells and Crew give steerage way while Crew Members moorings and set out on service under Members David V. Mason and Peter Fossett and Spratt sheltered the two the command of Coxswain/Mechanic M. Collins. fishermen from the wind and spray. Richard Hawkins. The lifeboat cleared In view of the worsening weather and the harbour piers at 0256 and headed at South West Division the state of the survivors. Helmsman full speed out through the Hewett Fossett decided that the two men should Channel. Then, changing to a north- Propeller fouled be transferred from Southend Atlantic easterly course to make for Seamist, to Sheerness Waveney lifeboat. At 1825 which was in the vicinity of Cross Sands NUMEROUS TELEPHONE CALLS were re- the Atlantic, continuing to make head- Buoy, she met the full strength of the ceived by Brixham Coastguard at about way, was informed that Helen Turnbull gale force winds head on and had to re- 0120 on Wednesday August 18, 1982, would reach her position in about 30 to duce speed in the rough, short head seas reporting the sighting of red flares off 40 minutes and the two lifeboats ren- and swell. The dredger Marine Stone Teignmouth Pier. Teignmouth Coast- dezvoused at South West Swin Buoy at was watching the yacht on her radar but guard rescue company were immediate- 1855. As there was no shelter from wind kept losing radar 'sight' of her because ly alerted and John Hook, auxiliary or sea which could be gained, it was de- of the prevailing conditions. coastguard in charge, prepared to cided to make the transfer immediately. At 0340 the lifeboat neared the undertake the rescue. He telephoned Sheerness lifeboat ran down sea, the casualty. Seamist, a yacht of about 24ft Sydney Hook, coxswain of the Trinity Atlantic 21 was driven alongside and overall, was two miles north north west House pilot cutter, and asked him to go one man was taken aboard Helen Turn- of Cross Sands Buoy lying under a to the cutter and await instructions; bull: the manoeuvre was repeated for storm jib with her head about south then he himself went to the promenade the transfer of the second survivor. east; the wind and sea were on her port to assess the situation. At 1900 both lifeboats set course for quarter. It was quickly established that a Southend Pier at reduced speed. The The lifeboat circled around Seamist, yacht. Albatross, was aground very 187 close to Teignmouth Pier and that the sea and set course to return by the same beam of the warship, maintaining visual only way of effecting a rescue would be way he had come on the outward contact at a quarter of a mile to half a from seaward. So John Hook, together passage. Because of the darkness of the mile depending on visibility in the very with William Hook and Andrew Bur- morning and the rain, visibility was heavy rain squalls. ton, hurried to join Coxswain Hook poor, so members of the Coastguard At about 1845 the warship obtained a aboard the pilot cutter Storm Siren in rescue company ashore fired parachute VHP DF bearing of the casualty; she was Teignmouth Harbour; moorings were flares over the narrow entrance to lying to the south west. Course was slipped at 0143. Storm Siren, a 41ft Teignmouth to help Coxswain Hook to altered to that heading and the lifeboat, Watson ex-lifeboat originally stationed negotiate the channel safely. increasing her speed to 12 knots, drew at Moelfre, took out with her her 14ft Once Storm Siren and her tow were ahead of the warship. After 15 minutes dinghy. safely inside the bar, Torbay lifeboat the lifeboat fired a white flare. Concerto The night was overcast with rain returned to station; she was back on her reported by radio that she could see the squalls. A near gale, force 7, was moorings and again ready for service at flare on bearing 030°. Coxswain Leth- blowing from the south west and the sea 0315. Albatross was moored inside the bridge increased to full speed and found was rough. It was about four hours harbour at Teignmouth and Teign- the yacht at 1915. before high water. In view of the rough mouth rescue company were stood Concerto was heading south south weather, Brixham Coastguard called down at 0238. east, wallowing in the high seas and the deputy launching authority of Tor- For this service the thanks of the shipping heavy spray. Her sails were bay lifeboat station at 0125 and at 0142 Institution inscribed on vellum were stowed and she appeared in good order Torbay's 54ft Arun lifeboat Edward accorded to John F. Hook and framed apart from her rudder, which was hang- Bridges (Civil Service No 37) slipped letters of thanks signed by the Duke of ing askew. Two men could be seen in her moorings under the command of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, her cockpit. Coxswain Arthur Curnow and headed were presented to Andrew M. Burton The wind was still from the south for Teignmouth Pier, to stand by. and Sydney C. Hook. A letter of thanks south west but by now it had risen to Clearing Teignmouth river mouth, signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, storm force 10. The tide flowing across Coxswain Hook expertly negotiated the director of the Institution, was sent to the wind was creating a sea estimated at narrow channel between Pole Sand and William E. Hook. 20 feet high, 100 feet between crests, East Pole Sand and then turned to port reminiscent of that experienced during to head for the casualty; in all, the one the Fastnet Race storm of 1979. The mile passage from the mooring took South West Division lifeboat was shipping green water as the about 12 minutes. On arrival. Albatross approach was made. a 28ft steel hulled yacht, was seen to be Broken rudder At 1930, while a large Finnish tanker, aground about 15 feet south of Teign- ss Tervi, steamed into a position a quar- mouth Pier. She had been on passage THE YACHT Concerto, in difficulties ten ter of a mile away to create a lee, from Weymouth when, off Teign- miles north of Round Island, was re- Coxswain Lethbridge rigged a towline, mouth, a rope had become fouled ported to the honorary secretary of St heavily fendered the lifeboat's port side around her propeller. Unable to clear Mary's, Isles of Scilly, lifeboat station and then manoeuvred alongside the the rope, the owner, who was sailing by Falmouth Coastguard at 1618 on yacht. His intention was to secure a tow singlehanded, had dropped anchor and Tuesday June 22, 1982. Maroons were line and then take off the two crew, but fired distress flares. fired and at 1635 St Mary's 52ft Arun he was forced to drive clear of the The south-westerly near gale off th.e lifeboat Robert Edgar slipped her moor- casualty to avoid damage while the tow land, gusting in the rain squalls, was in ings and, under the command of Cox- line was secured. With the two men still conflict with the incoming tide, so that swain Matthew Lethbridge, set out on aboard their yacht, therefore, the tow in the shallow waters the sea was rough service. was taken up at 1935 on a course of and confused. Albatross now had two In St Mary's harbour a fresh breeze, 212°M. anchors out, but could be seen to be force 5, was blowing from south south On 100 fathoms of towline, suitably dragging slowly in towards the pier. west. It was three hours before high weighted, a towing speed of 3 to 4 knots Taking advantage of the fact that, water, some two days after spring tides. was achieved. However, with the onset being an ex-Watson lifeboat, Storm The sky was overcast with visibility of darkness and the continuing severe Siren's propeller is protected, Coxswain three to four miles between rain squalls. weather, Coxswain Lethbridge decided Hook brought the pilot cutter round in Tresco Channel, navigable by the to take off the yachtsmen. It was a diffi- a sweep towards Albatross, coming up lifeboat from 2'/2 hours' flood on a cult operation. While trying to bring the head to sea to stem the waves and tide. spring tide, was negotiated at full speed yacht alongside, her stern was carried While Storm Siren was making this and at 1650, with Round Island abeam, into the lifeboat's port quarter by a sweep, John Hook and Andrew Burton a course of 025°M was set. From in- large sea; narrowly avoiding two crew boarded the 14ft dinghy and cast off to formation received from the Coast- members, it struck the deckhouse above pass a towline to the yacht. With guard, from DF bearings and from ves- their heads, bent a stanchion and Andrew Burton at the oars and John sels in the area, it was established that marked the belting. Despite this inci- Hook tending the 2 Vim nylon towline, the position of the yacht was 50°19'N, dent, by waiting for instructions from the dinghy headed for Albatross. The 06°11.5'w. Once clear of the land, the Second Coxswain Roy Guy, the transfer weight of the line and the rough seas wind was near gale, force 7, to gale, was made without further damage or in- made it a very hard row, but it was force 8 and the passage north in high jury. The tow was resumed at 2110 at a successfully accomplished and the ding- following seas demanded great concen- speed of 4 knots, but about 20 minutes hy came safely alongside the starboard tration and a high standard of boat later the towline parted. side of the yacht. handling from Coxswain Matt Leth- HMS Pollington had already departed John Hook boarded Albatross to help bridge to prevent the lifeboat to help search for a yacht reported in her singlehanded skipper and to make broaching. The engines were kept at full difficulties off Seven Stones, north east the towline fast. Andrew Burton re- ahead throughout. of the Isles of Scilly. Coxswain Leth- turned to Storm Siren, rowing powerful- At 1800 the lifeboat arrived at the bridge immediately informed the yach- ly. By now the yacht was within a few position given for Concerto, adjusted tsmen and Falmouth Coastguard of his feet of the pier and in imminent danger for tidal set and the yacht's drift. HMS intention to abandon his tow to go to of being dismasted and wrecked as she Pollington was also on the scene and it the aid of this second casualty, the was carried under it. was agreed that the lifeboat and warship French yacht Martez. A course was set As soon as the yacht's anchors were should search downwind in company. at 185°M and full speed was then main- clear, Coxswain Hook began the tow. At a speed of 10 knots, Coxswain Leth- tained with only brief reductions to He was able to bring the yacht head to bridge kept station on the starboard meet particularly heavy seas. 188 At about 2230 St Mary's Arun life- the lifeboat was asked to launch with parted but another tow was successfully boat, four miles north on Seven Stones pumps. At 1410 Thurso's 48ft 6in Solent passed. Lightvessel, began a downwind search lifeboat The Three Sisters launched on HMS Stubbington took Coronella in in company with HMS Pollington, Sen- service under the command of Second tow to Thurso Bay where the lifeboat nen Cove's 37ft 6in Rother Diana White Coxswain John Manson and headed took over and, at 2145, berthed the and a Sea King helicopter from RNAS into harbour to embark pumps held in disabled fishing vessel alongside, with Culdrose. Diana White had launched on the harbour oil depot. Kenneth Mac- the help of the pilot cutter and Loyal service at 1914 under the command of Kenzie of the oil depot, who is also the Proctor. Thurso lifeboat was rehoused Coxswain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens. engineer of the RNAF tender Loyal and ready for service at 2200. When, however, a yacht answering the Proctor which is based in Scrabster, Coronella had grounded on rocks to description of Martez was found close joined the crew to supervise the pumps. the west of Duncansby Head and ashore near Penzance Harbour, the HMS Stubbington, a minesweeper drifted to St John's Point, a notorious search was called off and the 46ft 9in seconded to fishery protection duties area of the Pentland Firth. In grounding Watson relief lifeboat Guy and Clare which was in Scrabster Harbour, sailed her transducer was torn out, leaving a Hunter, on temporary station duty at at 1429 to help the casualty. hole in her bottom. She remained in Penlee, was launched at 2353 to go to Coronella was 12 miles east north east Scrabster Harbour for two days where the French yacht's help. Soon after Guy of the lifeboat station and The Three the Fire Brigade kept her afloat until a and Clare Hunter had launched, under Sisters maintained full speed to her diver could make temporary repairs. the command of Coxswain Kenneth position. During the passage HMS Stub- For this service the thanks of the Thomas, Martez was reported to have bington established that there were 11 Institution inscribed on vellum were come ashore and her crew of two to be men on board the fishing vessel. accorded to Second Coxswain John D. safely on the beach in the care of the It was an overcast day with frequent Manson, acting coxswain. Vellum ser- Police. rain squalls passing through, reducing vice certificates were presented to St Mary's lifeboat arrived back at sta- visibility. There was a strong breeze, Motor Mechanic Angus M. Reid, tion at 0055 on Wednesday June 23; the force 6, blowing from the west and the Emergency Mechanic Brian Williams, crew of Concerto were landed at 0110 sea was rough. High water springs had acting assistant mechanic, and Crew and the lifeboat was refuelled and back been at 1153. Members Ian McMillan and Jay Scott on her moorings ready for service at HMS Stubbington arrived on scene at MacKay and also to Kenneth Ross 0230. The abandoned yacht was found about 1512; she lowered a boat to take a MacKenzie. later that day by the Dutch coaster pump across to Coronella, but unfortu- Inga, off the North Cornwall coast, and nately the pump's handle was lost over- towed to St Ives. board so that it could not be used. The West Division Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge later fishing vessel was anchored slightly to received letters of thanks from Concer- the west of the rocks known as the Men Disabled to's skipper, who wrote: of Mey and the minesweeper could not ' . . . / am writing to express my appre- approach close enough to pass a tow A FISHING VESSEL, Gardelwen, suffering ciation for the skill and dedication of the line. The strong westerly breeze was engine and steering failure was reported St Mary's lifeboat crew. . . Words, parti- blowing across the overfalls in the area to the honorary secretary of Barmouth cularly on paper, are always inadequate giving a very confused sea and the lifeboat station at 0330 on Sunday vehicles to express these feelings. . . ' broken water disguised the exact posi- October 31, 1982. She was 17'/2 miles and his crew: tion of the rocks. bearing 265°M from Barmouth and "... Having felt guilty in the first place By this time Coronella was well down needed urgent help. Maroons were that we had got into the difficulties we did by the stern and had only three foot fired and at 0345 the 42ft Watson relief and that we had to ask for help, I found all clearance left in her engine room above lifeboat Dorothy and Philip Constant, that followed a most exciting experience the waterline. There was concern that on temporary duty at Barmouth, slip- and I feel privileged to have been able to the bulkhead might give and she had ped her moorings under the command see at first hand both the caring and the professionalism of you and your lifeboat lost all power. Her own lifeboat was of Second Coxswain Leonard Vaughan. crew and I thank you all very much indeed turned out ready for her crew to aban- The coxswain and several crew mem- for it all. . . ' don ship. bers were away on passage with the For this service the thanks of the In- Thurso lifeboat arrived at 1550 and station boat. stitution inscribed on vellum were went alongside the casualty to transfer The sky was overcast, a near gale, accorded to Coxswain Matthew Leth- the pumps. Two lifeboatmen together force 7, was blowing from the south and bridge, BEM, of St Mary's lifeboat and with Kenneth MacKenzie were also put the seas were rough. It was one hour vellum service certificates were pre- on board to help. Acting Coxswain after low water. In that state of tide and sented to Second Coxswain Ernest Roy John Manson is a Stroma man and, weather it was necessary to use the Guy, Motor Mechanic William R. Bur- having fished the area since a young searchlight to ensure a safe passage row, Emergency Mechanic Ritchie boy, knew exactly where the rocks were across the bar. Once clear of the bar, Christopher and Crew Members Rod- in relation to the casualty. however, at about 0405, the lifeboat set ney J. Terry, Roy Duncan, Brian Jenk- There was some difficulty in getting course for the disabled fishing vessel at ins and Stuart J. Thomas. A letter, the pumps started and The Three Sisters full speed. signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, lay off ready to take off all the men on The true force of the near gale was director, expressing the appreciation of board Coronella if necessary; unless the now experienced. The sea was very the Institution to the master of the Fin- pumps had contained the inflow of rough and there was a 10 to 14 foot nish tanker Tervi, was sent to the ship's water the fishing vessel would without swell. The lifeboat was rolling heavily in owners, Neste O/Y. doubt have sunk. However, the two the beam seas and shipping water. pumps were eventually started and the While on her way, she received a radio water level held. message from the Coastguard to say Scotland North Division At about 1700 Coronella cut her that Gardelwen was making water and anchor line and she was immediately in danger of foundering. Making water swept into the overfalls and carried west The seas were getting worse. At north west. As she drifted along the about 0515, estimating that he was some WICK COASTGUARD informed the honor- overfalls Acting Coxswain Manson took four miles from the fishing vessel, ary secretary of Thurso lifeboat station the lifeboat alongside and re-embarked Acting Coxswain Vaughan instructed at 1355 on Tuesday September 7,1982, his two crew members and Kenneth the lifeboat's searchlight to be switched that the fishing vessel Coronella was MacKenzie. HMS Stubbington fired two on and Gardelwen was asked to fire a making water off Duncansby Head and lines across and a tow was connected; it red flare when she sighted the light. 189 Within ten minutes a red flare was It was four hours after high water pass a second tow rope to Donwood. observed right ahead at three to four when the lifeboat and tow arrived off The lifeboat, however, could not carry miles distance. Course and speed were Barmouth Bar. The south-westerly out this manoeuvre between the two maintained and at about 0545 the life- wind had eased to force 6 but it could be fishing vessels without the strong possi- boat arrived at the casualty. seen that there was a heavy run of bility of being severely damaged her- Gardelwen was lying north-south and breaking sea. Gardelwen was by this self, so Donwood floated a second line had been trying to lie to an anchor. On time 'half full of water' and Acting down to Arctic Crusader. Once the the approach of the lifeboat she Coxswain Leonard Vaughan realised second towline was made fast, Arctic weighed her anchor and, as her crew of that if he was to have a chance of Crusader asked that the helicopter be three did not want to leave their boat, negotiating the bar with the casualty, he cancelled; her skipper also asked that, Acting Coxswain Vaughan decided to must make the crossing right away, should the tow part, the lifeboat should try to tow her to Barmouth. He took the before, on the ebbing tide, there was come alongside and take off his crew. lifeboat up along the starboard side of any further fall in the depth of the With the two towlines secured, Don- the fishing vessel and the lifeboatmen water. He therefore headed in towards wood tried to take up the tow, but as succeeded in passing a heaving line Barmouth over the bar. soon as the weight was taken on the which was used as a messenger by the The long run in, successfully ropes they both parted. Coxswain Far- fishermen to send back a tow line to the achieved, was made over one vast area quhar had positioned the lifeboat ready lifeboat. This line, however, was far too of white breaking running seas. Towing to go in alongside Arctic Crusader if short for a tow in the gales and very a disabled vessel in such conditions necessary. The weather had not moder- rough seas, so the lifeboat was taken up required both courage and ability and ated and the casualty was now well along the fishing boat again to pass all who witnessed the approach of inside the surf line among high breaking across her own line, which the fisher- lifeboat and tow expressed great seas. Waves were continually breaking men made fast on board Gardelwen. admiration. right over the lifeboat and the coxswain Acting Coxswain Vaughan had de- Gardelwen was safely moored at had time for only one attempt to get cided to run before the sea while the about 1150 and the lifeboat was refuel- alongside before Arctic Crusader would towlines were being passed in order to led and back on her moorings ready for be in water so shallow she would be give some protection to his crew work- service at 1230. beyond the lifeboat's reach. ing forward, and seas were breaking For this service the thanks of the Coxswain Farquhar took the lifeboat over the stern of both lifeboat and Institution inscribed on vellum were in alongside Arctic Crusader's port side fishing boat the whole time. accorded to Second Coxswain Edward and, finding no one on deck, held her The weather had deteriorated still Leonard Vaughan, acting coxswain, there. Within a minute or two the further and a force 8 gale was now and vellum service certificates were trawler's engines started and she blowing from south to south west. The presented to Boat Mechanic Kenneth headed back for Scrabster Harbour. sea was very rough with a 15 foot swell. Ingram, Crew Member Harry Allday, Apparently there were only three men Gardelwen, with no steering, was acting second coxswain, and Crew on the disabled trawler, not five as yawing and rolling violently and it was Members Robert A. Buckley, John H. reported. Two were engineers who with great skill and difficulty that the Stockford and Llewelyn W. Griffin. were down in the engine room working tow was rounded up and course set for on the engines. As the lifeboat the return to Barmouth. As well as approached, the skipper had gone be- yawing, the fishing boat frequently Scotland North Division low to tell them to abandon ship, but tended to over run the lifeboat and, to just at that moment they had succeeded try to avoid excessive snatch on the tow Broken adrift in getting the engines started. the lifeboatmen were continually taking The lifeboat escorted Arctic Crusader in and paying out the slack on the THE STATION HONORARY SECRETARY of back into harbour but the trawler's towlines; it was an arduous task but it Thurso was informed by Wick Coast- engines, already damaged, seized ahead was accomplished despite the heavy guard at 2105 on Tuesday November 16 and her bow struck the jetty. The rolling seas which frequently broke 1982, that the trawler Arctic Crusader lifeboat was rehoused and once again aboard. had broken adrift in Scrabster Harbour, ready for service at 2300. In spite of these efforts, however, the close by the lifeboat station, and he was For this service the thanks of the towline parted. Acting Coxswain asked to place the lifeboat on standby. Institution inscribed on vellum were Vaughan came about to reconnect the The crew were assembled and at 2120 accorded to Coxswain William Ross tow. This time he asked Gardelwen to the lifeboat was asked to launch. Farquhar and vellum service certificates make the fishing boat's own line fast to Within five minutes Thurso's 48ft 6in were presented to Second Coxswain one side of one of her tyre fenders and Solent lifeboat The Three Sisters had John D. Manson, Motor Mechanic to make the lifeboat's line fast to the launched under the command of Cox- Angus M. Reid. Assistant Mechanic other side of the fender so that there swain William Farquhar and was on her Edward Fraser and Crew Members Neil would be some weight part way along way to the casualty. The night was very MacDonald Farquhar, William Munro the towline to give it some spring to dark with an overcast sky and it was and Brian Williams. ease the snatching. This was done and raining. A strong gale, force 9, gusting the tow resumed. to storm force 10 was blowing from the After about half an hour at three- north west and the sea was very rough. South West Division quarter throttle the tyre tore apart with It was half an hour after high water. such violence that the half attached to Arctic Crusader had been blown clear Fishing boat sinks the lifeboat's line whipped back aboard, of the harbour and was in broken water travelling the full length of the lifeboat drifting down on to the beach. Another WEYMOUTH LIFEBOAT was asked to and hitting the two foremost stanchions fishing trawler, Donwood, had her launch by Portland Coastguard at 0945 with such force that they were bent. anchor down and a line across to Arctic on Monday November 15. 1982, to go Fortunately the crew had all ducked in Crusader, but this anchor was dragging. to the help of the fishing boat Amirante time and no one was hurt. Since launching. Coxswain Farquhar reported to be taking water four miles With great difficulty the tow was had been assessing the situation and south of Portland Bill. reconnected, this time with two fenders concluded that if Arctic Crusader con- It was a fine morning with a fresh between the two parts of the line. The tinued her rapid drifting she would be in breeze, force 5, blowing from the north tow was resumed without further mis- shallow water beyond the reach of the west and a moderate sea. It was three hap, though both boats continued to lifeboat and he asked that a helicopter hours after high water. roll heavily and the casualty to yaw should standy by. Weymouth's 54ft Arun lifeboat Tony violentlv. Arctic Crusader asked the lifeboat to Vandervell slipped her moorings at 1003 190 duty at Hunstanton launched on service manned by Helmsman Alan Clarke and Crew Members Gerald Wase. Victor Dade and Michael Wallace. It was a fine night with a light breeze blowing from the south and the sea was calm. The Coastguard had been told that the three men had intended to keep inshore on their passage, so the Atlantic set out to search up to King's Lynn. First she searched across Stubborn Sand to Cork Hole. By now it was low water neaps. At No 3 Buoy a parachute flare was fired, but nothing was seen. The boat's searchlight then failed so she con- tinued all the way to King's Lynn Docks using hand lamps and parachute flares. Meanwhile, an SAR helicopter was searching the marshes and banks and Hunstanton Coastguard CRC were searching on foot across the mud flats. Nothing was seen, so at 2355 the Atlan- tic 21 returned slowly from King's Lynn Weymouth: as Amirante sinks, Weymouth's 54ft Arun lifeboat Tony Vandervell moves in to to Hunstanton; the lifeboat was reco- pick up her crew. On the lifeboat foredeck are (!) Crew Member Robert Runyeard and fr) vered at 0130 on Tuesday September 14 Assistant Coxswain Michael Reynolds. photograph by courtesy of Focus Press with the intention of resuming the search at daybreak. with Second Coxswain/Mechanic Derek Graham, director of the Institution, was Four hours later, at 0530, the crew Sargent in command. When she arrived sent to Second Coxswain/Mechanic reassembled, but as very thick fog had on scene she found that another fishing Derek J. Sargent, acting coxswain. now formed the Atlantic 21 did not vessel had taken Amirante in tow. Both launch until 0710. With Helmsman vessels said that they were happy to Alan Clarke were now Crew Members continue the tow and that the lifeboat East Division Charles Groundsell, Arthur Osborne crew's offer of help in pumping out was and John Hawkes. not needed. A little while later, howev- Powered bathtub Searching started inshore at a quarter er, Amirante slipped the tow and the ebb from Hunstanton to south west of lifeboat was again offering help when THREE MEN who had set out to cross the Heacham. At 0914 the Atlantic crossed the casualty suddenly began to founder. Inner Wash from the River Nene to the sands to Cork Hole. Visibility was Acting Coxswain Sargent moved in Hunstanton in a bathtub on Monday still down to 30 yards and, overrunning swiftly and picked up her crew safely. September 13, 1982, were reported the channel, the lifeboat grounded on The three men were landed at overdue at 2115; the tub was lashed to Styeman's Middle Sand; she worked off Weymouth and one of them was taken inner tubes and an inflatable dinghy and again and then returned to Hunstanton to hospital for examination. The life- powered by an outboard engine. Yar- as it was thought unwise to continue un- boat was back on her moorings and mouth Coastguard informed the honor- til visibility had opened out. At 1014, once again ready for service at 1140. ary secretary of Hunstanton lifeboat sta- with visibility up to half a mile, the For this service a letter of apprecia- tion and at 2128 the relief Atlantic 21 Atlantic set out again, re-crossing the tion signed by Rear Admiral W. J. rigid inflatable lifeboat on temporary continued on page 212

