IN a world in which good news tends more and more to be excluded from the front pages of newspapers, it is gratifying to be able to record that the R.N.L.I.'s record last year was one of consistent and outstanding success. The number of people whose lives were saved was 1,428. This showed an increase of no less than 13.6% on the figure for 1970, and it is of course the_figure of lives saved which is the true criterion of success in the life-boat service. Happily this splendid record was achieved without the loss of a single member of a life-boat crew on exercise or service. A measure of the increase in the work demanded of the R.N.L.I.'s crews is to be found in the fact that as compared with nine years ago the number of calls for help which were answered has more than trebled.

RETIRING CHAIRMAN This record of success must have been particularly gratifying during his last year of office to the R.N.L.I.'s former Chairman, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.S.O. Admiral Woods led the R.N.L.I.'s delegation to the 11th International Life-boat Conference in New York in May of last year. He was taken ill while in the United States, and after his return toEngland was informed by his doctor that it would be necessary for him to give up the exacting work demanded of the Chairman of the R.N.L.I. He undertook to remain in his post until a new chairman had been found and continues to serve on the Committee of Management.

The editor of The Life-boat has had the privilege of serving under four different chairmen, Sir Godfrey Baring, Earl Howe, Captain V. M.

Wyndham-Quin and Sir Wilfrid Woods. Of all four it could and should be said that they served the R.N.L.I. devotedly with no thought other than that of service. Theirs has been a great tradition.

The new Chairman of the R.N.L.I. is Commander F. R. H. Swann, O.B.E., R.N.V.R., while two deputy chairmen, the Duke of Atholl and Major General Ralph H. Farrant, C.B., have been appointed.

Commander Swann, who brings to his new task detailed and extensive knowledge of lifeboat design and construction, was the subject of a 'Profile' in the January number of THE LIFE-BOAT. He joined the R.N.L.I.'s Committee of Management in 1953 and was chairman of its Boat and Construction Committee from 1960 to 1969, a period when important newdevelopments in life-boat design occurred. He played a leading part in the introduction of the 70 ft. steel class life-boat and of the 44 ft.

steel type adapted from a design of the United States Coast Guard.

The Duke of Atholl, who joined the Committee of Management in 1959, has been Convener of the Scottish Life-boat Council since 1965. Like his predecessor as Convener, Lord Saltoun, the Duke has visited numerous branches of the R.N.L.I, in Scotland to enlist further support. He is a Representative Peer for Scotland in the House of Lords and director of a number of companies.

Major General Farrant has been especially interested in the development of the various inshore life-boats, whose introduction has already served to save many hundreds of lives.

He is Chairman of the Royal Yachting Association's Olympics Committee. He joined the Committee of Management of the R.N.L.I, in 1963.

H.M. COASTGUARD Some rather misleading reports were published earlier in the year in the press suggesting that H.M. Coastguard were contemplating operating a number of inshore rescue craft. The truth is that the Coastguard have no intention of operating rescue boats as a seaborne rescue service in any sort of competition with the R.N.L.I. H.M. Coastguard have ordered four boats to be carried by Coastguard Land- Rovers for experimental purposes, the aim being to provide Coastguardmen with a further accessory to the land mobile unit so that in particular areas they can if they wish leave the Land Rover and take to the water. Co-operation between the R.N.L.I. and H.M. Coastguard has indeed been growing steadily closer, and in recognition of the outstanding work done the R.N.L.I. has awarded its gold medal to H.M.

Coastguard on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Coastguard's foundation.

This will be presented at the Institution's annual general meeting on 18th May. In a letter to Mr. Anthony Grant, Minister of State, Admiral Woods wrote: 'The close co-operation between our two services has always been of paramount importance in the task to which we are both dedicated, that of saving life at sea, and the R.N.L.I. for its part is proud to have been associated for so long with a body whose annals are so distinguished as those of H.M. Coastguard.' SELF-RIGHTING BY AIR BAG The first R.N.L.I. life-boat to be fitted with an air bag, which in the event of a capsize will cause her to right herself, is now on service at Donaghadee, Co. Down. Extensive trials in the use of air bags were carried out by theR.N.L.I. in conjunction with the British Hovercraft Corporation. The air bag is secured to the top of the after cabin of the life-boat. In the event of the boat being heeled over beyond the point of no return an automatic valve comes into operation at about 120 degrees. At that point, air is released from a compressed air bottle and is fed into the air bag which rapidly inflates to full size. Using this method a capsized boat of this class should right herself in ten to fifteen seconds. The cost of supplying and installing this prototype emergency righting unit into the Donaghadee life-boat was approximately £2,250.

INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW The R.N.L.I.'s stand at the International Boat Show at Earl's Court, London, in January was graced by a number of distinguished visitors.

Princess Margaret, who formally opened the show, spent some time on the stand, and another most welcome visitor was the Prime Minister, who came on a private visit. Mr. Heath was one of the first yachtsmen to join the Y.L.A.

A Chelsea Pensioner, Sergeant F. C. Elverson, whose picture appears above also visited the stand and offered his services as a collector.

So diligent and so popular was he that by himself he collected the sum of £158.83..