Before the University Boat Race took place on the Thames on 1st April, 1972, Commander P. Thornycroft, V.R.D., R.N.R., M.R.I.N.A., of T.T. Boat Designers Ltd, Bembridge, I.o.W., wrote: 'We have been asked by the B.B.C. if a boat can be made available for transporting their camera crew and we have agreed in principle. Once again I have explained to them that in view of the fact of having an Admiralty Warrant for the craft it cannot be available for normal charter.

However, provided they are prepared to defray our normal out-of-pocket expenses (fuel, etc.) and make a contribution to the R.N.L.I. we would be happy to help them, subject to the suitability of the boat. I have suggested a contribution of 100 guineas, to which they have readily agreed, and on this occasion I am proposing that the contribution be made to the Bembridge branch of the R.N.L.I. as this is really the home base of the launch Pisces.

Lee-on-Solent butcher, Mr. Eric Pearman, and his wife, Marjory, have presented a £40 cheque to the Mayor of Gosport (Aid. R. A. Kirkin). The money was the proceeds of a competition held by Mr. and Mrs. Pearman in aid of the R.N.L.I.

In reporting a provisional collection of close on £480 as a result of Shoreham's life-boat flag day in March, Mr. Tony Carpmael, honorary secretary, said: ' We seem to have found new enthusiasm from an enlarged committee'.

During a fund-raising evening, which the Sutton Coldfield ladies' life-boat guild held early this year, guests were asked to write down the number of lives saved by the R.N.L.I. since the inauguration of the Sutton Coldfield guild on 3rd March, 1966.

The 1st Bagillt Brownies Pack (girls aged 7-10) presented a cheque for £15 to Flint ILB station. This money was raised by making calendars and Christmas cards and by organising a small coffee evening.

The St. Helens Round Table organised a dinnerdance and cabaret in Liverpool and were able to hand over a cheque for £908 to the St. Helens ladies' life-boat guild. Mrs. IV. L. Else, M.B.E., the guild's chairman, was this year awarded a bar to her gold badge. The St. Helens guild is, incidentally, the 'top' inland branch in the north west. Highcliffe Comprehensive School, Mudeford, was approached by the chairman and secretary of the Mudeford ladies' life-boat guild for suggestions and help in raising money. The students built and raffled a canoe and raised £250 for guild funds.

This year the Leeds branch of the R.N.L.I. made a special effort in their approaches to golf clubs in the area. The first benefits of the personal approach were encouraging. Leeds Golf Club Ltd., which is the oldest golf club in Leeds and has been running a life-boat medal competition for over 15 years, held their 1972 effort during April. The ladies' section, captain, Mrs. June Parry, and the men's section, captain, Mr. R. Freeman, through their personal endeavours, returned a net donation of £79.68p.

Competition fees yielded £41.40p, a raffle £16.20p, collecting box £12, and profit from tea towels £10.8p.

Fifty people, knitting furiously in the Red Cross headquarters at Castle Gary on one evening, produced a total of 498 inches of knitting. And, as they were all sponsored for every inch of knitting they completed, the result was £143 for the R.N.L.I. The 498 inches of knitting will be made into blankets, which will be donated to the local geriatric unit. The knit-in was organised by Castle Gary and district branch of the R.N.L.I., and there was a ready response of volunteers who sought sponsors. The sponsors were equally generous. For example, they sponsored Mrs. Kathleen Thome to the tune of £1.31 for every inch she completed. Mrs. Thome managed to complete 11 inches within the time limit, so that her contribution to the total was more than £14. In addition to sponsoring knitters, people gave donations.

More than £44 was raised at Bridlington in May after the Marine Craft Unit of the R.A.F. challenged the Bridlington life-boat's crew to a rowing boat race in Bridlington Bay The challenge was accepted and Mr. M. Cawton, of the Windsor Hotel, promised a shield for an annual competition and also nine gallons of beer to the winners. The idea spread and eventually eight boats competed including the police coastguards, fire service, rugby club, NALGO, and others. The course was two miles in Bridlington Bay, and the R.A.F. won, with the life-boat second, and the coastguards third. The shield is for annual competition between the R.A.F. and the life-boat, and the beer goes to the overall winners. More than £40 was raised by the guild collecting on the piers. Mr. Arthur IV. Dick, the honorary secretary, said: 'Next year we propose to hold it later in the season but not too near life-boat day. We were very surprised at our figure and think we can raise more than three figures if held during the holiday season.' The Glasgow ladies' life-boat guild some months ago staged a book sale. This was a great success and raised £236. Another is planned.