Crew Member W. T. Lennon Rhyl LONG SERVICE Coxswain B. A. Herbert AWARDS Dungeness Second Coxswain G. Hughes Shore Helper W. J. Oilier Crew Member I. Armstrong Shore Helper F. E. Paine Shore Helper D. Price THE LONG SERVICE BADGE, introduced Shore Helper T. R. Tart from January 1, 1982, for crew mem- Shore Helper J. H. Thomas Skegness bers and shore helpers who have given Coxswain/Mechanic K. J. Holland active service for 20 years or more, has Eastbourne Second Coxswain J. M. Grunnill Shore Helper J. A. Hall Bowman R. P. Chapman been awarded to: Assistant Mechanic J. B. Strzelecki Eyemouth Crew Member M. R. Hatton Aberdeen Coxswain A. Dougal Assistant Mechanic G. Walker Shore Second Coxswain/Mechanic J. Tarvit Stromness Crew Member W. Cowpcr Crew Member J. Blackie Crew Member W. Sinclair Crew Member F. Cruikshank Girvan Tenby Angle Coxswain W. Coull Coxswain J. Richards Coxswain/Mechanic W. J. R. Holmes Second Coxswain/Mechanic A. Ingram Crew Member M. Crockford Shore Helper R. Roeh Assistant Mechanic A. Prestley Crew Member M. Wilson Barrow Valentia Lerwick Coxswain R. O. Charnley Coxswain D. Walsh Crew Member A. Beckett Second Coxswain P. Leith Second Coxswain/Mechanic J. J. Houlihan Crew Member P. Charnley Moelfre Crew Member E. A. Diamond Walmer Crew Member W. O. Rowlands Motor Mechanic B. G. Brown Beaumaris Shore Helper R. Lewis Coxswain D. W. Gallichan Shore Helper J. Nicholson Wells Crew Member R. W. Jones Shore Helper R. Owen Crew Member A. L. F. Warner Donaghadee Peel Wick Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic J. Bunting Crew Member J. Savle Crew Member J. MacKav

191 The naming of the 37ft Gin Rother lifeboat November day, was presented with a bouquet by Debbie Jones, daughter of Crew Member Victor Jones, and with a souvenir programme by Rachel Pro- bert, daughter of Crew Member Ken- RNLB Princess of Wales neth Probert. Victoria Haworth, daugh- ter of Dr Robert Haworth, honorary by HRH The Princess of Wales medical adviser and also a crew mem- ber, presented a souvenir programme to the Prince. The Princess delighted the BARMOUTH: NOVEMBER 25, 1982 girls by pausing for a few words with each of them before the ceremony be- gan. THE FRESHLY PAINTED and polished 37ft Aberdovey and during the now tradi- Lt-Cdr R. M. Richards, president of 6in Rother lifeboat to be named Prin- tional walkabout inspected the lifeboat Barmouth station branch, opened the cess of Wales sparkled against a back- station and met members of the crew proceedings, welcoming everyone and drop of gentle mountains, their tops who gave a short display with their telling the Princess: dusted with a light covering of snow. Atlantic 21 lifeboat. While this was 'Your presence here today, to bestow The low winter sun's reflection in the going on, people a few miles up the your name on our lifeboat, proves that estuary showed a quay packed with peo- coast in Barmouth had already started Barmouth is the place where all our hap- ple, a platform party ready to receive to take up positions to see the Prince piest dreams have come true.' honoured guests, and a neatly dressed and Princess even though they were not Raymond Cory, chairman of the crew aboard the lifeboat. Everything due until after lunch. Weeks of planning Welsh lifeboat appeal which raised over seemed perfect and indeed everything by the station committee, divisional in- £60,000 towards the cost of the lifeboat, was, now that the cold, sharp showers spector, regional organiser and town handed the boat to the RNLI and Vice- of the morning, which had threatened police authorities had covered every Admiral Sir Peter Compston, a deputy one of the RNLI's most outstanding eventuality, including rain, and even chairman of the Institution, delivered ceremonies of 1982 - the naming of the the wiping dry of some 400 seats did her into the care of Barmouth station. new Barmouth lifeboat by Her Royal nothing to dampen spirits. Then, with In accepting the lifeboat the station Highness The Princess of Wales - had less than an hour to go, a shaft of sun- honorary secretary, loan Jones, in his passed. light pierced the clouds and spread to bilingual speech, said: The Prince and Princess of Wales brighten the whole town. The proces- 'We are immensely proud of our new paid a two-day visit to areas around sion of cars arrived and the moment had lifeboat and I can assure you that she will Barmouth on November 25 and 26, one come: the Prince and Princess were in receive from the crew all the love, care and of the main engagements being the Barmouth. attention due to a Princess of Wales. She naming of the lifeboat on the first day. After formal introductions, the Prin- will be maintained by the Institution in The Royal couple started with a visit to cess, looking radiant even on a cold pristine condition to serve this area for manv years to come. This does not mean, however, thai the RM.B Princess of Wales it'/// be pampered. She will not be spared in any way when she is called out on a service, however onerous the conditions may be. You can be assured that Princess A bouquet for the Princess, of Wales will not shirk to perform her presented by Debbie Jones, allotted function at an v time.' daughter of Crew Member Victor Jones. Just behind After the service of dedication, dur- Debbie is Rachel Probert, ing which the Princess showed a grasp daughter of Crew Member of Welsh by joining in the hymns in Kenneth Probert, who pre- both languages, Mr L. G. Williams, sta- sented a souvenir programme tion branch chairman, invited her to to Her Royal Highness. Vic- name the lifeboat. Stepping forward, toria Haworth, daughter of the Princess said: Dr Robert Haworth, station HMA and a crew member, 'I name this lifeboat Princess of Wales. who presented a souvenir May God bless her and all who sail in programme to HRH The her.' Prince of Wales, is just out of She pressed the button to send the bot- sight. tle of champagne crashing over the bows and was clearly thrilled with the effect. To the loud cheers of the crowd, the Prince and Princess then moved After the naming ceremonv across the quay to inspect the lifeboat HRH The Princess of Wales and her equipment. Once in the cabin inspected Barmouth's new 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat which with Coxswain George Jeffs they were bears her name. With Her able to relax for a few minutes and here Royal Highness is Vice- was the chance for an informal chat and Admiral Sir Peter Compston, a joke from the Prince. a deputy chairman of the In- Stepping off the lifeboat, the Royal stitution, and behind them (I couple met members of the crew and to r) are Lt-Cdr H. F. Teare, signed the visitors book before being divisional inspector of life- whisked away to complete their busy boats (West), Brian Moss, programme elsewhere. Within minutes, district engineer (North West), and Motor Mechanic the sun, too, was gone, as though it had Dewi Davies. shone on the crowded town as some photographs by courtesy of kind of blessing. Such was the excite- Liverpool Dailv Post and ment of the day that many people went Echo away believing just that.—R.K.

192 hard, making the most of the sea state rather than going very slowly and being Eleven years on . . . caught by the sea. In rough weather at night, however, when he cannot see the A LOOK AT THE ATLANTIC 21 RIGID INFLATABLE seas, the helmsman has to be extremely careful. It is so difficult, particularly when heading into wind and sea. When LIFEBOAT BY SOME OF THOSE WHO KNOW HER WELL you are moving at your chosen speed, you just cannot read in the darkness what is happening to the seas ahead of THE ATLANTIC 21 rigid inflatable has conventional lifeboats with twin diesel you. You do not even know when you proved one of the most successful of the engines or the smaller purely inflatable are going to drop through the air. It all Institution's modern lifeboats and 30 boats. looks level. You only see the white tops; are now on station. With an overall Unlike the larger boats, the Atlantic you do not see the big holes. You have to length of 22ft 9in, a rigid GRP hull and has dual characteristics, combining as go very carefully and alwavs be readv to inflatable neoprene tube 'bulwarks', or she does the advantages of a swift, get out of trouble with a burst of power. sponsons, she is seaworthy, fast and responsive surf board and a very stable Two other points I should like to very manoeuvrable. Since their intro- liferaft. Under way, she drives over the make. The first is that if one engine duction into the RNLI's fleet in 1972 seas on her surf board-like rigid hull, so should fail, it is probably better to leave Atlantics have launched on service ab- that she can obtain speeds of up to 30 it down than to tilt it up. With two out 5,000 times and rescued 1,709 peo- knots; but when stopped, with the broad engines down you will go more slowly, ple; 1,403 of those services were per- beam and buoyancy of her sponsons, but I think it is better to have more formed at night and 204 in winds of near she forms a very stable working platform rudder control rather than a slight in- gale, force 7, or over. Atlantics have more like a liferaft. As weight is added, crease in speed. You have not, of course, landed a further 851 people and saved so her stability increases. When survi- got the same margin of safetv with onlv 1,428 craft of one kind and another. vors are taken on board, the boat sits one engine as vou have with the two. To Quite an impressive record in itself. down further in the water, her beam gain that, more powerful outboards During these 11 years of service, three increases and her sponsons provide would be needed. The trouble is that silver and ten bronze medals have been buoyancy over a much wider area. The more powerful engines will add weight awarded to helmsman or crew members buoyancy tubes, or sponsons, also en- aft and they would need to be balanced of Atlantics for outstanding gallantry. sure that, when the boat is in an inverted, by moving weight forward. It is a The development of the Atlantic 21 or in the capsized position, a pocket of problem to which a solution is being has been the special care of the RNLI air in which anyone under the boat can sought but to which a satisfactory answer base at Cowes under the guidance, until survive is formed between the water and has not yet been found. his recent retirement, of Lt David the inverted deck—and, indeed, in this The other point I should like to Stogdon. In the years in which the air pocket the crew can recover their emphasise is that it is most important present Atlantic has evolved, many breath in comparative calm for a minute when anchoring an Atlantic to lead the crew members have helped the Cowes or two before swimming out from under anchor cable through the fairlead in the base team with evaluation of new ideas the hull, righting the boat and reboard- bow. A cable led off over the shoulder of and sea trials at Cowes as well as on ing her. the boat can induce a capsize. station. It was to Cowes, therefore, that The rigid inflatable Atlantic is, of These are just a few thoughts, but the last October three helmsmen, all of course, a larger boat than the RNLI D crew members who are coming to Cowes whom have been awarded medals for class purely inflatable lifeboat, and once and mv colleagues there know more gallantry for services performed in again of a very different character. There about handling the Atlantic than I do Atlantic 21s, came to discuss her design, are for instance, seats for each of the because they have spent so much time at characteristics and handling with mem- three-man crew on the central console sea in them . . . bers of staff responsible for the boat's and the helmsman can have wheel steer- building, maintenance and operation, ing. As the Atlantic is powered bv twin A disclaimer such as would only be and also with the training of crew outboard engines, wheel steering is expected from David Stogdon despite members. The helmsmen were Frank essential so that, in bad weather, the his unique knowledge of the Atlantic, Dunster from Hayling Island, John helmsman can steer with one hand and but let us go on to those to whom he has Hodder from Lyme Regis and Roger keep the other hand on the throttle passed the baton . . . Trigg from Southwold; talking with controls; in this way speed can be them were Lt-Cdr Michael Woodroffe, adjusted immediately to the seas. Lt-Cdr Michael Woodrofle, staff officer staff officer operations (1) with particu- The Atlantic 21, under twin 60 hp operations (1): Undoubtedly there are lar responsibility for lifeboats under 10 outboard engines, has the power, and differences between! the Atlantic 21 metres, Michael Brinton, deputy super- therefore the speed, to get herself out of rigid inflatable lifeboat and her little intendent (Cowes) who has been con- trouble. She may not always need to sister the D class inflatable on the one cerned with the development of the drive at her 30 knots but the power is hand and her big sister the conventional Atlantic 21 from the very beginning, there to give her a quick burst of speed lifeboat on the other. Where do you and Michael Butler who has taken part when necessary. Running in shallow think the Atlantic wins? in most of the sea trials and helped run water in bad weather she has enough the crew training programme. power to be steered round breaking Helmsman Roger Trigg, Southwold: Unfortunately, Lt Stogdon himself crests which might threaten her. Beam The greatest advantages the Atlantic was abroad and unable to take part in on, she can turn her quarter to the sea has over the D class inflatable stem the discussion, but as an introduction, and run clear. from the fact that the Atlantic has two here is his description of the boat and Because of her console seats, lifeboat- engines: more reliability, better sea- some of his comments: men in an Atlantic have a better height of keeping and of course more power. eye when searching for people among Then, with navigation lights and search- The Atlantic 21, with her rigid hull waves than they would have in an lights, she has the capability of night and inflatable sponson, is really a surf inflatable. The Atlantic, of course, has a work and she has a righting capability, board with a shaped bow, but with righting capability, with an air bag too. When it comes to conventional greater stability because of her buoyant housed in a gantry aft. This gantry can lifeboats, there are things to be said for tubes. There are important differences also carry steaming lights, so that the and against on both sides, but for between the Atlantic 21 and all other Atlantic can operate at night. working inshore, say up to ten miles off. lifeboats, whether thev are the larger. 1 am sure the boat is safer driven fairly- the Atlantic has the great advantage of

193 being a very fast lifeboat; she can get to siderable skill is needed in driving the that, when down to a single engine, we a casualty and take the people off. or boat not only fast but safely as well. Do can get something like 14 or 15 knots to pick them up out of the water, very you agree, Roger? enable the boat to get back or even, quickly. perhaps, complete the service. Trigg: Yes, I agree with that entirely. While we are talking about driving Helmsman Frank Dunster, Hayling Is- With the Atlantic 21 a lot of it is with a single engine, the practice used land: I did at least six years, messing practice; getting the feel of the boat and to be that if one engine failed, that around in inflatable boats—nothing to her engines, the feel of the wheel and of engine should be tilted while we came in do with the RNLI—and then I did five the actual seas. It all has to come on the other. But experience has shown or six years in Atlantics. Recently I together into one as you are driving. Of that it is better to leave the damaged went back to a D class inflatable life- course you do not have to drive at 30 engine down, because you gain more boat and it was like the difference knots all the time. Unless full speed is from the rudder effect of that engine between driving a Mini and a Rolls necessary, it is better for the crew if than you do from the loss of perform- Royce. All in all, with her speed and speed is reduced a bit: they do not get ance due to drag. manoeuvrability and her ability to take so bounced about. But it is nice to have most seas, the Atlantic is definitely that extra 10 knots up your sleeve so Hodder: We have always done this. superior to the D class inflatable. that when you see a wave coming that you know you must avoid, you have the Dunster: We had an experience when Helmsman John Hodder, Lyme Regis: power to run away from it, or change one engine was working properly but After our D class we had a Dell Quay direction and steer round it. the other was running on only one Dory with a stand-up steering position cylinder. We were running before rough for the helmsman, but I would say that Woodroffe: We are all very happy with following seas and the reduced power vision is still much better in the Atlantic the twin engine performance of the on one engine meant that we were only than in the Dory. Her seakeeping quali- Atlantic 21 at 30 knots, but we all doing about 20 knots or so. When we ties are superior, too, and the crew, recognise the shortfall on one engine. caught up the wave in front we went with a seated position, are more com- Mike, you have had a great deal to do even slower, so that we had no power to fortable. And, of course, in most seas with Atlantics, right from their incep- pull clear of the wave behind. The seas the Atlantic is a heck of a lot drier than tion. What are your thoughts? were so close together that with two the D class. engines but one on only one cylinder, Brinton: If you are down to one 60 hp we were tending to corkscrew into the Michael Butler, Cowes: This question of engine, I doubt whether you have wave in front with the wave behind vision—all three of the Atlantic crew enough power to get home across a bar carrying us forward. I feel sure that, in can see the state of the sea as the in really bad weather. But perhaps the that situation, if one engine had failed helmsman is driving into it. They can helmsmen have more experience of completely and we had raised it, we pick the sea and they can brace them- these conditions than I have. could well have broached and possibly selves to meet it. That is important. have capsized. Hodder: We have no bar in our bay, but Michael Brinton, deputy superintendent I should not like to be in very rough Woodroffe: The Atlantic 21 has been (Cowes): You know, it is really unfair to weather with just one engine. It would developed to be stationed all round the compare the D class inflatable, which is not be so bad going into the sea, but if it coast and has got to be all things to all only 15ft 6in overall, with the Atlantic.. were a stern quarter sea, it would be people. Even in the small section of It's horses for courses. For instance, at really hairy. I think you have got to coast you three helmsman represent, most stations you need rather more look for something far in excess of 60 hp from Southwold round to Lyme Regis, complicated launching arrangements for safety with only one engine. local conditions, and so the ways you for an Atlantic 21 than you do for a D operate the boat, vary tremendously. class boat. Four men can launch an Woodroffe: We are trying a boat with Thought is being given to whether we inflatable boat quite easily from the twin 70 hp outboard engines, to try to need the flat run aft on the bottom of beach, which is more than you can do improve single engine performance. the boat, or whether a deep vee section with an Atlantic. throughout the hull's length would give Brinton: I do not think twin engine a softer ride. The flat is necessary for Woodroffe: We have already touched performance will be greatly increased beaching but. in fact, the Atlantic is not on the power and speed you have at with 70 hp; we will probably get about very often beached on service. As a your fingertips in an Atlantic, but con- 33 knots. But what we are hoping is secondary function, the flat helps to get the boat up on the plane earlier than a At/antic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat B539 is stationed at Brighton. Note that her helmsman is deep vee hull. Roger, you have had steering with his left hand, keeping his right on the throttles. experience of both kinds of boat. How do you feel the Atlantic compares with a deep vee rigid inflatable hull?

