Honorary Secretary, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay Branch THE crew of the Cullercoats life-boat and the people of Cullercoats and Whitley Bay are justly proud of their bowman, Ray Oliver. Not only is Ray a first-class officer in the boat, but he is known throughout the country as the centre forward of the English international amateur soccer team.

Ray Oliver follows a family tradi- tion. His father was a member of the crew of the Cullercoats life-boat for twenty-five years and was bowman for seven years. Although still a young man Ray has been a crew member for many years. In July 1949 he was appointed as second assistant motor mechanic, and he succeeded his father as bowman on 1st April, 1952.

Humane Society Award In November 1946, while the life- boat was being launched on service, the boat became jammed on the stone breakwater of the harbour. In trying to dislodge it, three of the shore helpers were washed off the breakwater into the sea. Ray Oliver immediately jumped overboard, badly damaging an ankle. He swam out twice and brought two of the men to safety; the third one managed to regain the shore unaided. Oliver then returned to the boat and took his place in the crew. He was subsequently off work nearly four weeks with his injured ankle. He received a letter of thanks from the Institution and was also presented with the Parchment of the Royal Humane Society.

His football career has been meteoric, starting in junior football with Culler- coats A.F.C. Here he was found play- ing at centre-half in 1949 by Mr. D.

Davidson, former Scottish inter- national and Newcastle United player and the manager of the newly formed Whitley Bay Club—at that time another comparatively junior team.

Mr. Davidson saw Ray's possibilities and persuaded him to try the centre- forward position. While playing with Whitley Bay he gained his first of eight county caps to date for Northum- berland. In the summer of 1953 he was invited to tour South Africa with the famous amateur club, Bishop Auckland. On returning to this country he decided to play in the 1953-54 season with the "Bishops" and in senior football immediately attracted attention. Games for an F.A. Amateur XI against Oxford University, Headington United and Watford led to his selection as travel- ling reserve for England v. Holland at Rotterdam on March 7th, 1954.

First International Cap He received his first international cap as England's centre-forward against Scotland at Wembley on March 27th and was back again at Wembley on April 10th for his club in the first of those three tremendous amateur cup final games against Crook Town. In the last of those games Ray was injured and had to withdraw from the England team in which he was to have been centre-forward against Wales on 24th April. He was then chosen to represent an F.A. Amateur XI against Jersey on May 10th and Guernsey on May 12th. Naturally many very attractive offers to turn professional have come his way from first division clubs, but all have been refused. Ray Oliver prefers his footballing as an amateur—and his life-boat work.

His future career will no doubt be followed with keen interest by life- boatmen everywhere. He is typical of all that is best in the service..