THE LIFE-BOAT FLEET 153 Motor Life-boats 1 Harbour Pulling Life-boat LIVES RESCUED from the foundation of the Life-boat Service in 1824 to April 30th, 1952 77,697 The Great Exhibition of 1851: The Festival of Britain 1951 IN 1851 a prize of a hundred guineas for the model of a life-boat was offered by Rear Admiral the Duke of North- umberland, who that year had become President of the Institution. The life-boat must be capable of being rowed in all weathers. That was the chief quality demanded. She must also be able to do—what no life-boat since the Institution was founded twenty-five years before had been able to do—to right herself if she were capsized. No fewer than 280 models were sent in, and the prize was won by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.

The boat which was built from his model was the first self-righting life- boat, and she determined the design of the Institution's fleet for the next forty years. She was an open rowing boat, with 12 oars, and had two masts, carrying jib, fore, lug, and mizzen sails.

She was 36-feet long, with a beam of 9|-feet, and weighed, with her gear, just under three and a half tons.

She cost £250.

Beeching's model and two others entered for the competition—one made by William Teasdel, of Great Yar- mouth, and the other by James and Edward Plenty, of Newbury, Berk- shire—-were shown in the Great Exhi- bition of the Industry of All Nations in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park in 1851.

At the Festival of Britain, of 1951, on the South Bank of the Thames, the Life-boat Service was represented by its latest life-boat, completed shortly before the Festival opened.

She was a Watson cabin life-boat, 46- feet 9-inches by 12-feet 6-inches, weighing 221 tons and driven by two 40 h.p. diesel engines. She cost £24,000.

When this boat was chosen for the Festival it was at the same time decid- ed that she should be named after Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt., who has been a member of the Committee of Manage- ment since 1911, the vice-chairman from 1915 to 1923 and its chairman since 1923.* A Commanding Position The life-boat was in the Seaside Section, and stood in the open close to the Thames, near Waterloo Bridge, facing the pontoon at which visitors landed from the steamers. It was a commanding position, and she could be clearly seen from the bridge, and from the river. She was mounted on concrete pillars with her bows raised, pointing towards the river.

Close against her port side was a platform with a double flight of stairs to it. It was flush with the boat's deck and ran the full length of it, so that visitors could get a clear * Before tne festival it was intended tnat when it closed she would go to the station on The Humber, but it was later decided to station her at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.view of the whole deck. They could look directly at the engine-room con- trols under their canopy, and through two mirrors, fixed at the open end of the canopy, they could see the inside of the wireless chamber, and the inside of the deck cabin.

Floodlit by Night The top of the engine-room casing had been removed and replaced by a covering of perspex, through which visitors could look down into the engine-room. Through another pers- pex hatch they could look into one of the fuel compartments and see the tank for the diesel oil, and through another see the air cases under the deck. The engine-room, the fuel com- partment and the air cases were lighted by day and night. By night the whole boat was lit up by a flood- light mounted nearby on her star- board side, by flood lights built into the edge of the platform on her port side, and by the boat's own masthead floodlight. Her navigation lights were lit at night, and by day in bad weather.

From the ground there was a clear view of the starboard side of the boat, and of her propellers in their tunnels, and the bows were high enough above the ground for people to walk under them.

Coxswains and life-boatmen from stations all round the coast took • it in turn to be on board to explain the boat and answer questions. By the rules of the Festival no collecting boxes were permitted though many people asked where they were, nor could souvenirs be sold. Nor was the distribution of literature permitted, but during the second half of the Festival a special leaflet describing the boat was given away.

In only very exceptional cases were visitors allowed on board. Of those exceptions the most memorable was a party of four women and two men, nearly, or totally, blind. The boat was carefully explained to them, and the two men (who were totally blind) went over everything with their hands and said that they could see it all.

4,000,000 Visitors Of over 8,000,000 visitors to the Festival it was reckoned that about half climbed the platform to see the life-boat. It was reckoned also that about one visitor in twenty asked questions and that each asked on an average five questions, so that about a million questions were asked and answered.

Here is a letter from one visitor: "I am writing to you for three reasons: Firstly to congratulate you on your exhibit of one of your life-boats exactly as equipped for rescue work.

I have been twice to the South Bank Exhibition and each time I have felt that this boat is the best part of it.

If visitors to England want to see something 'British made' then let them admire your life-boat.

Secondly to thank the anonymous engineer who showed such enthusiasm and patience in answering our in- numerable questions. I am sure he has been a very good ambassador in your cause.

Thirdly to send the enclosed cheque.".