Trigg: I do not think you can get away with abandoning the Atlantic's flat run aft, although you could probably reduce it a little; that would probably give you a softer ride. But, with a deep vee hull I found it very difficult to get up on the plane when an extra burst was needed to drive over a sea or away from a sea to get out of trouble. With the Atlantic, as soon as power is put on, it is positive. She's off. The flat brings the whole boat up and she's away. And, because a deep vee hull is slower to get up on the plane, it tends to put the boat at the wrong attitude to the sea; while she is waiting for the power to lift her up and bring her level, her nose is sticking up. If you

194 are going into sea and wind, perhaps with another sea about three feet be- hind the one you are approaching, it is not a very good attitude in which to be. I would rather put up with a bit of slamming and have the instant power which makes it possible to get around that sea. or up and over it. And another thing: a deep vee rigid inflatable does not like to run on a following sea like the Atlantic does with her flat. For the waters round Southwold. where we get short seas and bars, I should like to see the planing flat retained on the Atlan- tic, even though we never beach our boat.

Brinton: The flat certainly gives you directional stability and is also aids acceleration. The other important thing Thev met at Cowes: (I to r) Michael Butler (Cowes base). Helmsman Frank Ditnsler (Havling is that it will allow the sea to slide Island). Lt-Cdr Michael Woodroffe, staff officer operations (1), Helmsman John Hodder (Lyine Regis), Michael Brinton. depute superintendent of depot (Cowes), Cdr Peter Gladwin. underneath you, or the boat to slide superintendent of depot (Cowes) who was host for the day, and Helmsman Roger Trigg down a sea, whereas a deep vee boat (Southwold). would not necessarily do that. I am personally a flat man. anchor it was a bit tricky. We did not eyes, work from the centre of the stow our anchor warp until we got back console. That sort of a bridle gives them Hodder: In our area the seas are long, into harbour, we just stowed the anchor much more manoeuvrability when and, using the throttle, slamming can be itself. Whether it is used much or not, towing. controlled to quite a degree. We do not however, I am sure it is necessary to get the slamming you are talking about. carry an anchor. Dunster: At Hayling we have rigged up our own system. We run a bridle from Woodroffe: Mike, you have taken the Woodroffe: We are trying out a new the two lifting eyes on the port and Atlantic 21 on the Shingle Bank in stowage system at the moment with the starboard sponsons with an eye spliced rough weather many times. What are anchor stowed vertically on the corner at the joint behind the console. We can your thoughts on her handling and her of the console and its warp on a reel. then pull the towline through the eye seakeeping? We have got two station and two relief and secure it with a fid, which allows for boats fitted out this way and reports quick and safe disconnection of the tow Butler: I find that as long as the engines back from the coast are encouraging. in an emergency. Then we have put a are running all right there are no bar across the righting gantry, which problems at all with handling the boat Hodder: I should think that would be a lifts the towline above the engines, and as she is at the moment. The more you far better system. that gives us all the steering manoeuvra- drive her, the more you get used to her, bility that we can possibly need. It has and this is very important. The more Trigg: We have never used the anchor never failed. actual sea experience crews get on the in anger in the 11 years we have had an We also find that the Atlantic is very coast the better. Atlantic. We did once lend the anchor good at towing alongside. We once to a ketch blown ashore in a nasty towed in a 23ft yacht, virtually the same Woodroffe: What about anchoring an breeze, to prevent her being blown length as the Atlantic, in this way. The Atlantic? further up the shore. So, although we yacht's own cleat had pulled out while did not use the anchor ourselves, it was another boat was towing her. So we Dunster: We never anchor except on handy to have it. But, as Frank has said, decided to try towing alongside. We had divisional inspector's exercises. You we only use the anchor on divisional no problems in the following seas going see, we find that as the Atlantic has so inspector's exercises; it is very good across the bar, although they were very much manoeuvrability, you can go into holding ground off Southwold. so we rough, because every time we lifted, the shallow water, get close to a casualty end up having to get a fishing boat to yacht lifted, and every time we fell into and away in seconds. It would be a come and retrieve it the next morning! a trough, the yacht fell into a trough. waste of valuable time to use the The two boats acted in unison and the anchor: it takes a long time to put it out Woodroffe: What about towing? tow was extremely easy; with a larger satisfactorily. boat, if it were not positioned quite Trigg: Most stations have their own right, so that the two were acting Woodroffe: You have used the anchor method of towing with the Atlantic 21. independently, we might have had in anger at Lyme. haven't you, John? We carry a bridle ready made up with problems. an eye on it and we also carry a towing We mainly tow back into harbour, Hodder: Yes, on about four occasions. I line. We run the bridle out through the which means we are usually in following suppose, in the eight or nine years we engines and tow from the bridle so that seas, and we do find, with bigger yachts, have had an Atlantic. the line is clear of the engines. Neither the tail can wag the dog. We have to be fishermen nor yachtsmen want to leave very careful to keep constant tension on Woodroffe: To anchor and veer down? their boats, so usually the only way to the towline and not to let the rope go help them or rescue them is to tow slack, to avoid heavy jerking. Hodder: Yes, when we were working them. We are a long way from a station close in on a very rocky stretch of the with a larger lifeboat on which we could Hodder: A good deal of our work is coast. On one occasion we had to put a call to come and do the towing. Some towing; we have towed anything up to doctor down to someone at the base of Atlantic stations, where the boats are fairly large trawlers with no problems at the cliffs. We found that dropping the kept on a quay and lifted in and out by all. We have a very long bridle, say anchor and veering down was fine, but crane, cradled in nylon webbing straps, about 25 metres, and a very long tow when we were trying to come out use these lifting straps as the towing rope. Obviously, the length of the rope through broken water and recover the bridle. The straps, which have metal depends on the size of the vessel we are

195 towing. If necessary we weight the down under now and again to keep out Dunster: On one of our medal services centre of the line with a tyre or a couple the wind. (see below), we had already done one of floats, just to take up any slack that For clothing, I think the dry suit is as rescue and we were coming back down comes in the line. We have never had a good as anything, providing you have the harbour very slowly against gale bad tow yet; it has always worked well, got thermal gear on underneath; it is force winds and torrential rain. It was in fact most of the people we have much too cold in winter to wear normal very uncomfortable. Then we were towed have said they have never gone clothes underneath. called to someone trapped on a so fast. breakwater underneath the sea wall and Woodroffe: Mick, what do you think are it was obviously an emergency. So we Dunster: We got a yacht up on the plane the significant improvements in the past had to go flat out into that wind and once! ten years? rain. Now, whereas previously it had been totally uncomfortable and unbear- Woodroffe: The Atlantic 21 of today is a Butler: I would say the main thing is the able, with the excitement, if you like, of vastly better boat than she was when improved crew protection. People can the situation, the spur of having to get she was first introduced in 1972, due to go to sea in really severe conditions. I to the person in trouble as soon as the continual search for improvement also believe that crews should use the possible, when we were going flat out by Cowes base and their talent for helmet and visor. That is a must. The into the bad conditions we were totally innovation. We are still looking for windscreen still has to be developed, unaware of it. That was a very impor- possible improvements, particularly if but I think that will come, too. But if tant discovery. they offer protection for the crews. you keep adding gear and weight maybe I agree with Roger that a thermal suit Windscreens, for instance, and there will be a call for a slightly larger underneath the dry suit is a perfect clothing. boat. I think we have gone about as far combination, coupled with a windproof as we can with the 21. jacket over the top. I do not think there Trigg: Since the Atlantic started she has is an answer to the hand problem, been improved every year, mainly, as although woollen mittens do take a bit you say, through the efforts of Cowes Hodder: I have not seen the wind- of the chill off. Some of us at Hayling go base. What has been done in the past screens so I cannot speak from experi- diving or windsurfing throughout the ten or eleven years has been quite ence, but I am not keen on the idea. We year, including in cold and icy condi- amazing. She was virtually a surf board had a windscreen on our Dory, which, tions. We have tried every conceivable with an inflatable tube round it; then OK, had a standing steering position, kind of hand protection, including came the roll bar, righting, different but the windscreen tended to get washing up gloves over thermal gloves, consoles, different stowages, different broken very easily. Also, around our but we have found no good solution. electrics, different steering, watertight- area, the sea is like a minefield with nets ing of the engines. Even now we are and lobster pots. You are going to Woodroffe: Roger, your medal service talking about an improved anchor stow- spend more time looking out over the (see below) was done in snow, wasn't age. I think we have really gone as far as windscreen, to find corks and floats, it? we can with the Atlantic. I do not think than sheltering behind it. much can be improved upon without As to gear, I should like to see Trigg: Yes, darkness and snow. That going to a different type of boat something done to give the helmsman's night we went out to the fishing boat altogether. hands a bit more protection than they Concord I did not expect to be out so I have not seen the windscreen. I have now. long; I just put on a dry suit over a jersey know helmsmen and crew do complain and I did not take a hat as I normally that they cannot see. I do not particular- Brinton: I think the only sort of wind- do. We were out about three or four ly mind, probably because I have got screen you can have on an Atlantic is hours in the snow and I was absolutely used to driving the boat in sleet and one that ends at eye level, so that you frozen at the end of it. I really missed snow. You tend to have your eyes can either look over it or duck down my hat; you lose a great deal of heat closed for a few moments and then open. below. You cannot be permanently through your head. The other members I have found that most of the crew who down under it. of the crew were wearing their own suits have tried helmets or bump caps with with hoods, made for use in oil rigs, and visors or goggles have gone back to Woodroffe: Frank, what additional they kept warm. using their own eyes. I do not know how piece of equipment would have helped a windscreen would affect visibility, you most, either on the boat or for the Woodroffe: Would a windscreen have unless it was just something to duck men, on your two medal services? helped? Southwold: On the afternoon of Friday sion of large breaking seas, when the Atlan- Adnams and Anthony Chambers, skipper of January 16. 1981, Southwold's Atlantic 21 tic emerged and cleared the bank she found Broadside (full report THE LIFEBOAT Summer lifeboat launched to go to the help of MFV Concord, still attached by the line, following 1981). Concord which had broken down three behind her. The tow was once more passed quarters of a mile east of Southwold Harbour to Broadside. By now the gale had risen to Hayling Island: South-easterly gales rising to piers and was dragging her anchor in heavy force 9 with the heavy sleet and rain con- force 9 with heavy rain squalls were blowing seas; there were three men on board. The tinuing unabated, and it was decided to make at Hayling Island during the afternoon of afternoon was heavily overcast with con- for Lowestoft as the entrance to Southwold Saturday September 19, 1V81. The Atlantic tinuous snow and sleet and a force 8 gale was would be too hazardous. On the passage 21, launched at 1610, first picked up and blowing from the south south east. It was l'/2 north the tow parted five times and each time landed an exhausted windsurfer and then hours before high water and there were the lifeboat helped to re-pass the line. On the headed up Emsworth Channel, in Chichester heavy breaking seas over the bar. MFV last occasion, as the Atlantic and Broadside Harbour, to pick up another windsurfer and Broadside also left harbour to help. The closed, a large sea twisted the lifeboat up on his sailboard. She was then directed to a Atlantic passed a line from Concord to to the fishing boat's deck. The bow section of capsized dinghy at Hayling Island Bridge, Broadside which tried to tow the casualty the Atlantic's sponson was damaged and which she found, on arrival, had already back to Southwold, but, nearing the harbour deflated but her seakeeping qualities were been helped by another rescue boat. Return- entrance, the two fishing boats were parted not impaired and she continued to escort the ing down Emsworth Channel, she had just by a large breaking sea and Concord was fishing boats until Lowestoft was reached taken in tow a small yacht which was being driven into dangerous shallows where the and the dangerous seas at the harbour blown on to the saltings when someone seas were estimated to be 10 to 15 feet high. entrance had been safely negotiated. For this clinging to a breakwater off Sandy Point was Following the casualty into the heavy break- service the bronze medal was awarded to reported. The tow was slipped and the yacht ing surf the lifeboat managed to pick up a Helmsman Roger Trigg and the thanks of the anchored and the Atlantic headed at full line from Concord and make it fast; despite Institution inscribed on vellum were speed in the rough sea and driving rain herself being hit and enveloped by a succes- accorded to Crew Member Jonathan towards Sandy Point and then directly across

196 Trigg: No, I don't think it would. You Dunster: We had made sure that every- Dunster: With the old sea anchor could not see anything anyway and one was properly seated. The wave arrangement, where the lead weight there was far too much sea to be belting went over the helmsman's head, filled would come out if the boat went upside along at 30 knots. The boat did all she up the console well, where the two crew down, on several occasions we went up was asked, probably more—and so did were sitting, and went down everyone's at such an angle that the lead weight fell my crew. It is quite amazing what the neck. There was so much water in the out. It could have been momentum or Atlantic can do, and it is a credit to her boat that it was nearly at the top of the the slamming effect of hitting the sea. designers and builders. sponsons. But I see your point, Mike, about So that is running. In a beam sea you feeling you are going near vertical but Hodder: Our service (see below) was can go flat out and either turn into a when you see a photograph afterwards before we had dry suits. We were rogue sea or away from it, with no you realise that you didn't. Sure, it feels wearing smocks and chest waders and problems. In a head sea, particularly worse than it is. we were drenched. Now, with the total when the seas are close together, we We have had one other experience in immersion suits, we stay completely find there is a set technique. You must head seas which might be worth men- dry. ease up on the throttles and make sure tioning. On two occasions we have been that when you are lifted over the top of heading into a very large breaking sea. Woodroffe: Perhaps we could talk about a wave, your engines are shut down, or We virtually stopped the boat dead in handling the Atlantic 21. Frank, would even put in neutral. Then, when you front of the sea and it broke right over you like to start this ball rolling? land in a trough, your engines will the top of us. But, there again, we were respond immediately. If you have got still head into sea when the wave had Dunster: We find the Atlantic a joy to too much power on when you take off gone past and it was a simple matter of drive in a following sea: you can go flat from a wave, your propellers will start opening the throttles and away. out and there is absolutely no danger of to race so that, when you land in a broaching providing both your engines trough and there is another wave com- Trigg: Going back for a minute to our are in tune. The only proviso is that in a ing up straight away, the aeriation. or night service to Concord, we had been following sea, when you catch up the cavitation. is so great that you have lost round to try to take the people off the wave in front, if it is a fairly big one, you your power. If you go too high off the fishing boat and I had to come up into must ease up a fraction to avoid the bow wave you can come down in a vertical the seas. Behind me was the beach, on digging in. We had a very interesting position and I believe you could be our starboard side was one sandbank, experience which shows just how good a turned over by the next sea. if it is the Hale, and on our port side was boat an Atlantic is. It was night time, another very large one and too close. another sandbank, the Outer Hale. I and we were taking some new auxiliary Pitchpoled. had nowhere to run; I couldn't escape coastguards to sea. We were five up in from those seas. I had to go through an Atlantic in a big following sea and Butler: On training courses we try to them. During our sweep round, one of because of the darkness we misjudged teach crew members to go into a sea .my crew, Nick Westwood, had found the wave in front of us. It was too big, with caution. I do not think the boat will the towline from the fishing boat float- The bow dug right in, stopping the boat ing—I don't know how, but he found it. ever pitchpole. When, on trials, we dead, and the action of the bow in the have headed into the sea on the Shingle So I said, 'Make it fast. We'll trv to get water actually tossed half of the wave Bank and the bows have gone right up, them out of here, the boat and the back on to us and the entire boat was the three crew have gone back through people' because I did not think we full of water. Then the wave behind the roll bar and actually fallen out of the should have enough time to make caught us up. But although we were boat. The human element comes into it another sweep round to get the people stopped dead, the Atlantic stayed in a but we have never actually gone over. off. So I was committed to going into straight line and the engines, which those seas. We couldn't see the first sea, The crew just cannot physically stay in were still in full ahead, then responded the boat. but we could hear it coming. I told the and the boat carried on her course. boys to hang on. It hit us and. as Frank Now, that shows what a splendid boat was saying, we thought we were up the Atlantic is in a following sea. Brinton: You feel that you are going there, vertical. Nick Westwood tried to over backwards but when you see a get up to the bow to keep it down. Then Brinton: When you stopped dead and photograph of the boat afterwards you we heard the second sea coming, and you had half the wave back on board realise she was nowhere near vertical; we could see it, too, about 12 feet the boat, what happened to the crew at most she had really gone up to about behind the first one. We were still up and passengers? 60 degrees. vertical, the Atlantic pointing sky-

Wet Pole Sands. A boy was found some 21) landed three people from a moored trimaran to help her two-man crew sail her to Lyme yards out from the sea wall clinging to a post whose tenders had been capsized. For this Regis. The weather was deteriorating rapid- on a groyne. An attempt was made by shore service the silver medal was awarded to Crew ly, with the wind increasing to gale force 8 helpers to reach the boy from the sea wall. Member Roderick James and a bar to his gusting to storm force 10. Nevertheless, the When this attempt failed, the Atlantic tried bronze medal was awarded to Helmsman Atlantic managed to make good about 17 several times to approach the boy. but she Frank Dunster. The thanks of the Institution knots with the sea on her starboard quarter could not get close enough to snatch him to inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew and the two women and the boy were landed safety. Twice in the very rough, confused Member Graham Raines and Shore Helpers safely at Lyme. seas her engines stalled hut each time they Trevor Pearcc and Nigel Rope (full report The lifeboat immediately put to sea again restarted immediately. Another attempt was THE UHEBOAT spring 1982). to find and escort in the yacht. She was made to reach the hoy from the shore, but meeting head seas of 15 to 20 feet with without success, so the Atlantic was then Lyme Regis: During the evening of Monday. breaking tops and speed often had to be brought in as close as possible and Crew A'ugust 13. 1979, Lyme Regis Atlantic 21 reduced. In fact. While Kitten was making Member James entered the water, grabbed launched to the help of the yacht White good a slightly more easterly course than had the boy and swam with him to the shore. Kitten whose anchor was dragging on a lee been thought, so that, when her masthead After that the Atlantic escorted a cabin shore off Beer Head. A strong breeze to near light was sighted the Atlantic had to turn cruiser into Chichester Harbour through gale, force 6 to 7. was blowing from south more to the south. On coming up with the very rough, following seas; returned up west and with wind against tide the seas were yacht, the Atlantic guided and escorted her channel to help the yacht which had been left short and steep, about 8 to 11 feet high. It back to Lyme Regis through the high and anchored, bringing ashore both her crew and was raining heavily and visibility was about breaking following seas. the crew of another yacht which was also half a mile. Heading into the seas, speed had For this service a bar to his bronze medal being blown ashore; launched again to take to be reduced to 12 knots. On reaching the was awarded to Helmsman John Hodder and off the singlehanded helmsman of a catamar- yacht, the lifeboat took off two women and a the bronze medal to Crew Member Colin an in trouble off Pilsev Island; and finally bov while a crew member hoarded the vacht Jones (full report mr. LIHIBOAI spring 1980).