Members of the ladies' guild of the Tenby branch of the R.N.L.I. organised a successful cocktail party at the De Valence Pavilion early in May and raised £240. The party was held under the patronage of the Mayor. All the prizes were donatd together with a wonderful selection of snacks and savouries.

Some months ago the Herts and Essex High School organised a lilo event in their swimming pool.

Two people from each form were chosen to board a lilo and manoeuvre their way up and down the pool, doing a maximum of 20 lengths each, in half an hour.

The task was more difficult than it at first appeared.

But the event turned out to be both amusing and very successful, raising the sum total of £57 for the R.N.L.I.

A sponsored walk around the historic city walls of York was undertaken by the Heworth guild, which resulted in the sum of about £120 being raised. Of this amount, £20.90p resulted from the participation by all the clerical staff of the North East District headquarters of the R.N.L.I.

The following note, here reproduced as received, reached the Editor: 'Mrs. F. Herring, chairman of the Margate ladies' guild, has organised "sponsored slim-in". Event runs for 10 weeks 20p entry fee plus lOp at weekly meeting. Extra 5p for Ib. put on at weekly "weigh-in". Sponsors sought for every Ib. off X amount. Is promising so far. Anyone, including men can join. Another to be held in autumn'.

Since 1953, Mrs. A. E. Turner, Secretary of the New Romney branch, has been knitting crochet gloves. She has made 309 pairs with all profits to the R.N.L.I. At the moment she charges 75p per pair. Each pair costs her 40p to make.

The Co-Operative Women's Guild has adopted the R.N.L.I. as their charity for the year 1972-1973.

Target is expected to be about £20,000.

In enclosing a postal order for 25p, Mr. A. Dy;, of Boxley Road, Maidstone, wrote: 'Although a senior citizen, I like to support in a small way, whenever possible, especially as my memory takes me back to a bleak wintery night in 1911 when I was able to help launch the Cromer boat.' The Swansea district walk this year was arranged along the foreshore between Swansea and Mumbles so that walkers under the age of 15 were able to join in. The youngest participant, Caroline Ford, aged 9, of Thistleboon Road, Mumbles, Swansea, was sponsored for £29.36. She completed the 11 miles walking from Mumbles pier to Swansea and back to Mumbles.The Portsdown branch organised a successful Portcreek water fair in July. In spite of rain and low cloud the fair drew a considerable crowd to hear Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.G.B., D.S.O., former chairman, of the R.N.L.I., open the proceedings and introduce Chay Blyth. The latter then by judicious use of a 12-bore shot gun started the main event of the day, the three harbours canoe race.

There was something at the fair for everyone, including competitions, fish and chips and the R.N.L.I, raffle run by Players No. 10 Personality Girl, Miss Wendy Redman.

In connection with the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Isle of Man in August, the Manx Philatelic Society, in conjunction with the Royal Visit Committee, arranged for a souvenir envelope to be placed on sale. The proceeds of this venture were given to the R.N.L.I.

Mr. Spencer Leaver, chairman of the Enfield branch, writes: 'About nine months ago head office were kind enough to supply two life-boat collecting boxes, flags and display material for a friend of mine, Mr. Russell Druce, opening a "Piccadilly Pub" in Honolulu. I am glad to report that coinciding with London Life-boat Week Mr. Druce ran a Honolulu Life-boat Week in his "pub". By organising dart matches, yard of ale drinking, etc., he was able to send me a cheque for $72 (£27.28). I would like to claim this as the farthest branch collection in life-boat records.' The Lewisham branch arranged a sponsored walk round the Crystal Palace motor race circuit on 9th July. They had about 320 walkers and grossed -£1,300. Several groups took part, including Cub Scouts, Sea Scouts, Brownies, and infant, junior and senior schools. A nice touch was the fact that the Brownies were all in uniform and were accompanied by their Brown Owl and Tawny Owl. Two men from the Cambridge Harriers ran the whole way— one completed 18 laps and the other 27. A lap was about 1 miles.

Mrs. E. M. Pink, aged 80, collected £99.32 as part of the flag day in Tywyu, Wales. Is this a record for a collection by one person? asks a reader.