ON 21st January, 1970, Fraserburgh life-boat capsized with the loss of five members of her crew. There was only one survivor, Mr. Jackson Buchan. On 25th March Mr. Goronwy Roberts, Minister of State, Board of Trade, stated in the House of Commons that a formal investigation would be held under Section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. He added that the R.N.L.I.

had stated that it would welcome the enquiry. The Institution carried out its own investigations and submitted its confidential report to the President of the Board of Trade, but in view of the decision to hold an enquiry the report cannot yet be published, and comment would be improper while the matter is still sub judice.

It may, however, be appropriate to quote an extract from the address delivered by Lord Saltoun, former convenor of the Scottish Life-boat Council, at the funeral which was held in Fraserburgh on 25th January. On a bitterly cold day some 10,000 mourners gathered in the church or lined the road to the cemetery.

The Duke of Kent, the President of the R.N.L.I., and the Chairman, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O., were among the mourners. Lord Saltoun said: 'I have never called life-boatmen heroes.

'I have always felt that they are men who can appreciate the risks they run even better than I—but who strain their hearts to outstrip a comrade getting to the boat because they will not let fear be their master. Such were these men.

'We think of ourselves as belonging to a civilised society. Turn to the papers and see how that society behaves.

'One does not feel very civilised.

'And then one learns that a life-boat has put out to help some vessel in distress, encountering all hazards, with no thought of reward, just because the crew are that kind of men.

'Do we not feel better about our civilisation ? 'The action of these men has redeemed our society, and restored our self- respect.

'This church—all the churches in Fraserburgh—are devoted to the love and worship of Jesus Christ; and if you ask why, people will tell you that it is because He is our Redeemer; the great Redeemer of mankind.

'So is it not true to say that these men by redeeming our society from its petty unworthiness have followed as well as men can the footsteps of our Master?" TRIUMPHANT OPERATIONAL RECORD The year 1969 may well be considered a year of triumph for the life-boat service. More calls were answered than ever before, the total number being 2,365. The previous highest figure was 2,310 in 1968. Most important of all, the number of people whose lives were saved by life-boats and inshore rescue boats was 1,132, an increase of about 11 per cent over the 1968 figure of 1,017.

The achievements of the Institution's financial branches and guilds were also outstanding. In the three preceding years a financial deficit had been incurred, in 1967 the deficit exceeding £400,000. By contrast, in 1969 there was a surplus of nearly £200,000, and while total receipts rose by 19 per cent., the increase in the amounts raised by the branches and guilds was no less than 31 per cent.The following table shows the surplus of deficit incurred in each of the last five years: Surplus Deficit 1965 £ 36,495 1966 £124,121 1967 £400,084 1968 £12,811 1969 £199,566 NEW LIFE-BOAT DESIGN The Committee Management has accepted a design for a new class of life- boat for use at stations where the life-boat lies afloat. The boat will be a self- righter, 52 feet in length, and have a service speed of about 18 knots. The design has been prepared by Mr. J. A. McLachlan of G. L. Watson & Co., of Glasgow, and it is hoped in due course to produce hulls to this design in glass-reinforced plastic—or G.R.P. as it is generally known. A prototype of this boat is already under construction in wood, and an extremely thorough operational evaluation will be carried out.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK ON FORMER LONGHOPE BOAT Certain experimental work has been carried out on the former Longhope life-boat. The aim of this is to make the after-cabin watertight. This will have the effect of making it more difficult to capsize an already very stable boat, and will also provide additional safety for the crew.

The former Longhope life-boat was chosen for the work as she happened to be at Messrs. William Osborne's boatyard at Littlehampton undergoing repair.

Among the problems posed in carrying out these modifications are that of ventilating the cabin, and resiting the drogue and drogue lines.

HOAX CALLS Among the more deplorable occurrences in the past year have been an appreciable number of launches by life-boats in answer to distress calls which have subsequently proved to be hoaxes. These hoaxes were mainly perpetuated in the North East of England. Both the Bridlington and Whitby life-boats answered three hoax calls, and the Filey and Humber boats answered one each.

On one occasion the Whitby life-boat was out for 10 hours in circumstances which led the honorary secretary to write: 'This service to a hoax call was carried out in the worst ever conditions experienced by the coxswain.' The mental state of those who perpetuate such hoaxes is difficult to understand.

Y.L.A. MEMBERSHIP At the time of going to press the latest figure for membership of the Yachts- men's Life-boat Supporters' Association was 4,260. Of these 3,106 signed oa during the first year of the Y.L.A's existence. The Y.L. A., it may be remembered, was launched at the beginning of 1969 by Sir Alec Rose. Y.L.A. features in this number of THE LIFE-BOAT appear on pages 99.

COASTGUARD APPOINTMENT Commander P. J. H. Bartlett, O.B.E., R.N. (retd), Chief Inspector of H.M, Coastguard, who retired early this year, has been succeeded by Lt.-Cmdr.

J. A. Douglas, M.B.E., R.N. (retd)..