197 wards, and the sea was actually break- Dunster: There is one sea which I more of the shock loading through your ing higher than that. The crew were all always fear, Mike. The 12 to 16 foot feet rather than through your back? washed down and hanging in the roll solid wall of water, which, because of bar, even those who had been seated. the shallows, is becoming unstable with Hodder: From my point of view, most Just as they were trying to scramble the top four feet curling nastily and then definitely. back the third sea hit us. I shouted, breaking. There isn't time to move clear 'We're going over this time!' We were of it. You have got to face it head on. Brinton: The main difficulty is designing looking up at the sea. It was higher than Will the boat go through it? And if the consoles and seats to suit all sizes of the Atlantic. It had become unstable boat does go up it. will that unstable crew and helmsmen. and we could hear it coming down. four feet at the top push the bow over? Then it went silent for something like Woodroffe: That is the problem. As we five to ten seconds. There was water Brinton: Well, I would have thought the have already said, the Atlantic has to be pressure in my ears and I assumed we boat would have gone over the sea. If a standard boat that is all things to all were upside down. It seemed an eterni- you are driving the boat head into, say. people. But I think we all tend to drive ty, but going through my mind was, how a 20 foot high sea with surf on top, you sitting up just that little bit higher, not do we get to the beach quick? Then it have got to use your little bit of power sitting right down on the seat. cleared, so evidently we had actually to go over it and then just ease her back gone through the base of the sea and it and punch her going over the next one. Dunster: I do not think it is a question had fallen right over us. The boys were of height. We had one guy six foot four all hanging in the roll bar again and on Dunster: So you would like a little bit of who used to do exactly the same as two to the engines. The engines never fal- power just before the wave hits you? of us who are five foot six. five foot tered; never even murmured. The only You wouldn't consider going flat out seven. I think it is something which time they sort of gave a grunt was as she into it? comes naturally over a period of years fell back into the sea. as crew of an Atlantic. It is the way you Two more waves came after that, but Brinton: Not flat out. No. learn to brace yourself so that you can not quite so big as the one that filled us take rough seas as though the water up, and we must have been vertical, I Woodroffe: John, what about your ex- were flat calm. You are not bouncing all don't know how long. It seemed for periences on your medal service? over the place. ever. Anyway, we got through the waves into more sea room and sorted Hodder: After taking the women and Woodroffe: Rather like learning to ride ourselves out. The boys sorted out their child off the yacht. White Kitten, we a horse. injuries and we got over the language headed back to Lyme, about eight miles that had gone on. I shall always remem- distant, with the sea on our quarter. I Dunster: Yes. ber one of them saying as he got washed didn't mind that because at night, with a by me, 'It's good here, isn't it?' We following sea, you are really driving the Trigg: The standing up is for comfort, opened her up to get away from the boat by the seat of your pants. not really for trying to see ahead. I tend broken water and into a bit more sea to have my feet in the toe straps, the room. And, to our astonishment, we Woodroffe: That is true. You have got a 'stirrups', and hold on to the wheel, the still had the trawler and the blokes and greater feel in a following sea than in a 'reins', and take the shock through my everything on the towline behind us! head sea, haven't you, particularly at knees. As you say, just ride the boat Which quite surprised us all. We didn't night? like a horse. even realise we were still towing them." Once we had sea room there was no Hodder: Yes. After putting the people Brinton: But if you had a higher seat, problem. ashore we had to return to find the wouldn't you still do exactly the same? But as Mike and Mick were saying, yacht. I had put a crew member on after that I do not think an Atlantic White Kitten and he had gone further to Trigg: Yes. To make it more comfort- would ever pitchpole, and you certainly seaward than we at first thought. Event- able for my back. do get washed down into the roll bar ually we saw him about three quarters and the engines. of a mile away from us. To get to him, I Hodder: No. Why are we doing it now? had to go down with the sea on our To take the weight on our feet and keep starboard bow. The seas were so steep it it off our spines. If the seat was that Woodroffe: In both your bronze medal took us about 20 minutes. Like that, much higher, that is just what you services, Frank, you were less lucky you feel insecure. You do not know would be doing. with engines. You had engine failure what is coming to you in the dark. You both times, didn't you, although they can have the searchlight on, but be- Trigg: It would probably be all right for restarted immediatelv? cause of the movement of the boat you tall people like you and me, John, but it are only picking up part of the sea part would not help short people. Dunster: Yes. Difficult to fathom out of the time. On a bad night like that, why. The only thing I can think is that with no moon, you are absolutely blind. Woodroffe: We have not yet talked going head into a sea, with your engines As Roger was saying, I think you hear about the difficulties involved in getting either in neutral or just idling in slow more than you see. You have got to be people inboard from the water. ahead, there are not enough revs to so sensitive on the throttles. When you sustain the engines at that crucial mo- feel the bow start to lift, you have got to Dunster: We find the way we are taught ment when the boat is lifted and then be ready to drive out through the top of works well: always pull the man out of drops violently down. Or it could be the sea and, vice versa, to pull the the water on his back. If he is facing that the device which shuts off the throttles back again as you come out. you, spin him round on to his back and engines, should the boat capsize, is Those 20 minutes were the worst of the you have absolutely no problem. Have activated by the force of the slamming. night. Once I had reached the yacht and two of the crew standing ready, turn the we were escorting her in, we were in casualty on to his back, dunk him and following seas again. the spring reaction means you can cup Brinton: I think you are right. We have your hands underneath his armpits and done our best to improve it and to get it Woodroffe: When you are trying to read pull him straight in, athwartships. on to as reliable as possible, but I think there the seas ahead at night, do you feel the the back seat. You can then start is a real possibility, in certain sea helmsman's seat needs to be a little artificial respiration immediately. conditions, that the mercury switches higher? This might also put it in a will be activated. position where you can take a little continued on page 202 198 Boat Shows 1983 London: Modern lifeboats formed the theme of the RNLI displays at the London International Boat Show at Earls Court from January 6 to 16. Although in a quiet area, our stand was, as always, the meeting place for many lifeboat friends old and new. The volunteer Shoreline team enrolled 737 new members, as well as selling insignia, and the mem- bers of fund-raising branches and guilds who took it in turn to man the stall brought in £5.788 in sale of souvenirs and £1,166 from RNLI lottery tickets; altogether £8,021 was taken on the stand with a further £2,200 from dona- tions and collecting boxes looked after by other exhibitors. At Earls Court, Ravmond Baxter, chairman of the Public Relations Committee, presented RNLI During the ten days, presentations of Public Relations awards to Alun Richards, the author (second from left, back row I. BBC Wales and The Mumbles lifeboat station for their various contributions to the television series 'Ennui's the Institution's Public Relations Point': Derek Scott, coxswain of The Mumbles lifeboat, is sixth from left I back row) and Philip awards were made (see above right) Madoc, who played 'Coxswain' Jack Tustin of Ennal's Point is first on left (front row). With them and, in its turn, the RNLI was pre- (far right) is Des Sleightholme, who also received a Public Relations award for the great support sented with cheques for £300 from given to lifeboats by Yachting Monthly, of which he is editor. Racal Decca, and of £1.000 from Helmsman Yacht Varnish. In 1982 Leicester Building Society had made a donation to lifeboat funds for all amounts invested in new accounts opened by lifeboat supporters and as a result a cheque for £8,000 was pre- sented to the Institution at Earls Court (see far right).

Birmingham: A modern lifeboat was the RNLI's During the London Boat Show Des Sleight- Bob Kemm (r). assistant general manager of principal exhibit at Birmingham Boat holme, editor of Yachting Monthly, pre- Leicester Bui/ding Societv, hands a cheque and Caravan Show at the National sented a painting to Coxswain Mike Scales (r) for £8.000 to Lord Stanley of Alderley. a Exhibition Centre between February 19 of St Peter Port lifeboat, Guernsey. The member of the Committee of Management, at and 27. Large crowds queued to see the painting, which is by Laurence Baglev, the central jetty. Earls Court. 33ft Brede class lifeboat on show, which standing on the left, is of the service to Bonita will be named Merchant Navy. The first on December 13, 1981, for which Coxswain to board her was Captain Christopher Scales was awarded the gold medal. In January 1983 Yachting Monthly, this service Burne, RN, who commanded Canberra was the subject of a feature which was during the Falklands campaign and who illustrated bv a second fine dramatic painting opened the show, and the Lord Mayor by Laurence Bag/ey, which n-as later used to of Birmingham, Councillor Peter raise funds for the lifeboats. Hollingworth: Councillor Holling- worth, with BBC Pebble Mill, is cur- presented to the RNLI at Weymouth on rently making an appeal to fund a Brede February 10; the second cheque, for lifeboat. A former merchant Navy offic- £7,488. was presented at the Birming- er, Roger Cope, a Birmingham branch ham Boat Show; a third cheque, for member, gave up a week of his holiday Four more lifeboats for the RNLis miniature £5,861.50, was presented at Poole on collection were presented to Ravmond Baxter to take charge of RNLB Merchant Navy February 25; and a fourth cheque, for and it is estimated that 10,000 people bv Brian Williams fr) at Earls Court. Made £5,575, was presented at Wimbledon on bv Mr Williams, thev are the gift of Mr and had boarded the new Brede lifeboat by March 16. Mrs R. Phillips of Salcombe. the time the show ended. The stand itself was manned in turn by members from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry, Rugby and Kenilworth bran- ches and guilds with Dudley branch chairman, Carl Falk, taking charge of the Shoreline desk for most of the show; in all £8,500 was raised. To celebrate their 100 years in the Coxswain Derek Scott, BEM, match industry, J. John Masters, distri- of The Mumbles, in the butors of Ship and Winners matches, wheelhouse of the 33ft Brede launched a promotion in 1982, Mari- class lifeboat to be named R.VJ.B Merchant Navy, during time England Year, to raise funds for his visit to the RNLI stand at four marine charities. From this promo- the Birmingham Boat and tion the lifeboat service is to receive Caravan Show in February. cheques totalling more than £53,000. photograph by courtesy of The first cheque, for £7,558.50, was Ted Edwards photography 199 dedication ceremony but, unfortunate- money; he even talked a small group of ly, will not be coming to Scotland this friends into helping him to do the year. Instead, I am enclosing a cheque cleaning and dish-washing for a local for £155 which I should like you to use club every week! In all he has raised Letters... to buy protective clothing for a lifeboat- about £350. man—please for an Arbroath lifeboat- It may seem a trifle odd that a man! SHEILA MASTROMARINO, Mme, Dutchman works for the lifeboats in Waves Geneva, Switzerland. your country but he was originally, The cover picture of the winter 1982/ years ago, inspired by the enthusiasm 83 journal, number 482, the picture of Support from The Netherlands and industry of the lifeboat people in The White Rose of Yorkshire returning I thought you might like to have this Barmouth, Wales, where we were on to sea off Whitby Harbour, depicts photograph (see below) of my husband, holiday. My husband is a seaman him- vividly the dangerous sea conditions our Mr A. D. van der Maas, to add to your self, a retired Dutch Government sea lifeboatmen continually face around our collection of photos of people working pilot, so it is understandable that life- coastlines. to raise money for the RNLI. He boatmen everywhere are near to his The photographer, Theo G. R. Stib- weaves and sells these rope mats and heart. He has been a life member of bons, has also clearly captured an illus- does other ropework: ships' bell-ends in Shoreline for some years.—MARY VAN tration of the old mariners' tale of the all patterns and sizes, even little 'mini' DER MAAS, Mrs, Vlissingen, The Nether- 'seventh wave'. If, in the picture, the ones for keyrings (he must have made lands. waves are counted from the pier ends thousands of those)! And that is only- seaward, then it is the third wave which one of many ways in which he raises Long memory The White Rose of Yorkshire is climb- Glad to hear that the donations have ing. Using the righthand edge of the been received. In 1940, on December photograph as a guide, the count con- 23, I joined the Royal Navy Section tinues, four, five, six and seven, which Beige till March 1946. Before that I is the large wave just cresting white. In served as a civilian diesel engineer on a my childhood days I first heard my ballroom barrage ship at Barry, near elders say that the seventh wave is the Cardiff, South Wales. On November big one. On many occasions since I have 10, 1940 the ship was lost due to an witnessed this fact.—PHILIP SPENCER, enemy mine. I, together with four of my Little Grange, 42 Roman Bank, Stam- countrymen and one of the British ford, Lincolnshire. crew, an Airforce corporal, got saved by people from the RNLI. I always felt The cover photograph of THE LIFE- an obligation to offer my thanks.—R. F. BOAT number 482 illustrates well the POPPE, ex-leading signalman, RNSB, point that wave direction close to piers Oostende, Belgium. (see the position of the lifeboat. The White Rose of Yorkshire) can differ RNLI national lottery £50: Mrs E. M. Coomber. Tobermory. considerably from that further offshore Isle of Mull; Mrs E. Davies, Pre- (see the large spilling breaker). stwich, Manchester: Mrs E. Even a cursory glance at Admiralty THE RNLI'S twentieth national lottery Swcctingham. Canvey Island. Chart No 134 shows the cause: the draw was made at Poole HQ on January Essex; T. Kemmann-Lane, Biller- icay. Essex; Anthony Foster. Sal- shallows between Whitby Bell and 28 by Anita Harris, who had recently- taken the name role of Robinson Cru- tash. Cornwall; Hillary Foster. Sal- Whitby Rock will induce a change in tash. Cornwall; Paul Bence. wave direction known as wave refrac- soe in the highly successful pantomime at Poole Arts Centre. The draw was Wokingham, Berkshire: F. King. tion. In addition, and even more impor- Alvaston. Derbyshire; A. B. Dun- tant, waves entering the deeper channel supervised by Vice-Admiral Sir Peter ger. Irstead. Norfolk: John Perry. to the west of the shallows will swing Compston. a deputy chairman of the Billingham. Cleveland. Institution, and Anthony Oliver, round towards the shallows because of After the draw, Anita Harris received the same wave refraction phenomenon. appeals secretary. In thanking Anita, Admiral Compston said, 'The theatrical a large quantity of foreign coins col- This factor is more important because it lected for the lifeboats by boys on board will induce crossing seas just off the profession does us nothing but kind- ness'. Winners of the draw, which the Sail Training Association's schooner piers with considerably increased wave Malcolm Miller during her 1982 cruises. heights where two waves or wave trains brought in more than £38,500 for the lifeboats, were: The bag of coins was presented by travelling in different directions in- Ronald Cunningham, one of the tersect. The cover photograph gives £1.000: Mr C. G. Cook. Thurlton. Norfolk. schooner's watch officers. some indication of this phenomenon £500: Mr A. J. Cushway, Welwyn Garden The twenty-first RNLI national lot- just north of the western pier. City. Hertfordshire. tery will be drawn at Poole on Friday. This wave refraction/crossing seas £250: Colbert. Bursess Hill. West Sussex. April 29, 1983. process occurs in numerous places round the coast. While I have no doubt that lifeboatmen are well aware of such situations, those mariners to whose aid they go may be ignorant of the dan- The drum has been spun and ger.—p. HOLMES, BSc PhD, Professor Anita Harris draws a winning of Maritime Civil Engineering, The Uni- ticket watched b\ (I to r) versity of Liverpool. Barry Bright, deputy appeals secretary, Joyce Pearce of the RNLB Shoreline appeals department, who I was very interested to read about keeps the record, and the dedication of the lifeboat Shoreline Anthon\ Oliver. appeals secretarv. The RNLI is a which is now stationed at Arbroath as I marvellous Institution.' said have spent many happy summer holi- Anita, 'and I am very proud days there and it was in this town that I to play a part in its work.' first learned about the lifeboat's vital Photograph by courtesy of role. I would have liked to attend the Bournemouth Evening Echo 200 tee for many years; she was awarded a statuette in 1971. September 1982 Mrs Dora Haigh, a long Reginal Carey, coxswain of Coverack standing lifeboat supporter in lifeboat from 1963 to 1971, after serving Meltham, cuts the cake at her as second coxswain from 1938 to 1963; ninetieth birthday party. With he was awarded the bronze medal in her are Brian Stevenson, re- 1956. gional organiser (NE) and October, 1982 members of Meltham ladies' guild committee. Mrs Haigh John H. Newman, a committee mem- asked people not to bring ber of Hounslow and District branch presents but to give donations since 1937 and branch appeals secretary to the RNLI instead; £70 was since 1967. Mr Newman was awarded thus raised. the gold badge in 1975. photograph by courtesy of Alexander H. Reidford, who was Huddersfield Examiner honorary treasurer of Hawarden branch Arthur Newcombe, President of Rotary from 1951 to 1975; on his retirement he Here and There International of Great Britain and Ire- received a framed letter of thanks. November 1982 Like father, like son land, to Mrs Georgina Keen, a member of the Committee of Management. Arthur T. Verrion, coxswain of A remarkable and honourable tradi- Ramsgate lifeboat from 1953 to 1963, tion is being carried on in the Keay Rotary Service, a 50ft Thames class lifeboat, has been stationed at Dover after serving as bowman from 1939 to family of Grayburn, near Invergowrie. 1946 and as second coxswain from 1946 Captain T. A. Colin Keay is a member since 1979, and this final amount, which has been raised by Kent and East to 1952; he first joined the crew in 1919. of the Committee of Management and December, 1982 chairman of Dundee branch. Early last Sussex branches of Rotary and which brings the total raised to nearly Miss G. Greensides, who held office November Captain Keay, who has com- in Withernsea ladies' guild for about 25 mand of Tay Division, Royal Naval £102,000, was presented at the Royal Cinque Yacht Club, Dover. years, first as honorary secretary and Reserve, was notified by former First then as president. Sea Lord and principal naval aide-de- Gift in kind Mrs Joan Knott, wife of Tommy camp, Admiral Sir Henry Leach, that Many thousands of litres of oil are Knott, former coxswain of Lowestoft Her Majesty The Queen was graciously used by lifeboats each year and for over lifeboat and now a DLA. Mrs Knott pleased to appoint him as naval aide-de- ten years Duckhams have supplied a was well known to many lifeboatmen camp. large part of what is needed free, for whom, over many years, she had The appointment took effect from representing a substantial financial sav- arranged a warm welcome when life- January 1 this year and means a rare ing to the RNLI. On February 18 Rear boats on passage visited Lowestoft. repetition of history. Captain Keay's Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Arthur Sykes, chairman of Flambor- late father, Captain W. F. Keay, pre- Institution, formally accepted from ough station branch since 1980 after viously held a similar appointment as Geoffrey Sheppard, managing director joining the committee in 1977. Mr aide-de-camp to the Queen's father, of Duckhams, at the RNLI depot, Sykes had worked long and hard for the King George VI, in 1941. Poole, this year's first consignment of Flamborough lifeboat appeal. free oil for lifeboats. Commenting on January, 1983 Rotary appeal the gift, Admiral Graham said. Mrs Vivian K. C. Robinson, MBE, The Rotary lifeboat appeal was laun- who was district organising secretary in ched some years ago with the aim of 'It is the generosity of individuals and firms, like Duckhams, which enables the the south east from 1952 to 1971, giving raising £100,000 towards a new lifeboat RNLI to continue its work of saving life at 19 years magnificent service. to be named Rotary Service. Money has sea.' February 1983 continued to come into RNLI HQ ever Mrs J. B. Soutter, a founder member since from Rotary clubs throughout the LP record/cassette of Hamilton ladies' guild in 1938 and country, but on February 21 the final The Orpheus Male Voice Choir from president from 1960 to 1979, when she cheque, for £16,600, was presented by Rhos, near Wrexham, is producing a was awarded the gold badge. long playing record/cassette for the March, 1983 Institution which will be available from James Coull, coxswain of Broughty the Welsh Regional Office, Aberdare Ferry lifeboat from 1934 to 1956 after House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, serving in Montrose No 2 lifeboat as at the end of May. Both record and bowman from 1933 to 1934. Mr Coull, cassette cost £3 each plus 25p p and p. who first joined Montrose crew in 1930, was awarded the silver medal in 1939. Obituary William R. Thomas, coxswain of It is with deep regret that we record Tenby lifeboat from 1958 to 1968 after the following deaths: serving as bowman from 1946 to 1957 April, 1982 and as second coxswain from 1957 to Mrs Eric Crawford, president of 1958. Mr Thomas, who first joined the Hoylake ladies' guild from 1940 to crew in 1930, was awarded the bronze 1959, who continued her interest in the medal in 1953. His son Alan is the lifeboat service until her death last year present coxswain of Tenby lifeboat and at the age of 99. Hoylake guild has another son, Clive, and a grandson. received a donation of £250 in her Peter, are both crew members. While producing a Christmas show for tele- memory from her daughter, Mrs Rush- vision, Rolf Harris and his technicians had worth of Heswall. lunch and supper at the guest house belonging In the winter 1982/83 journal it was wrong- to Barney Chamber/in, Happisburgh station May, 1982 ly stated that Keith Johnson had been honorary secretary. Barnev (I) showed Rolf Mrs A. W. Cole, president of Cowes honorary treasurer of Bognor Regis branch round the boathouse and he took great guild from 1973 to 1982, after serving as for 50 years. In fact. Mr Johnson took over interest in all he saw. vice-chairman from 1972 to 1973. Mrs as treasurer two years ago; it was his photograph by courtesy of Cole had previously served as chairman predecessor. George Wyeth, who had served Eastern Dailv Press and had been a member of the commit- in the office for the previous 50 years. 201 ELEVEN YEARS ON Brinton: The roll bar on one was a tube goes in the water and the prop- write-off, but really the boats were in ellers come out, the boat does slow- from page remarkably good condition. They came down quite quickly. to Cowes for a complete check over, but were only there about a fortnight. It Hodder: Most of the capsizes have been Trigg: That is going to do him the world may have been luck, but we like to feel in shallow water in conditions that were of good if he has got a back injury! we can take some credit for it; the not really bad. Obviously, I have had a positioning of the handrail and the roll lot of time to analyse what happened to Dunster: But the priority is the casual- bar saved the rest of the console. No us. I think it boils down to this. If you ty's breathing. major components had to be replaced are out in very bad winds and seas you in the engines. In fact, Berwick-upon- really are aware of everything. We were Hodder: I know we are told to pull Tweed Atlantic relaunched from the out on exercise when a service call came people out as Frank has described but at beach with another crew and motored that someone was trapped at the base of Lyme we will not practise it that way. If back to the boathouse. a cliff. The weather was not that bad. you do not get the chap above the The sea was comparatively flat before sponson first time he can easily be Woodroffe: I am sorry your live capsize we entered the shallow area. You are injured. As far as I am concerned, they did not bear a great resemblance to the just a little bit, shall we say. compla- come out face first. Perhaps I am lucky training. John, but I feel very strongly cent. You are not really thinking that a in that a large proportion of our crew that the training is something we must rogue sea is going to do that to you. are big men. We get the little ones to do. That is what caught us out. Another practise pulling out the big ones and if time I would not try to outrun it; if it they can do it with those, they can do it Butler: If crew members do our little bit was a very big one I would turn and with most people. of training, then if a capsize should meet it head on. Had we met the same happen at sea at least they will have sea even a mile out to sea, it would have Trigg: I agree with John. Face first. I some idea of what it is like. And it is made little difference to us. It was am fortunate like John. I may not have also important to us at Cowes that because we were only in about 25 to 30 the prettiest lifeboat crew in the world, crews come for these courses. We learn feet of water that there was so much but they could well be the largest and as much from them as they learn frorn force behind it. the strongest. So there is no problem us. We get a lot of feedback. pulling anyone in. Let's have them in Trigg: I know what you mean, John. straight away. If they are facing the Brinton: What Mick says is perfectly When you are in bad conditions you are sponson you can get a grip under their true. We gain as much from the crews watching all the time for ways out and arms and if necessary get hold of the coming here as, I hope, the crews gain thinking, 'This one doesn't look so bad. seat of their pants or swimming costume themselves. If you come to Cowes with Which way can I go? What shall I do?' and just haul them in over the sponson. suggestions, we try to take them all into Whereas if the seas are not very bad If they need artificial respiration you consideration. Mind you, if you asked they can take you completely unawares, can do it on the side deck where they ten lifeboatmen, they would all have because although you are still watching, are. different ideas and all we can do is to try you do not think it is that bad. to sort the wheat from the chaff and Woodroffe: It is pretty remarkable that incorporate the general opinion. Hodder: And of course we were more we have operated these Atlantic 21s for concerned with the 76-year-old man, ten years and more, sometimes in ex- Hodder: Don't get me wrong. Although because by this time he was trying to get treme conditions well above the wind I said that a capsize at sea bears no down from the cliff on to the beach. and sea limits laid down, and we have resemblance to a training capsize, I still had just four capsizes, with no one lost think there is a definite advantage in Woodroffe: Your boat was damaged on or seriously injured. You have all cap- coming here for the course. We had not your medal service, wasn't it. Roger? sized during the training course at taken the course before a capsize Cowes. but you. John, have done it for actually happened to us. It would have Trigg: Yes. Later in the service, when real. been better if we had. It gives you an we were trying to pass the tow from one idea what it is like underneath a boat fishing boat to the other; the tow had Hodder: Well, the simulated situation and it also gives you a degree of broken five or six times on the passage bears little resemblance to the real confidence. Had we done the training north to Lowestoft. We were coming thing. When we actually hit the water, here before we had our capsize, we round Benacre Ness, a notorious place with the waves pushing us along, we would not actually have been any better for big seas. We were busy passing the were doing 35 to 40 knots. The crew off. but we would have known more rope over and asking if the towing made a conscious effort to climb out but about it and we could have coped with fishing boat was all right, when an I was forcibly ejected 30 yards in front the situation that much better. unusually large sea came up on us of the boat by the roll bar, and I had to broadside and picked the Atlantic up swim back to the boat before the handle Woodroffe: It is certainly the intention and plonked her right across the deck of could be pulled to inflate the bag, which that crew of all new Atlantic 21 stations the trawler. Her bow landed on the of course we know didn't happen. will come to Cowes for a capsize course trawl winch, ripping the sponson, so during their period of work-up. We are that the bow section completely de- Woodroffe: That has caused a lot of also trying to get through all existing flated all of a sudden; ours is one of the heart searching, obviously. Atlantic stations, but of course crews do early Atlantics which does not have the change with the years. extra bow chamber. The sea passed Brinton: We are looking at an alterna- over us. the fishing boat rolled. I put the tive system which has still got to be put Dunster: The discipline you get from Atlantic full astern and dragged her off to the test in evaluation trials. practice is well worth while. The capsize the deck, opening the tear a bit more. drill would help, for instance, with the We backed her off to get some sea Woodroffe: One or two other things actual discipline of getting all your crew room. So, for the next hour and a half came out of those two capsizes last year, trailing off the line astern before acti- or two hours we didn't have any bow at at Lyme Regis and Berwick-upon- vating the air bag. all. It didn't worry the boat at all. It just Tweed. Both boats capsized in quite meant that when we hit a sea it came up shallow water and bounced along the Brinton: Of course, as John said, every the front and ran out the stern and we bottom upside down, but in fact very capsize is different. He was going very were all wandering around up to our little damage was done. fast when he capsized. Mostly, once the waists in water most of the time. It did 202 not affect the actual running of the boat on the steering wheel. Brinton: Can I just add, don't ever go to or her sea-keeping ability. I just had to sea with suspect motors? be a bit more careful what I headed Dunster: I agree with John. You must into. If we had not had waterproofed use the power wisely, particularly in a Butler: It has all been said really, engines. I am convinced that they would head sea: you have got to be very except, maybe, you should have a really have stopped and we should have been cautious on the throttles in a big, short, good back! in trouble ourselves. It proved that they sharp head sea. do work virtually under water. Woodroffe: It just remains for me to Trigg: I agree with John, too. My hand say, thank you all for coming. This is Woodroffe: To bring the discussion to never leaves the throttles at all. Always the first time that we have gathered an end, what advice would you all give be aware of the sea, always watching together experienced Atlantic helms- to rigid inflatable lifeboat helmsmen? because she is after you all the time. man to exchange views and discuss And remember that you have got the mutual problems in this way and I am Hodder: Be absolutely 100 per cent best boat money can buy; if you do not sure the discussion will prove of great aware of everything, if possible, at all let your boat down, I don't think she value both to us at Cowes and to times. And never drive with both hands will let vou down. Atlantic crews round the coast.

