EARLS COURT, January 2-12DIM - BUT BUOYANTDESPITE a background of national anxiety, reduced opening hours and minimum heat and light, the 1974 International Boat Show at Earls Court was, as always, a buoyant and happy prologue to the new year. The Bahamas theme of the central feature was, perhaps, a particularly fortunate choice; its atmosphere of carefree sunshine, the lightheartedness of goombay and calypso rhythms and the simple gaiety of its dancers, formed a bright oasis keeping, at least for a little while, the gloom of the world outside at bay. It seemed that business at the stands, both for the home market and overseas, was encouraging, and, as always, for ten days, Earls Court was a magnificent rendezvous for all those who love the sea. Even wanton destruction, although it succeeded in wrecking the boat of one unfortunate exhibitor, could not destroy the spirit of the Show When the bomb warning came at 4 o'clock on the first Saturday afternoon, everyone just walked quietly out; and the next Monday it was business as usual.

The RNLI stand, not far from the pool, was always thronged with people and the main exhibit, an Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat, was a source of interest to everyone, from the schoolboy lifeboat enthusiast who arrived on the pre-view day anxious to help, to such distinguished visitors as the Prime Minister, Mr Heath, and the Chancellor of theExchequer, Mr Barber. Crew members and friends from branches and guilds all over the country came to call, and among the 365 people who signed on as new members of Shoreline was Captain Baines of The Onedin Line (Howard Lang in private life).

As usual, the stand was manned by members of branches and guilds from in and around London. Although the Show ended at 7 o'clock each eveninginstead of 9, had to close at 4 on the first Saturday (the day of the bomb) and did not open at all on Sunday, a grand total of £3,543.41 was raised. Of that amount £202.48 was collected, single-handed, by Sergeant Elverson of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, with us for the third year running. £1,333.30 came in entries for the 'find the wreck' competition, popular with both helpers and the general public alike. The first prize was a Zodiac Cadet inflatable dinghy presented by University Marine, won by T. R. Franks of London, W6.

One of the highlights of the Show came on Wednesday, January 9, when, in a ceremony at the Pool, the Duke of Atholl, Deputy Chairman of the RNLI, presented statuettes of lifeboatmen to four people who have given outstanding service to the Institution in the field of public relations; the great cartoonist, Giles, who has presented many drawcontinued on page 131.