Down to the last detail. . . A MODEL OF RNLB Ruby and Arthur Reed

EVERY PIPE, every cable, even the oilcan The Norwegian flag was and the radio telephone instructions, all flving when the model of to scale, can be found in a beautiful and Cramer's 48ft 6in Oakley life- meticulous model of Cromer's 48ft 6in boat Ruby and Arthur Reed was presented to the RNLI Oakley lifeboat which was presented to at Poole HQ last December, the Institution last December. Building tl 10 r) Frederik Paulson- was begun, some years ago, by Mr Linnekogel, brother of the Joakim Paulson-Linnekogel of Norway original modelmaker, Frank but sadly, before he could complete his Turland, who look over from model, he died. Knowing his wish that him, Coxswain/Mechanic the model should go to the RNLI, his Frank Ide of Poole lifeboat, relations arranged for it to be shipped to who advised on detail, and England with all the parts not yet Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy assembled and. luckily for the Institu- direcior of the Institution. tion, Frank Turland of Parkstone, a A close-up broadside view of semi-retired graphic designer, took on the model: note the faithful the task of completing Mr Paulson- reproduction of the anchor Linnekogel's work. stowage and of the stanchions and guard chains: it took Mr For three years Mr Turland spent all Turland seven hours to fit just his spare time working on the model, one of the bottle screws. Note with some expert advice from a neigh- also the buo\ancy blocks be- bour, Coxswain/Mechanic Frank Ide of hind the lifeboat's timbers Poole lifeboat. Like Mr Joakim Paul- I below left). son-Linnekogel before him, Mr Turland Photographs left and below visited Cromer to look over the original by courtesy of Frank Turland Oakley lifeboat and study the layout Looking down on the model with the superstructure removed: ll to r} whee/house, engine room and fittings in detail. To give some idea and forecabin. It is also possible to see down through the forecabin sole into the bilges. Every of the amount of time each tiny opera- detail of the machinery, pipework and wiring is there. tion took, on one evening he spent from 6pm to Sam putting a bottle screw on the chain guardrail. The bow pudding fender was made by Mrs Turland. After spending so many hours study- ing the handiwork of his Norwegian 'partner', and taking the work to com- pletion. Mr Turland felt that for him, Mr Paulson-Linnekogel had become an old friend. One Wednesday last December, Mr Frederik Paulson-Linnekogel. brother of the original modelmaker, and his wife, on a visit to this country fron Norway, and Mr and Mrs Turland all met at Poole HQ, where the amazing replica 48ft 6in Oakley lifeboat made by- two outstanding and quite unusually skilled craftsmen, was received for the Institution by the deputy director. Lt- Cdr Brian Miles. 203 A late Christmas present was re- ceived by Howard Biggs, honorary secretary of Broadstairs branch. It came from a farmer: £30, the price of a lamb. With the gift came a note: 'a sort of present from storm-tossed sheep to storm-tossed sailors'. The joint amount raised by Broadstairs branch and guild Some last year totalled £8,808.44, their best ever result.

A Trafalgar Day buffet social, held in picturesque Rockingham Castle, proved to be a very effective fund raiser for Rutland ladies' guild. Thanks to the generosity of Cdr and Mrs Michael Saunders-Watson, who own the castle and thus provided a setting for the evening, and thanks also to raffles and a To show that he is still young at 60, Gordon souvenir stall, a total of £715.35 was Gav/or planned a marathon of 12 sports raised. Special guest for the evening was which he had to complete within 12 hours. In order of performance, they were: glider the RNLI's director, Rear Admiral W. flying, swimming, boxing, cycling, roller J. Graham. skating, accordion playing, ballroom danc- ing, rowing, canoeing, judo, horse riding and The Master of the Worshipful Com- finally a ten-mile hike. Radio 210, the local pany of Sailers, Mr Richard Scriven, radio station, helped with the organisation and the sponsorship money was divided invited Sothebys to Sailers Hall in the among four charities: Reading and District City of London to hold a valuation branch of the RNLI received £200. evening in aid of the RNLI. His wife, Gillian Scriven, and children Hilary, An analysis of the first total raised by Andrew, Clare and David, provided a As 1982 was Maritime England Year, Queensferry ladies' guild in the year buffel supper and with a raffle, sale of Forest Area Floral Group, Epping, 1981/82 makes interesting reading. Of Christmas cards, and a most entertain- eight flower arranging clubs in all, the total £1,800, well over £100 was ing and instructive panel of valuers, chose the lifeboats to benefit from their made from each of the following events; over £600 was made on the evening. annual two-day exhibition in Septem- a country dance, a cheese and wine ber. The exhibition was held at Sir evening, a ceilidh, and a spring sale of James Hawkey Hall, Woodford Green, Howth branch has a splendid fund and after the event the RNLI North work. Every Saturday and Sunday raising record and last year, with the afternoon during the summer, the ladies London regional office was given a fine added incentive of its appeal for a new cheque for £1,800. go down to the lifeboat station to sell lifeboalhouse, il raised £27,750. And souvenirs, home baking, plants and what fun it had with its special appeal Broadstone ladies' guild held a fork secondhand books; gross souvenir sales events! Dinner dances are not usually supper one Saturday in February at for the year were £2,021. expected to produce sizable profits, but which, in addition to a delicious spread Howth's 1982 festive evening, organised prepared by members, there was music- by Coxswain Gerry McLoughlin and his al entertainment by five members of wife Maura who were helped by Mrs Broadstone Light Operatic Society. Pat Connolly, a member of the ladies' With old, well-loved songs and topical guild, raised £2,319. Coxswain monologues the 'concert party' had McLoughlin also invited the local com- their audience with them from the start, munity to elect (unofficially, of course) and before the end everyone was join- a Lord Mayor of Howth, the first ever. ing in, singing sea shanties. With a The election took place over August tombola and raffle, a very happy even- Bank Holiday weekend. Paying lOp for ing made a profit of £250. the privilege, a vote could be registered for any one of the five contenders and Ernest Jackson of The Fox in Palmers the election of Joseph Cuddy by a large Green. London, held a 'Cockney-Nite- majority was announced from the bal- Out' for his customers. With the help of cony of the Royal Hotel by Norman raffles and collections made at both The Wilkinson, station honorary secretary. Olive Branch, Tottenham, and The Exquisite robes were provided by a Northern Star, New Southgate, the local tailor, Jack O'Rourke, and the evening brought in a grand total of whole event raised no less than £3,000 £164.79. for the lifeboathouse fund. Then there was a race between Ian Guinness, Ian Mr and Mrs C. R. Sutton of Sutton Malcolm and Francis Ennis, three own- Estates, Newburgh, Aberdeen, are long ers of 17 Footer Class yachts (the oldest standing supporters of their local one design gaff-rigged keel boats in the branch. An RNLI collecting box is world). It started and ended with a pint always at hand in The Dairy House and A plaque is presented to the head girl of of Guinness in Howth Yacht Club with, for years Mr Sutton, a keen photo- Bvrehall High School by David Jones, in between, a dash downstairs, the grapher, has sold his photographs of the RO(NW), as thanks for help given to the launch of rubber dinghies, a row out to area to tourists in aid of the lifeboat Wigan branch during lifeboat day. The senior service. Last year, Mr Sutton added to pupils raised £120 in house-to-house collec- the boats which had to be rigged, sailed tions. In the background are Mr S. Warren, round a course and remoored before his other donations the £210 received chairman of Wigan branch, and Mrs Kath- the dash back to the clubhouse. That from fishing permits for the season. In leen Petrie. the honorary secretarv. hilarious lark raised £611. all, £575 was given to Aberdeen branch.

204 Members of Wells lifeboat crew were invited to a special RNLI evening held by Cam- bridge Motor Boat Club. Here the club's commodore. Bob Foote (I), is seen presenting a cheque for £175 to Coxswain David Cox of Wells. His cousin, Crew Member Alan Cox, shows his approval. The evening consisted of talks from the lifeboatmen, an RNLI film, a raffle and a writ- ten quiz with the prize of a lifeboat pennant.

Some members of Oxton and Claughton RNLI branch, Merseyside, before the start of a 'cheap and cheerful even- ing' at which they raised £444. Since the branch was re- formed in 1978 it has been responsible for bringing in near/v £7,000

A ride on a bicycle from Newcastle to Dundee in 4'h days is a feat impressive enough in When itself, but when one learns that the 212-mile you have ride was made on a penny farthing bicycle and by a 73-year-old man, Jock Harrison, read well, that is amazing! This remarkable your copy achievement was rewarded by donations tot- a/ling more than £1,500 which Jock succeeded of in collecting from sponsors; this shows just THE LIFEBOAT how much can be made starting only with a penny farthing. In the photograph, Jock is please receiving £10 from Councillor Foster outside pass it Dundee Town Hall. on. Last autumn Chief Petty Officer Dave Lea, of the Joint Air Reconnaiss- 'Tilbury Tubbies' (with one ance Intelligence Centre, RAF Bramp- 'Tubby' sitting in the tub), of Tilbury Construction Ltd, ton, presented a cheque for £72 to Mrs Convey Island, raised Scriven, chairman of Huntingdon £157.50 for the lifeboat ser- ladies' guild. He raised this money by vice in a charily bath pull sponsorship for his first ever marathon, along Southend sea front. the Huntingdon marathon, which took Back with their feet firmly on place on the anniversary of his twenty- the ground are six intrepid second year of life in the Navy. There first-time parachutists: (I to r) Jim Bridge, Colin Robins, Dave Allison, Michael Riley, Keith Benn and George West, honorary secretary of Whitehaven branch: with them (r.) to receive the che- que is area organiser Les Fras- er. All six men obtained spon- sorship for their 3,000ft jump and the result was a cheque for more than £800 for RNLI, photograph by courtesy of Cumbrian Newspapers Stephen Tilsley, chairman of Bournville and District branch, receives a cheque for £625 from Martin Hunt (r), chairman of Centre Snorkell- ing Club. The money was raised by young members of the club, aged between seven and 17, who took part in a sponsored snorkel; a number of them swam as many as 50 Ian Beavis, vice-president of Newport lengths to raise the money. branch, just before setting off for a sponsored Earlier in the year when the swim from Egvpt Point, Cowes, on the Isle of club went on a snorkelling Wight, to Lepe on the mainland. The two- expedition to Wales they were mile swim, during which Ian was escorted by invited to look round Fish- his brother Donald in the motor sailer Petit guard lifeboat. Pecheur, took an hour and ten minutes and photograph by courtesy of raised £100.95 for branch funds. Mel Figures

205 Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe guild have had their fund raising •-- , prowess recognised by the BBC. David Hamilton's music show on Radio 2 gives a 'Top Team Award' and chose these ladies for their Arthur and Rcil Billitt, well known through the television gardening record sum raised in 1982, which was £1,200; the award is being held programme Clack's Farm, have for many vears donated to the RNLI by the guild chairman, Mrs M. E. Sounders. the proceeds from their car-park at Clack's Farm for one Sunday in photograph by courtesy of Studio D everv summer month. They also allow Worcester guild to sell souvenirs on the premises on these Sitndavs. Since the beginning of this scheme the Billitts have been able to give a grand total of £4,890 to the RNLI. Shown in the photograph (I to r) are Margaret Griffiths, chairman of Worcester guild. Pat Bradford, souvenir secretary, with her husband Mike Bradford, Deputy Captain of Canberra having just returned from the Falklands, and Arthur and Reit Billitt. Clack's Farm, which is near Droitwich, is open in 1983 from Mav until September.

The second Hen Island Challenge Race, for home-built craft which have cost no more than £25 and which have never before put to sea, was sailed in Northern Ireland last October; Portaferry D class inflatable lifeboat acted as one of the manv rescue boats. With entrance fees, sponsorship, sale of craft and a Dutch auction, £6,000 was raised to be shared between the Ocean Youth Club, Friends of Mitchell House and the lifeboat service; for the RNLI there was a splendid £3.000. Each gift was presented in a gold coloured hen at a buffet supper party. (I to r) Walter Love of the BBC, Robert McDowell, for The ladies of Hoylake guild at a coffee morning which raised £430. It Friends of Mitchell House, Dr Barry Bramwell, Hen Island Challenge was held at The Hermitage, Caldv, the home of the guild's treasurer, Race (HICK) committee, a delegate for the Ocean Youth Club, Mrs B. M. Frazer. The enthusiasm of the helpers and the fine weather Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet. chairman of the RNLI Search and both persuaded guests to linger in the pleasant gardens and generously Rescue Committee, Carol Anne, race secretary, and David Chamber- to support the tombola, raffles and 'all sorts' stall. lain, chairman HICR.

were some very interesting moments for a guy. Few people ignored them and joyed this musical evening which raised during the 31/: hours it took him to donations were received not only from £853; a record and cassette of the complete the course; at the 15-mile local shoppers but from passing cars and concert have since been produced and mark he had to hurdle over an Alsatian even from the top decks of buses. They are on sale and making money for St which barred his way! raised a total of £193.37y2. Much better Austell branch (price £4 each plus 50p than the average guy. package and postage from Mr R. Kir- For 25 years Lerwick ladies' guild has kham, 24 Cooperage Road, Trewoon. held an annual ball which includes a full Gourock branch, on the Clyde, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 SSL). In dinner and raffle. The meal is prepared claims that it covers every single street December another concert was given by by the ladies while their husbands and in the community with its annual house- youngsters; the entertainment was sup- friends act as waiters. The entire profit to-house collection. In 1982 some 90 plied by the Restormel Youth Band and from the 1982 evening was an amazing collectors returned £1.477 when not a local students supplied and served a £3.293. house was missed and even all the high buffet supper. Member of Parliament rise flats were visited. This yield is David Penhaligon was the guest speaker Leytonstone branch cannot be calculated to be just in excess of lOp per and with the help of a Christmas draw, blamed for missing a single opportunity. head of the population. the concert brought in over £600. On October 30 they dressed up a guy in oilskins and put him in front of an 18ft Music and fund raising go hand in Keith Scott has earned a well de- model of a lifeboat. Then, outside the hand for St Austell branch. In Septem- served place in The Guinness Book of local swimming baths and near the bus ber they arranged a concert in the Records by managing to devour no stop, they set themselves up asking for a Cornwall Coliseum, where over 20 Cor- fewer than 90 whelks in five minutes 26 •penny for the coxswain' in direct com- nish male voice choirs, comprising 600 seconds. The previous record of 82 petition to the number of small children voices, gave their time and talent for whelks was broken at The Castle Inn, at that time of year asking for pennies the RNLI. Almost 2.000 people en- Dover, during the annual whelk-eating 206 Bryan and Kalhv Co.x ofWokingham branch, pictured here with their To give his MG. TC, the bodvwork of which he had been re-building, a daughter Rachel, organised a trip on the River Thames aboard this 'jolly good thrudging', Bob Shaw suggested a run from John O Groats magnificent steam launch St. Belle, the property of the Maidenhead to Land's End in aid of the lifeboats; Ian Horsefield said he would go Steam Navigation Company Ltd. Built in 1894. 75ft long, she is now along as second driver. Last July a car transport company took the restored to her former glory and capable of carrying 100 passengers. MG to Inverness free of charge and British Airways transported the Brvan and Kath\'s tea partv river trip attracted 70 passengers and drivers at greatly reduced fares. The 'team' was flagged off from raised £150 for the RNL1. Scrabster b\ Thurso station branch committee and crew early on July 19 and welcomed at Sennen Cove the next morning. Altogether 849 miles and more than £1.500 in sponsorship for the Tadley branch.

When the new 47ft Tyne class fas! slipway lifeboat, City of London came up the Thames for her official naming, it was also an ideal opportunity for some of the children of Thomas's School, Kensington, to hand over the money that they had raised for the RNLI with a Three joval barmen at the Whaley Bridge branch annual summer sponsored ice-skate. Here, with the flag-waving support of his luncheon, which is held in the barn and grounds of Gap House, classmates, Darc\ Mitchell hands the cheque for £287.65 to Principal Kettleshulme, home of Mr and Mrs A. R. Leonard. 1982 was the Staff Coxswain Jim Hunter who was in command of the lifeboat for event's seventh vear and its seventh record amount raised: £1,140. her London visit.

The biggest single donation ever received by Port Talbot branch from the efforts of a single person is handed over by Philip Reed, a long distance swimmer. Last September he swam across Swansea Bav from Not content with just the ordinary duties of a lifeboat crew, the men Mumbles Head to Porthcawl, a distance of 13 miles; it took him five from Salcombe have proved themselves to be as much of a fund-raising hours. The monev he raised in sponsorship was £380 and the picture team as they are a lifesaving team. Last year, through the crew's efforts shows (I to r) Robert Harris, Philip Reed, David Aubrey, station alone, £4,267 was raised for the branch. Pictured from left to right are: honorary secretary, Gerald Thomas, and Ken Needs. Mr Harris and (front row) Motor Mechanic Frank Smith, Coxswain Graham Griffiths Mr Needs escorted the swimmer in their boat James Rolfe, while John and Assistant Mechanic Brian Cater. (Back row) Crew Members Brian Lewis, a local pilot and a deputv launching authority, and Mr Cooper, Peter Taylor and David Gibbens with William Budget: (chair- Thomas, also a DLA, acted as pilot and observer. man and honorary secretary) and Stanley Turns.

207 contest. £181 was raised for the RNLI at Horace Greenslade of Shirley, this gruesome event. Meanwhile just Croyden, now in his eighties, still col- outside Dover, at Lydden Circuit, £500 lects used stamps for the lifeboats. Last was brought in by the annual person- year he sent in to the RNLI City of powered push, when 12 entrants pushed London office 10,000 stamps all cut and and pulled various contraptions around sorted and by February had a further ten laps of the circuit. Brian Sackett of 5,000 ready to be taken up to London. Dover branch is responsible for organis- ing this somewhat bizarre but lucrative Among other functions, the ladies of contest. Driffield ladies' guild organised two 'seconds' sales and a cheese and wine A fancy dress party organised by Mrs party, all of which were very well Olive Eades, honorary secretary of supported, bringing the guild's annual Chorleywood and Rickmansworth amount up to a new record of £4,560. branch, brought in a remarkable £950. The takings were shared between the Bournemouth ladies' guild raised RNLI and the King George's Fund for over £400 at its annual bridge drive at Sailors; everybody had a very enjoyable Bournemouth Pavilion last December. time and costumes ranged from Widow To that amount was added a donation Twanky, RO(E) no less, to Captain of £1,000. Hook. There was an abundance of The draw for a gallon bottle of brandy, tombola and raffle prizes thanks to donated by Martell, was made at Kirkcud- donations by local traders and other Bradford Council have seven bottle bright station annual dance last November. friends and supporters of the branch. banks for the re-cycling of glass. Be- Here, Coxswain George Davidson, DSM BEM, cause it is their policy to donate to (r) presents the bottle to the winner, local charity any profit on re-cycling, the blacksmith William Milllgan; Mr Milligan Thanks to the efforts of Grange- mouth branch, the annual levee that it £1,000 that they made on 450,000 bot- was a popular winner with the lifeboat crew tles between April and December last and committee as he had recently rebuilt the organises has now become one of the most popular social activities in the year was handed over to the Lord lifeboat access road to and from the sea. A Mayor's appeal fund, which happens, total of £360 was raised for the RNLl by this community. The two main features of draw. With them are (I) James Scott, honor- this levee are the sumptuous buffet this year, to be on behalf of the RNLI. ary secretary financial, and Ian Mackie, supper prepared by the committee and Western Area Manager ofD. Rintoul and Co, friends and the tombola stall, which, A contribution of £150 has been Scottish agents for Martell. this year, had no less than 315 prizes all made by Down Cruising Club, North- donated by .local businesses and firms. ern Ireland. This amount, given to Nearly £1,900 was raised in all. Newcastle and Portaferry branches, represents the proceeds from the club's annual dinner and from the collecting When the passenger steamer Manx- box in the wardroom. man made her last trip, the bars were manned by members of Preston South Rotary Club. As a result the Rotary Carol Steel, a London Shoreline Club was presented with a sum of member, raised £550 for lifeboat funds money and part of this, £250, was by shedding pounds in a sponsored handed on to David Jones, RO(NW). slim. Seven ladies and two men, led by Miss Anne Buttery, lost 101V* pounds Cdr Osmond Hebbes has a taste for in ten weeks to raise £180 for Exmouth Whitbread export lager, which, happily D class inflatable lifeboat. for him, has also had the effect of raising money for the RNLI. During a promo- tion Whitbreads offered to pay 85p to every customer who sent them four ring- pulls from their cans of export lager. Restaurant owner Nick Constandinos visited With a nightly pint, Cdr Hebbes col- Poole HQ in December to present a cheque for lected no fewer than 240 ring-pulls and £70 to RNLI appeals secretary Anthony sent them to Whitbreads: although the Oliver (r). It was the proceeds from the sale of the first two crates of Beaujolais Nouveau offer was supposed to be 85p for each 1982 which had been delivered to his res- customer, because Cdr Hebbes asked taurant, Corkers, in the Poole race to be the that the money be sent to Eastleigh and first to supply customers with the famous District branch, they agreed to send £51 for the lifeboats.

Every year Bognor Regis Southbourne branch held a car boot sale last branch organises a popular December in the car park of the Anglo- Christmas market. This pic- European College of Chiropractic. For each ture shows the branch honor- 'pitch' £2.50 was charged and, despite bad ary secretary, Mrs Vera John- weather, not only was £150 raised for the son, (second from I) and lifeboats, but everyone who took part—orga- some of her lady helpers on nisers, sellers and buyers—thoroughly en- the souvenir and cake stalls. joyed themselves. The 1982 market raised photograph by courtesy of £196.82. Poole and Dorset Herald. Club No 2, Eastleigh Area: Mrs Pauline Rowe, 90 Buriton Road, Harestock, Winchester, Hampshire. Club No 3, Southend-on-Sea: Mick Holland, 83 Walsingham Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Shoreline Club No 4, Milton Keynes: Denis Hor- gan, 172 Bradwell Common Boule- vard, Bradwell Common, Milton Section Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Club No 5, Leeds and District: Mrs M. A. Hill, 26 Crowther Avenue, RNLB SHORELINE, the 37ft 6in Rother Calverley, Pudsey, West Yorkshire. class lifeboat funded by our Shoreline Club No 6, Basildon: Mr J. Froom, members which was stationed at Blyth Burford Lodge, 164 Stock Road, from 1979 until last year, has now been Billericay, Essex. transferred to Arbroath, on the east Club No 7, Scarborough and Filey: Mr coast of Scotland; she was placed on J. Parker, 47 Cornelian Avenue, service at Arbroath on December 17, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. 1982. A re-dedication ceremony is plan- Club No 8, Peterborough: Stanley ned for April and it will be reported in Meadows, 16 Valance Road, Orton the next issue of the journal. In the Waterville, Peterborough, Cam- meantime, I know that you would all bridgeshire. wish to join me in thanking Blyth Club No 9, Hastings: Mrs P. Rooney, 1 Walter Cox's model railway. lifeboatmen and station branch for the Marine Parade, Hastings, East care they have taken of Shoreline over December. The raffle raised £153. Sussex. Thank you, pirates. the past four years and in wishing all Club No 10, Coventry: Malcolm Simms, who sail in her from Arbroath God Another of our members, Walter 25 Moor Street, Coventry, West Cox of Wimbledon, is a model railway speed and a safe return to port. Midlands. enthusiast. During the past two sum- * * * mers he has held an open day in his It was good to see many of our garden, inviting the general public to members at the London Boat Show in Shoreline Club No 8 and Peterbor- have a look at his efforts. So far he has Earls Court last January. Not all of you ough branch are organising an raised £330 for the RNLI. A third open who visited the show found us, I sus- Emergency Services Day from noon to day is planned for this summer, so any pect, because this year the RNLI stand 5 pm on Sunday July 10 at Ferry members who are in Wimbledon on was somewhat off the main thorough- Meadows, off the A605, Oundle Road, July 3 will be welcome to call at 40 fare. It was disappointing that, being in Peterborough. Ferry Meadows is a large Nelson Road. a quiet area, we were not able to keep National Park where all the family can up the splendid enrolment record of the enjoy the day and there is a camping past few years: over 1,000 new mem- and caravan site. The main attraction Each year, in Shoreline, we set bers each Boat Show. Nevertheless, it is will be a full scale air-sea rescue demon- ourselves a target. In 1983 we hope to to the resounding credit of our stalwart stration by helicopter from one of the reach—and pass—100,000 membership. voluntary Shoreline team that, over- lakes and there will be static displays To help us attain this magic figure I am coming any drawbacks, they still man- and demonstrations by Cambridge asking all of you to go out and persuade aged to sign on 737 new members; less Police with Police Divers, the Fire one of your friends to join our ranks; if than we have come to expect from the Services, St John Ambulance, RAF you can also persuade your new recruit London Boat Show, maybe, but a Coltishall, HM Coastguards and the to covenant his or her subscription, so splendid effort in the circumstances. RNLI. Information from Malcolm much the better. 1982 was the best year And they made good sales of insignia, Smith, 49 Gloucester Road, Old Flet- we have ever had; 1983 could be even too. Thank you, our team. ton, Peterborough PE2 8BH (Tele- better with your help and support. The We are sorry that Jim Mead, one of phone 0733 60802). regular source of income from our most loyal supporters, was unable Shoreline subscriptions is of great im- to be with us this year because of ill portance to the lifeboat service in these health. He was sadly missed. We hope Pirates they may be—but with hearts days of ever-increasing costs. you are feeling better, Jim, and we look of gold! They are the members of the Thank you again for your continuing forward to seeing you back at Earls Pirates Cruising Club of Epsom, and, of help over many years, and we send our Court in 1984. course, Shoreline members, who gener- best wishes to all our members and their ously added their pieces of eight to the families for a very happy summer.— other more conventional prizes for a PETER HOLNESS, membership secretary. Shoreline Club No 11 was inaugu- raffle in aid of the RNLI held at the RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, rated in Dorchester last February. Any club's annual 'noggin and natter' in BH15 1HZ. member interested in joining in its social events should write to Bill Rook, To: The Director, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. 22 Overcombe Drive, Weymouth, I enclose subscription to join Shoreline as an: Dorset. Everyone will be made most Annual Member £5.00 (minimum) D welcome. Annual Family Membership £7.50 (minimum) D Perhaps it is time to have a round up Annual Member and Governor £15.00 (minimum) D of all our other ten clubs, with the Life member and Governor £150.00 (minimum) D names and addresses of the honorary Send me details of how I can help with a Legacy. d secretaries, for the benefit of new Shoreline members and also those Name members of longer standing who have Address mislaid this information: Club No 1, Portsmouth: Jack Chantler, 78 Cosham Road, Cosham, Ports- Over 108,000 people would have been lost without the lifeboat service. mouth, Hampshire. 209 Helvick Head J. Manahan Boat Mechanic 11 '/t years Awards (retired Helvick Motor Mechanic 20% years Head 1969) Assistant Mechanic 4 years. to Coxswains, Crews and Shore Helpers Hoylake N. H.Watson Emergency Mechanic 7 years The following coxswains, members of lifeboat crews and shore helpers Assistant Mechanic 1 year Crew Member 8 years. were awarded certificates of sen-ice on their retirement and. in addition, those entitled to them by the Institution's regulations, were awarded an P. Kelly Crew Member 12 years. annuity, gratuity or pension. W. Clarke Shore Helper 32 years. Ilfracombe 1 Appledore I. Meadlarkin Assistant Mechanic 8 /: years M. J. Lee Emergency Mechanic 101/: years Crew Member 7 years. Crew Member 1 year. Kilmore R. H. Cann Tractor Driver 1 year T. Walsh Coxswain 9 years Second Coxswain/Tractor Driver 7'/2 years Second Coxswain 2 years Second Coxswain 6 years Crew Member 11 years Crew Member 31 years. Silver medal 1978.' Kippford Arran (Lamlash) R. Filer Crew Member IS1/: years. I. MacNee Crew Member 10 years. (retired 1980) Kirkwall D.H. Peace Emergency Mechanic 8 years A. Bannatyne Crew Member 10 years. Crew Member 5 years. (retired 1980) The Lizard-Cadgwith Barry Dock N. M. Legge Second Coxswain 3 years A. J. McCarthy Motor Mechanic 5 years Crew Member 12 years. Crew Member 19 years. T. Triggs Crew Member 15'/2 years. Beaumaris I. Lewis Crew Member 10 years Llandudno Crew Member* 10 years. C. T. Jones Second Coxswain lO'/t years (retired 1981) Bowman 5% years Bembridge Crew Member 17 years P. J. Over Emergency Mechanic 2 years Crew Member* 17 years. Crew Member 15 years Crew Member* 15 years Lowestoft Launcher 5 years. J. A. Culham Crew Member 14 years. Calshot T. W. Oddv Crew Member 6'/2 years J. M.Collis Second Coxswain 3 years Southwold Crew Member 5'/t years. (retired 1980) Crew Member 7 years. Lymington Clacton-on-Sea G. Webb Crew Member 14'/» years. A. C. Harman Coxswain 6% years - Second Coxswain 7 years Margate Bowman 1 year A. Manning Coxswain 16 years Crew Member 21 '/z years. Second Coxswain 8 years Bowman 3 years F. S. Knight Assistant Winchman 8 years Crew Member 9 years. Crew Member 6 years. Newcastle Courtmacsherry S. McCullough Second Coxswain 21% years. S. A. Mearns Coxswain 5'/4 years Second Coxswain 21/: years G. Murphy Motor Mechanic 21 years. Crew Member 2 years. J. Murphy Winchman 22 years Criccieth Shore Helper 15 years Crew Member 4 years. M. P. Jones Crew Member 11 years. Exmouth S. Murphy Assistant Tractor Driver 10 years Shore Helper 2 years. B. L. Rowsell Coxswain 18 years Second Coxswain 7 years Plymouth Crew Member 5 years. J. Sheldon Crew Member 21 years. P. N. Rowsell Emergency Mechanic lO'/t years Port Erin Crew Member 9 years P. Woodworth Coxswain 10 years Crew Member* 9 years. Second Coxswain 19 years Eyemouth Crew Member 6 years. J. D. Blackie Bowman 9'/4 years Portrush Crew Member 8'/4 years. W. F. N. Black Second Coxswain 3'/> years Crew Member 7 years. Filey C. C. Ware Crew Member 13 years. E. Johnston Assistant Mechanic 16 vears. Fowey Redcar M. Webber Motor Mechanic 24 years R. Preston Second Coxswain 6 years Motor Mechanic (Weston-super-Mare) 3 years (retired 1980) Crew Member 3 years Assistant Mechanic (Weston-super-Mare) 8 Shore Helper 4 years. years Crew Member (Weston-super-Mare) 1 '/t years R. Key Second Assistant Mechanic 10 years Shore Helper (Weston-super-Mare) 2 years. (retired 1980) Crew Member 7 years. Helensburgh Rhyl G.C. Hullev Crew Member 10 years. G. Hughes Second Coxswain 22 '/t years Bowman 3'/t years '"Lifeboats under 10 metres. Crew Member 7 years.

210 St Bees Staithes and Runswick G. West Crew Member 111A years. E. Preston Shore Helper 3 years Crew Member 5 years St Helier R. L. Berezai Motor Mechanic 16 years Shore Helper 4 years. Assistant Mechanic 6'/2 years. Sunderland Coxswain/Mechanic 8 years D. A. Seymour Crew Member 21 years. W. Milburn Second Coxswain/Mechanic 3 years StIves Motor Mechanic 21 years. P. P. Pcnberthv Motor Mechanic 5W years Assistant Fleet Mechanic 22/3 years S. Cahill Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic 8 years Boat Mechanic 1 year Assistant Mechanic 21'/» years. Crew Member 9 years Tramore Crew Member* 9 years. F. Partridge Crew Member 18 years. St Peter Port T. O'Brien Crew Member 18 years. R. Martel Crew Member 20'/2 years. P. Harvey Crew Member 13 years. Scarborough K. Eade Coxswain 5 years Valentia Crew Member 19 years. D. Walsh Coxswain 12 years Second Coxswain 5 years G. Fishburn Emergency Mechanic 4 years Crew Member 20 years Crew Member 15 years. Silver medal 1970. Selsey Walton and Frinton G. Kite Crew Member 12 years J. L. C. Barrett Crew Member 31 years. Crew Member* 9 years. Sennen Cove Wick H. Mulchings Assistant Mechanic 3'/2 years J. G. Sinclair Crew Member 12 years. Crew Member 24 years. Wicklow Sheringham R. M. Byrne Assistant Mechanic 24'/» years A. H. Scotter Second Coxswain 19'/2 years Crew Member 5 years. 3 Bowman 4 /t years Workington Crew Member 18 years. L. Heron Crew Member 14 years. A. A. Culley Crew Member 24 years. Yarmouth Southend-on-Sea N. Chandler Crew Member 11 years J. Hipsey Crew Member 13 years. Assistant Mechanic 14 years.

LAUNCH THE RACES FOR THE ORDER FORM LIFEBOATMEN NAME ON JUNE 25,1983, ADDRESS AT THE JULY RACECOURSE, NEWMARKET

I am delighted to announce that the 1983 Charity Race Day at TELEPHONE (Daytime) Newmarket is being held on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Ticket Prices (including VAT) Quantity Total There is a splendid day's racing in store and I hope that you will £ be able to make up a party to come along - and to support the lifeboat service. Members' Badges (normal price £7) £6.00 The traditions of voluntary support for our service go back to (for admission to Members' Enclosure) the foundation of the Institution in 1824. Since then our crews Members'Car Park Tickets £1.00 have saved over 108,000 lives but we mustn't forget that 435 lifeboatmen have lost their lives during this period. It is the Tattersalls Tickets (normal price £4.50)£3.50 RNLI's duty to provide lifeboatmen with the best lifeboats and (for admission to Grandstand and Paddock) equipment available and we achieve this with support from all sections of the community. Private Buffet Luncheon Rooms £100.00 Do come to the RNLI Race Day and help us to make it a great (2 available) success. Previous occasions in aid of the RNLI have always been (accommodating up to 40 persons per room) great fun - I am confident this day will be no exception. The Duke of Atholl TOTAL

CAR PARKING Programme of Races Car parking is free and there are ample facilities. However, those with members' badges, if they feel it necessary can pay £1.00 extra 1.30 The Childwick Stud Stakes (6 F) £5000 to park in the members' car park. 2.00 Holsten Diat Pils Maiden Stakes (1'/-iM) £3000 2.30 The Van Geest Stakes (7 F) £14000 I enclose my cheque for £ 3.00 The Reach Selling Stakes (7 F) £2000 I am unable to attend but enclose a donation of £ 3.35 The Littleport Handicap (6 F) £4000 Cheques should be made payable to: Newmarket Racecourses Trust and sent to: 4.05 The Bury Hill Maiden Stakes (7 F) £3000 The Clerk of the Course. 4.35 The Nat Flatman Apprentice Stakes (1>/2M) £2000 Jockey Club Office. High Street, Newmarket. Suffolk CBS 8JL. Note: Children may be left in a playground at the Racecourse which is supervised. PLEASE ENCLOSE STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE

211 Lifeboat Services South West Division East Division from page 191 End of voyage Four rescued A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC made a 999 call EARLY ON FRIDAY, November 12, 1982, sands to Cork Hole and then heading up to the Police early on the morning of the 17ft 6in fishing boat Lady Theresa channel. An SAR helicopter took off at Saturday October 16, 1982, reporting a was seen leaving Redcar and, as it was a 1055, having been unable to do so be- catamaran flashing a white light about rough morning, a watch was kept on her fore because of the fog. 100 yards off Sidmouth Beach, 9Vz miles from the lifeboathouse. At 1213 a pas- The lifeboat sighted an object on east north east of Exmouth lifeboat sta- ser by informed Coxswain David Buck- Peter Black Sand; Crew Members tion. A strong gale, force 9, gusting to worth that a small boat looking as Groundsell and Osborne went to in- storm force 10 was blowing from south though she needed help had been sight- vestigate, but it was only a packing case. south east and the seas were very rough. ed about a mile north east of the Several fishing boats were met, includ- HM Coastguard was informed im- lifeboat station. The coxswain informed ing one by Lynn Barrier Wall which had mediately, Beer Coastguard coast res- Tees Coastguard and the station honor- run aground on Breast Sand, but none cue company was alerted and, at 0655, ary secretary and at 1221 Redcar's 37ft of them had seen anything of the mis- the launch of Exmouth lifeboat was re- Oakley lifeboat Sir James Knott was sing men. The Atlantic tried to get quested. The 46ft 9in Watson relief life- launched from her carriage. through to the old Lynn Channel at 13A boat Winston Churchill (Civil Service By now a gale to strong gale, force 8 Buoy, but with the tide ebbing there No 8), on temporary duty at Exmouth, to 9, gusting at times to storm force 10 was not enough water. Her fuel running slipped her moorings at 0710 under the was blowing from the south west and low, the Atlantic returned to Hunstan- command of Coxswain Geoffrey Mears the sea was rough. It was one hour after ton at 1130 to refuel and change crews. and headed for Sidmouth. Also at 0710 high water. Helmsman Clarke went through the a helicopter was asked to scramble. Coxswain Buckworth brought the charts with Helmsman Rodney Hicks, By this time the catamaran, Hongi, lifeboat alongside the fishing boat at who was going to take over from him, to had been driven on to the rocks at the 1233 and her four occupants were trans- decide the best way of covering the area eastern end of Sidmouth. She had been ferred to the lifeboat. A tow was then not already searched and then the on passage from Poole to the rigged and the lifeboat and Lady There- Atlantic 21 relaunched at 1230; her Mediterranean crewed by a man and his sa reached Redcar at 1250. The lifeboat crew members were now Arthur wife who had jumped into the sea was rehoused and once again ready for Osborne, Gerald Wase and Michael together just before the yacht was service at 1335. Wallace. driven ashore. The man had been For this service a letter of apprecia- The lifeboat set course for Roaring helped ashore by the police but his wife tion signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Middle, passing Lynn No 3 and Lynn was still in the water. Graham, director of the Institution, was No 1 Buoys on the way. The intention The helicopter arrived on the scene at sent to Coxswain David Buckworth and was to search down Roaring Middle 0733 to start the search at sea and Beer his crew. Ridge and then on down into Lynn Coastguard CRC arrived to start the Channel. When approaching Roaring search along the coastline ten minutes Middle No 2 Buoy, however, an object later. At 0800 Exmouth lifeboat re- East Division was sighted in the water l'/2 cables to ported her expected time of arrival off starboard. The Atlantic changed course- Sidmouth as 0815. At 0805, however, and as she came nearer she saw a man the helicopter reported the sighting of Outboard failure waving an oar. It was the missing bath- the woman in the water; she was lifted tub. Its outboard engine had run out of within minutes and artificial respiration A RED HANDFLARE from a cabin cruiser fuel and there was no anchor on board; attempted, but when, at 0813, she was about two miles east of Cullercoats Har- the three men had no food or drink. lowered to the ambulance waiting on bour was sighted by Tyne Coastguard at They were taken aboard the lifeboat the beach she was found to be dead. 1232 on Sunday September 26, 1982. and treated for exposure. The bath and The man, severely injured, was taken to Cullercoats lifeboat station was in- its fittings were also taken on board and hospital but died a few days later. formed and at 1239 the D class inflat- the lifeboat returned to station where The lifeboat arrived at Exmouth at able lifeboat launched on service man- the three men were seen by the honor- 0947 and was once again ready for ser- ned by Helmsman David Blackman and ary medical adviser. The lifeboat was vice, at 1005. Crew Members W. Sneddon and rehoused and once again ready for ser- For this service a letter signed by Cdr Michael Smith. vice at 1430. Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, ex- It was a fine day with good visibility For this service a letter signed by pressing the Institution's appreciation but the strong southerly breeze, force 6, Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, was sent to Coxswain Geoffrey B. was gusting to near gale, force 7. The expressing the Institution's appreciation Mears, Second Coxswain Keith R. Gra- sea was rough and it was nearly two to Helmsmen Alan J. Clarke and Rod- ham, Assistant Mechanic Timothy R. hours after high water. ney W. F. Hicks and their crews, was Mock and Crew Members Reginald The lifeboat ran off to the east but sent to Mr J. T. Day, Hunstanton sta- Mogridge, Roy Richards and Geoffrey was told by a fishing vessel that the tion honorary secretary. Ingram. casualty was not in her area. At this time another flare fired by the cabin cruiser was seen to the north east. On station American Ambassador, October 28, When the lifeboat reached the casualty, 1982. at 1250, she found that she was lying at The following lifeboats took up sta- Hunstanton: Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable anchor and that her outboard engine tion duties during the months October lifeboat B556, Spirit of America, De- had failed; she had five people on 1982 to February 1983: cember 3, 1982. board. The lifeboat took the boat in tow Fowey: 33ft Brede class lifeboat 33-03, Arbroath: 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat but, in the freshening wind, all attempts RNLB Leonore Chilean, October 16, 37-36, RNLB Shoreline, December 17, to free her anchor failed and it eventual- 1982. 1982. ly had to be cut away. Blyth: 44ft Waveney class lifeboat 44- Flamborough: 37ft Oakley class lifeboat The tow back to Cullercoats Harbour 022, RNLB The William and Jane, 37-05, RNLB Will and Fanny Kirby, was made at slow speed with both boats October 26. 1982. January 18, 1983. taking on a good deal of water. They Atlantic College (St Donat's Castle): Girvan: 33ft Brede class lifeboat 33-04, arrived at 1330. The cabin cruiser was Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable B554, RNLB Philip Vaux, February 16, 1983. beached; her crew, all very wet, were 212 landed and helped to get warm and dry Campbeltown, Argyllshire Harwich, Essex before they returned home. The life- 52ft Arun: October 17 (twice) and 27 44ft Waveney: September 27 boat was rehoused and once again ready Cardigan, Dyfed Relief Atlantic 21: September 5 (twice), 8, for service at 1340. D class inflatable: September 19 and 30 17, 20 (twice) 29, October 19, November 8 Clacton-on-Sea, Essex and 24 37ft Oakley: September 28 Hastings, East Sussex D class inflatable: September 28 and 37ft Oakley: September 21, October 4 and November 14 November 22 Lifeboat Services, Clovelly, North Devon D class inflatable: October 5, 14 and 19 Relief 71 ft Clyde: September 2, October 9, Hayling Island, Hampshire September, October November 4, 5 and 16 Atlantic21: September 6, 7, 18, 21, 24, 25, and November, 1982 Conwy, Gwynedd 27, October 1 (twice), 10, 16 (twice), 17, 27, D class inflatable: November 14 31 and November 7 Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co Cork Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire Atlantic21: Septembers, 5, 12, 23, 26 (four 54ftArun: Octobers 47ft Watson: September 24 times), October 25 and November 13 Abersoch, Gwynedd Criccieth, Gwynedd Holyhead, Gwynedd Atlantic 21: September 19 and 26 D class inflatable: September 8 (twice) and Aith, Shetland October 16 52ft Arun: September 17, 18 (twice) and 52ft Burnett: November 4 Cromer, Norfolk October 16 Horton and Port Eynon, West Glamorgan Amble, Northumberland 48ft 6in Oakley: September 17 and 21 37ft 6in Rather: September 20 (twice) and D class inflatable: September 3 and October D class inflatable: September 2 and 12 Howth, Co Dublin October 16 24 47ft Watson: September 12 Angle, Dyfed Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear 46ft 9in Watson: November 27 D class inflatable: September 17 and 26 Relief 46ft 9in Watson: November 6 and 24 D class inflatable: October 23 and 31 Anstruther, Fife Relief D class inflatable: November 1 Hoy lake, Mersey side 37ft Oakley: September 20 and October 21 Donaghadee, Co Down 37ft (tin Rather: September 27 Appledore, North Devon 44ft Waveney: November 26 Humber, Humberside 47ft Watson: October 10 Dover, Kent Relief 52ft Arun: September 2, 3, 8, 12, 19 Atlantic21: September 2, 7, 21, 28, October 50ft Thames: September 16, October 23, and October 2 10 (twice), 16 and November 7 November 4 and 26 54ft Arun: October 12, 13, 20, 29, November Arbroath, Angus Dunbar, East Lothian 1,3, 5, 9 and 10 Relief 42ft Watson: September 23 and D class inflatable: October 30 November 18 Dungeness, Kent Hunstanton, Norfolk Relief Atlantic 21: September 13, 14 (twice), D class inflatable: September 23 37ft 6in Rather: September 11, October 2, October 10, 20 (twice), 21, 24, November 1 Arklow, Co Wicklow November 4 and 21 (twice) and 2 42ft Watson: November 21 Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Arranmore, Co Donegal 44ft Waveney: September 12, 25 and October Ilfracombe, North Devon 37ft Oakley: October 31 52ft Barnett: November 5, 11,17 and 22 3 (twice) Atlantic College (St Donat's Castle), South Dunmore East, Co Waterford Islay, Argyllshire Glamorgan Relief 46ft 9in Watson: September 1, 27 and 50ft Thames: October 16, 25 and 27 Relief 52ft Barnett: November 13 Atlantic21: November 6, 16 (twice) and 28 October 13 Ballycotton, Co Cork Eastbourne, East Sussex Kippford, Kirkcudbrightshire 52ft Barnett: October 24 (twice) and 25 37ft 6in Rather: September 23, October 24 D class inflatable: September 6 and 26 Bangor, Co Down and November 22 Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire D class inflatable: October 3, November 1, 2 D class inflatable: October 19 37ft Oakley: September 18 and 26 Exmouth, South Devon Kirkwall, Orkney Barmouth, Gwynedd Relief 46ft 9in Watson: September 12, 71f t Clyde: November 2 Relief 42ft Watson: October 31 October 16 and 18 Largs, Ayrshire D class inflatable: September 5 and 23 D class inflatable: September 12 (twice), 21, Atlantic21: Septembers (twice), 11, 12 Barra Island, Inverness-shire 24 (twice), October 1 and November 14 (twice), 25, 26 (four times) and October 7 Relief 52ft Barnett: September 16 Falmouth, Cornwall Relief At/antic 21: October 17 and 29 Barrow, Cumbria 52ft Arun: October 9, 22 and November 1 Lerwick, Shetland Relief 46ft 9in Watson: September 5 and 18ft 6in McLachlan: September 2 and 52ft Arun: September 7, 19 and 21 November 13 (twice) October 22 Littlehampton, West Sussex Barry Dock, South Glamorgan Filey, North Yorkshire Atlantic 21: September 3, 19 (twice) and Relief 44ft Waveney: September 6, 25, Relief 37ft Oakley: September 3 November 14 October 17 and 23 D class inflatable: September 3, 13, October Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent 52ft Arun: November 6 and 16 (twice) 3 and 19 Atlantic 21: November 4 and 21 Beaumaris, Gwynedd Fishguard, Dyfed The Lizard-Cadgwith, Cornwall Atlantic21: November 13 and 14 52ft Arun: September 11, 12, November 19 52ft Barnett: October 1 and 30 Bembridge, Isle of Wight and 25 Llandudno (Orme's Head), Gwynedd Relief'46ft 9in Watson: October 8 Flamborough, Humberside 37ft Oakley: September 27 (twice) and D class inflatable: September 15 and October 35ft 6in Liverpool: November 21 October 16 27 Fleetwood, Lancashire D class inflatable: September 5 Blackpool, Lancashire 44ft Waveney: October 5 and 17 Longhope, Orkney D class inflatable: September 18 and October D class inflatable: September 11 48ft 6in Solent: November 20 22 Fowey, Cornwall Lowestoft, Suffolk Borth, Dyfed 33ft Brede: November 7 Relief 47ft Watson: September 21 and D class inflatable: September 4 Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire October 16 Bridlington, Humberside 48ft 6in Solent: November 8 Lymes Regis, Dorset 37ft Oakley: September 7, 26, 27 and Galway Bay, Co Galway Atlantic 21: September 2 (twice) October 23 52ft Barnett: September 12, 19, November 2 Lytham-St Annes, Lancashire D class inflatable: October 15 and 24 and 21 46ft 9in Watson: October 30 Brighton, East Sussex Girvan, Ayrshire Relief D class inflatable: September 12 and Atlantic 21: November 9 and 20 42ft Watson: September 26 and 30 October 24 Bude, Cornwall Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire D class inflatable: September 3 and 16 44ft Waveney: September 17, 26, 28 and D class inflatable: September 10 and October Burry Port, Dyfed October 1 13 D class inflatable: September 26, October 4 Happisburgh, Norfolk Mallaig, Inverness-shire and 7 D class inflatable: September 26 52ft Arun: November 10 and 14 Calshot, Hampshire Hartlepool, Cleveland Margate, Kent 40ft Keith Nelson: October 8, 24 and Relief 44ft Waveney: October 3 and 15 37ft 6in Rather: October 24 November 6 Atlantic 21: September 1, 12, 15 and Relief D class inflatable: September 5, 19 Relief 46ft 9in Watson: November 12 (twice) November 28 (twice), October 4 and November 7

213 Minehead, Somerset St Agnes, Cornwall D class inflatable: September 17 (twice). 22 Atlantic 21: September 9 Relief D class inflatable: September 3, 12 and (twice) and October 27 Moelfre, Gwynedd 17 Thurso, Caithness Relief 37ft Oak/ev: September 18. November St Bees, Cornwall 48ft bin Solent: September 7. October 16. 2 and 15 D class inflatable: September 10 November 6. 16 and 21 Morecambe, Lancashire St Catherines, Channel Islands Tighnabruaich, Argyllshire D class inflatable: September 7. 9, 26, D class inflatable: October 3 and 20 D class inflatable: September 5 October 16 and 17 St David's, Dyfed Torbay, South Devon Mudeford, Dorset 47ft Watson: November 16 54ftArun: September? (twice), 18,26, D class inflatable: September 24, October 1, St Helier, Channel Islands November 8 and 23 28 and November 14 44ft Wavenev: September 4, 18 (three times), 18ft 6in McLachlan: September 14 and The Mumbles, West Glamorgan 19. October'3. 19. 20. November 6, 7 and 14 October 17 47ft Watson: October 17, 26 and November St Ives, Cornwall Tramore, Co Waterford 24 37ft Oakley: September 16 D class inflatable: October 31 D class inflatable: October 3 and 16 Relief D class inflatable: September 7 Trearddur Bay, Gwynedd New Brighton, Merseyside (twice), 17 and 21 Relief D class inflatable: October 25 Atlantic 21: October 3 and 4 St Peter Port, Guernsey Troon, Ayrshire Newhaven, East Sussex 52ft Arun: September 21, 29. October 31, Relief 44fl Waveney: September 5 and 26 44ft Wavenev: September 14. 18 (three November 6 and 23 (three times) times), 21, October 2. 9, 28. November 9 and Salcombe, South Devon 44ft Waveney: October 17 and 31 10 47ft Watson: September 5, October 20 Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear Newquay, Cornwall (twice) and November 19 52ft Arun: September 4 and October 16 Relief D class inflatable: September 3, 11, 12 and 29 Scarborough, North Yorkshire D class inflatable: September 1. 4 and 37ft Oakley: October 14, November 7 and 28 November 27 North Berwick, East Lothian D class inflatable: September 1 and 12 Valentia, Co Kerry D class inflatable: September 26 (twice) (twice) 52ft Burnett: September 8. October 7 and 11 Oban, Argyllshire Selsey, West Sussex Walmer, Kent 33ft Brede: October 10 (twice). 12 and 23 48ft 6in Oakley: September 18 and 37ft bin Rather: September 6 and November Padstow, Cornwall November 21 21 48ftbin Oakley: September 16 D class inflatable: September 2 and 8 D class inflatable: September 6 Penarth, South Glamorgan Sheerness, Kent Relief D class inflatable: September 6. 21. 25. Walton and Frinton, Essex Relief 44ft Wavenev: September 1,6. 12, 19, 48ft 6in Oakley: September 26 (twice) and October 3 (twice), 4 and November 16 21 and October 24' November 14 Penlee, Cornwall 44ft Waveney: October 31, November 6, 7 Wells, Norfolk 46ft 9in Watson: September 16 and 19 and 19 D class inflatable: October 29 Plymouth, South Devon D class inflatable: September 1, 4. 5, 12, 13, 44ft Waveney: September 15. 30, November West Kirby, Merseyside 21,22, October 9 (twice), 12, 17.24,31, D class inflatable: September 5, 12, 29 and 4 and 19 (twice) November 6 and 18 October 17 (three times) 18ft 6in McLachlan: September 16. October 20 and 21 Sheringham, Norfolk West Mersey, Essex Relief 37ft Oakley: September 21 Poole, Dorset Atlantic 21: September 12 44ft Waveney: September 9 Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex Relief At/antic 21: October31, November 10, Dell Quay Dory: September 5 (twice). 6. 9, 37ft 6in Rather: September 1 and 21 (twice) 11 (twice), 14,20,21 and 23 D class inflatable: September 19 and October November 7 (three times) and 9 Weston-super-Mare, Avon Portaferry, Co Down 16 18ftdin McLachlan: September 15 (twice), D class inflatable: September 26 Silloth, Cumbria 25, October 15 and November 6 Port Erin, Isle of Man Atlantic 21: September 26, October 16 and D class inflatable: September 15, 25. October 37ft 6in Rather: October 16. 30 and 31 17 2 and November 6 Weymouth, Dorset Porthdinllaen, Gwynedd Skegness, Lincolnshire 47ft Watson: September 23 37ft Oakley: September 5, October 20 and 54ft Arun: September 6, October 10 and November 1 November 15 Port Isaac, Cornwall Skerries, Co Dublin D class inftalab/e: September 3, 13, 17 and 25 Whitby, North Yorkshire Portrush, Co Antrim D class inflatable: October 3 and 24 44ft Waveney: September 19. October 24 and November 28 52ft Arun: September 23, October 12, 31 and Southend-on-Sea, Essex November 15 Atlantic21 f September 5 (twice). 11, 23, D class inflatable: September 2. 19, 26, Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour), October 3. 11 and November 10 October 2, 27 and 30 Hampshire D class inflatable: September 6, October 2 Whitstable, Kent Atlantic21: September 14, 18 (twice). 19. 26. and 19 (twice) Atlantic21: September 12, 20 (twice). 25 October 1 (twice). 16. 17, 24, November 9, Southwold, Suffolk (twice), October 2 (twice) 23. November 6. 14. 16and 18 Atlantic 21: September 28, November 14 8. 21 and 22 (twice) and 23 D class inflatable: September 18. 21, 25. 26 Wick, Caithness and October 1 (twice) Staithes and Runswick, North Yorkshire 48ft 6in Oakley: November 26 and 27 Relief D class inflatable: November 9 and 16 Atlantic 21: September 12 (twice). 14. 22 and Wicklow, Co Wicklow Port St Mary, Isle of Man October 31 42ft Watson: October 1 Relief 52ft Arun: September 5 Stornoway (Lewis), Ross-shire Workington, Cumbria 54ft Arun: October 30 and 31 48ft 6in Solent: November 9 and 10 47ft Watson: September 1, 6 and 13 Port Talbot, West Glamorgan Stranraer, Wigtownshire Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Relief D class inflatable: October 29 D class inflatable: October 17 Relief 52ft Arun: September 5. 11. 19, Swanage, Dorset Pwllheli, Gwynedd October 17, 24. 30 and November 8 37ft Oakley: September 12 and October 16 37ft 6in Rather: September 19 (twice), 27. On Trials Queensferry, West Lothian October 13. 19 and November 21 Prototype 47ft Tyne: November 6 and 17 Atlantic21: September 7 and November 19 Tenby, Dyfed Experimental D class inflatable: September 46ft 9in Watson: September 1 18. 20 and 21 Ramsey, Isle of Man 37ft Oakley: November 23 Redcar, Cleveland SERVICES AND LIVES RESCUED BY THE RNLI'S LIFEBOATS 37ft Oaklev: September 4. 7 and November January 1, 1982, to December 31,1982: Services 3,240; lives rescued 1,244 12 D class inflatable: September 3, 7. 12 and THE STATION FLEET October 17 (as at 31/12/82) Rhyl, Clwyd 258 lifeboats, of which one Atlantic 21, three 18ft 6in McLachlan and 37ft Oaklev: September 12 (twice) and 14 63 D class inflatable lifeboats operate in summer only D class inflatable: September 11,12 (four LIVES RESCUED 108,912 times) and October 16 Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford from the Institution's foundation in 1824 to 31/12/82, including shoreboat services 48ft (tin Solent: September 12 and October 24 214 Books ...

• A new and expanded history of Penlee and Penzance branch entitled Penlee is just being produced and will appear before this spring journal is published. It is written by John Corin and Grahame Farr with a foreword by Mary Richards, mother of the late Coxswain Trevelyan Richards, and it is illustrated with about 100 photographs. A review will appear in the next issue of the journal but in the meantime copies are available from Mr D. L. Johnson, Penlee station honorary secretary, 72/73 Market Jew Street, Penzance, Corn- wall, TR18 2LF, price £2.75 plus 50p package and postage.—J.O.D.

• The last of David Butcher's trilogy of'oral histories. Living from the Sea (Tops'l Books, £6.75 cased, £4.75 limp), follows the pattern of his first two volumes where the author allows a Marathon Oil UK offered to pay the costs of Peterhead lifeboat station for a year and last fascinating collection of people to tell February Ed McFarland (centre r), the company's Aberdeen general manager, presented a their stories in their own words. Large cheque for 15,000 dollars to John Geddes (centre I), chairman of Peterhead station branch. With sections of the book are taken straight them are Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director RNLI, Coxswain John Buchan and members of Peterhead lifeboat crew. Captain Alexander Ramsay of Mar, chairman of the Scottish Executive from taped interviews, giving colourful Committee, was also present. Following the presentation, watched by people representative of all and fascinating accounts of the life of areas of the community, the boat was launched with Mr McFarland and other guests on board. the fishing communities in and around On their return, coffee was waiting in the Harbour Office followed by a buffet lunch provided by Lowestoft. The author adds comments Marathon Oil. To show its appreciation, the RNLF gave a plaque to the company and a lifeboat and background and the temptation to tie to Mr McFarland. romanticise the past is put into context by the interviews which show just how woven together in such a way as to tions awards (see page 199), picks out a hard life was for the families of the allow the author to depict, telescoped different sort of emergency for each fishermen. into a few days, the variety of calls chapter, describes incidents that hap- Intertwined with the early lifeboats in which may be made on a lifeboat pened to him and then looks for the these parts were the beach companies, station. The coxswain and his crew lessons to be learnt. Just to read the originally set up for salvage work and answer a series of 'shouts', real and introduction to this book is to have the running of independent lifeboats. hoax, as, the weekend progressing, a taken one step towards good seaman- Moves by the RNLI to set up its own storm builds up and passes through; for ship, but read on . . .—J.O.D. lifeboats were initially viewed with the reader, as incident follows incident, some suspicion but a working com- a picture gradually takes shape of the • Two useful guides have recently promise was soon sorted out and the running of a lifeboat station. been published by the English Tourist beach companies continued to run their The author has taken great trouble to Board. Activity and Hobby Holidays own boats as well as supplying the make sure that her technical facts are details over 500 hotels, colleges and RNLI crew. The book is full of old accurate, whether she is writing about country houses throughout the country traditions, such as the annual smoking lifeboats, gliding or sailing. Coxswain/ offering year round package holidays party in the beach company shed: Mechanic Ken Holland advised on life- with courses and instruction in pursuits 'We'd have over 100people in that shed boat matters and the book is dedicated as diverse as sub-aqua diving, brass . . . old Mitch the undertaker, he was a to the coxswain, crew and launchers of rubbing, yoga, bellringing and many first class entertainer . . . Any beer that Skegness lifeboat, 'with the deepest more. Most holidays cater for children wuz left over, after six in the mornin', admiration'.—J.O.D. accompanied by adults and can range used to be shared out so much a man till from two days to a week or more. The that'd all gone'. • The trouble with building up a fund guide, which includes prices in its com- and the fishermen who would of seamanship sailing your own small prehensive information,. is available, 'Chuck a few coppers over the side o' boat is that an emergency—be it fire, price £1.25 from newsagents, book- the boat t' buy some herrin'—nothin' come engine failure, man overboard or any shops and tourist information centres. free, yuh see'. other potentially dangerous situation— For those whose pleasure lies in This is not just nostalgia but an will very often have to be met without consuming calories rather than expend- interesting archive of times gone by, as the help of previous experience. If the ing them English Food and Drink 1983 Rose Thrower, born in 1909, says: situation could have been envisaged temptingly lists more than 500 res- 'That wuz a happy village when I wuz a beforehand and thought through the taurants, pubs and tearooms serving girl. Thass not the same now. I wun't ever skipper would be in a much stronger regional specialities from Dartmoor wan t' go back'. position. The Trouble With Cruising by pasties to Colchester oysters. Recipes, —R.K. J. D. Sleightholme (Nautical Books, maps and interesting facts about the • Lifeboat!, by Margaret Dickinson £5.95) sets out to give just that sort of traditions of English cooking as well as (Robert Hale, £7.50), is a novel set in a help. From his own wealth of experi- a calendar of food related events and fictitious holiday resort on the Lincoln- ence—more than 40 years of successful customs are contained in the guide. shire coast over a Bank Holiday cruising—Des Sleightholme, editor of Costing just 95p, this guide is also weekend. The strands of the story, Yachting Monthly and one of the recip- available from newsagents, bookshops perhaps rather slight in themselves, are ients of this year's RNLI public rela- and tourist information centres.—H.D. 215 Index to Advertisers Page COOMBE BANK HOTEL, TEIGN- Aegis Insurance Services (Group) Ltd MOUTH, S. Devon. Family-run hotel within FUND RAISING GAMES: Inside Back Cover easy reach of three Lifeboat Stations and Teddy Bear's Picnic Birds Eye Foods Ltd Back Cover Exeter Maritime Museum. Good home Wembley Win a Football Mercantile Credit Inside Front Cover cooking, TV lounge, 'Lifeboat' Bar. OPEN Win a Panda ALL YEAR. 10% off peak discount for Hello Dolly Classified Advertisements Lifeboat Crew and their families. Write or Clip-on Cuddlies phone for brochure 06267 2369. Pop Posters Wordage: £5.50 per single column centimetre Make-up Girl (minimum charge £16.50). NB: The mini- BRIXHAM, SOUTH DEVON. Comfort- Handyman Tools mum space of 3cm takes about 45 words at 15 ably furnished and fully equipped HOLI- Diamonds are Forever words per cm. DAY APARTMENTS (fridges and colour Plus Many More With illustration: £12 per single column cen- TV, of course). Superb position beside outer Free illustrated catalogue sent timetre (minimum charge £36). harbour, panoramic views of Torbay and on request harbour. Near boats, launching slip, beach PEEKS OF BOURNEMOUTH LTD ALL CLASSIFIEDS MUST BE PRE-PAID. and pool. Children over 6 years welcome. Everything for Fetes and Carnivals TUCKTON BOURNEMOUTH DORSET BH6 3LD Resident proprietors ensure cared for TELEPHONE 0202 429404 5 accommodation and are associated with Tor- HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION bay Lifeboat. Stamp please for brochures. G. A. Smith, 'Harbour Lights', 69 Berry PARKFIELD HOTEL is a comfortable, Head Road. Tel: 08045 4816. PROPERTY SEAMEN AND YACHTSMEN wanting to licensed, family hotel. Gardens opposite PAINTINGS include Tennis Courts, Putting/Bowling moor up in central London and buy a flat or LIFEBOAT OIL PAINTINGS on canvas house will receive a warm welcome from: Greens. We are close to sea, station and 36" x 28". £52.00 post paid. Arun. Watson. shops. Also Bargain Mini-breaks and Christ- MARRIOTTS. Estate Agents. 15 Sussex Waveney, Oakley, etc. by well-known Life- Street. London SW1. Telephone 01-821 0783 mas programme. Phone Pauline and Craig boat artist John Lee, Storm and rescue Macfarlane for brochure (0202 20059) or and send for our list of terra firma situations a speciality. Ideal for retirement properties. write 56 Frances Road, Bournemouth BH1 presentations or Lifeboat Fund raffles. 3SA. Satisfaction guaranteed. Send s.a.e. to 9 MISCELLANEOUS Esplanade. Weymouth. Dorset. Tel: (0305) FISHERMEN'S SMOCKS 100% navy cot- ISLE OF ANGLESEY. Enjoy the peace, 785960. tranquility and beauty of rural Wales; make ton drill. All sizes £8.95. Corduroy smocks, your base at the Kings Head. CRUISING HOLIDAYS navy, all sizes £11.95. All prices inclusive of Llanerchymcdd in the centre of the island. River Cruising in SW France. Hire a fully- postage. Rockall Wear. 17 Fairfield Drive, We are sure you will enjoy the pleasant fitted. 2 to 6-berth cruiser and explore the Halesowen, West Midlands B62 9PJ. unspoilt River Charente through the heart of family atmosphere of our small private hotel. ALL ELECTRICAL REPAIRS, large or Good home cooking, large grounds. Associ- the 'Cognac Country for a totally relaxing small. Any electrical repair considered; ated with Moclfre Lifeboat. Brochure: Mrs holiday. Boats available April-October. Domestic; Industrial; Auto; Marine; Tele- Mary Owens, Telephone (024876) 482. Brochure from 'Holiday Charente'. Ward- phone; Security and Surveillance Systems. 24 ington. Banbury. Oxon OX17 ISA. Crop- Hours. 7 Days Service. 01-834 7334. Radio SONIA and ALAN NORGAN at Mount redy (029575) 8282. Paging Code 5730. Lodge Hotel once again offer comfortable accommodation, some bedrooms en suite, BOAT PLANS THE GIFT OR PRESENTATION licensed bar. spacious dining room. Together BUILD YOUR OWN BOAT (or enjoy the WITH A DIFFERENCE! with freshly prepared food we provide a- pleasure of contemplating the task!) with our UNCANNILY ACCURATE MINIATURE good service at the hotel situated in the superb and beautifully presented American MODELS OF ACTUAL LIFEBOATS, Chines between Bournemouth and Poole. 19 Boat Plans and Kits Catalogue. 180 pages SAILING BARGES, YACHTS Beaulieu Road. Bournemouth. Tel: (0202) filled with drawings and photos—an advisory AND OTHER VESSELS 761173. manual for Home and Professional Boat- Commissioned by maritime museums, col- builders. Every type from an 8ft Punt to a lectors, yacht owners and clubs. RNLI life- BLACKPOOL. Mansfield Lodge, adjacent 50ft Ocean Ketch. Timber. GRP and Steel boats a speciality for enthusiasts and crew Promenade. National Coach Station close construction. An absolute 'must' for every retirements. by. Easy reach of all amenities. Licensed, boating connoisseur. Send £3.00 now to BRIAN WILLIAMS, ship modeller, is avail- family run Guest House. Central heating, GLEN MARINE DESIGNS LTD. Dept able at his studio to discuss clients' require- colour TV. BB/ED. Irene and Tim Storr. 50 (LB), Monkstown, Cork, Ireland. ments for lifeboat models for naming cere- Tyldesley Road; Tel: 0253 23015. monies, retirements and mementoes, and other vessels, and is pleased that the David FUND RAISING WELCOMBE. NORTH DEVON. 400 year James Gallery. 291 Brompton Road, Lon- old cottage in delightful country setting, two don, now permanently features his unusual miles from the beach. Cottage sleeps 6 and is work which is much sought after by collec- equipped with colour TV. fridge, tumble FUND-RAISERS tors worldwide. West Rock. The Cleave. dryer, etc. Within easy reach of Bude, Kingsand. Nr Torpoint. Cornwall PL10 INF. Hartland. Clovclly, etc. £60-£120 per week. RNLI WALL PLAQUES - a new high quality Further details telephone Holsworthy (0409) hand-crafted item with full-coloured RNLI 253030. flag in relief, mounted on varnished shield <0»Ulllllll|tlU/4, fr/i" x 8'/T—£9.50 (P&P £2.25). Ideal for DORSET. Close to Poole with its harbour, DELIVERY FREE 1 = A Best = presentations with engraved plates with own miles of safe sandy beaches, dunes and cliffs. to your front door 5 wording £2.50 extra—Brian Williams. Golf 250 yards. Ride, walk or just relax in Details from Marine Model Artist. 'West Rock', The small licensed hotel with fireside comfort and LANE & PARTNERS LTD. Cleave. Kingsand, Nr Torpoint. Cornwall good fresh food. Open all year and special 59 South Audley Street, London W1 PL10 INF (0752-822638). weekend rates. Fairlight Hotel. Broadstone BH188BE. Tel: (1202694316.

THE LEIGHAM COURT HOTEL wel- Advertisement Rates comes RNLI Supporters visiting LONDON. Page £775 Halfpage £435 Fifty rooms, many with bath or shower, Quarter page £260 Eighth page £165 licensed restaurant, two bars, one specialis- ing in traditional ales. Extensive free parking Series rates where appropriate on the forecourt. 10% discount on produc- Colour and cover rates on request tion of this advertisement. Reservations: Circulation of THE LIFEBOAT 108,000 Phone 01-677 7171/2/3; or write to 18 Leigham Court Road. Streatham, London Dyson Advertising Services, PO Box 9, Godalming, Surrey. 04868 23675 SW162PJ. HOW YOU CAN HELP THE LIFEBOATMEN

JOIN your local branch or guild GIVE a coffee morning JOIN Shoreline, the membership COLLECT used British or foreign scheme stamps and foreign coins HELP on flag days SPONSOR YOUR FRIENDS BUY RNLI gifts and souvenirs who are running in marathons, and Christmas cards walking, swimming or perhaps knitting or rowing for the RNLI SELL lottery tickets

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